DiaStar Original - A Design Icon Vividly Reborn

Rado DiaStar Original
A DESIGN ICON, VIVIDLY REBORN
And just like that... a watchmaking superstar is reinvented for a new generation.

For more than 60 years a design icon – the epitome of Rado’s pioneering approach to materials and disruptive take on design – the Rado DiaStar Original now enters a bold new era. For 2025, it’s ready to wear with your favourite outfit, your bag, your shoes...

It’s true that this spectacular timepiece has enjoyed some wide-ranging makeovers during its lifetime, offering various colours and finishes, plus skeletonised variants, date window options or the choice of a chronograph. And sure, there have been plenty of dial designs in the mix too. But these three new dials are something else.

Discover pure, clean colours that bring to mind the clear blue of a glacial lake, vibrant Art Deco-style turquoise and vivid purple, like an exotic flower in full bloom. These hues pop like cute fashion accessories, or irresistible candy treats, and lend the pieces youthfulness, energy and joy. And, in the age of self-expression, where you can be whoever you want to be – no need to explain, excuse or apologise – they signal to Gen Z that there’s fun to be had in the world of watches.

Couple those aesthetic updates with a new case diameter of 30mm, more compact than the 38mm size of its older sibling. At a stroke this new addition to the Rado DiaStar Original range widens its appeal to women – or anyone with smaller wrists.

Groundbreaking style
It’s worth a quick trip down memory lane to put this all in context. First launched in 1962, in the midst of the space-age, the other-worldly style of the original timepiece shook up the world of watchmaking. But it was more than just a striking visual oddity: its revolutionary ‘hardmetal’ composition also represented a new era of unimaginably durable, scratchproof materials, and reversed the long-standing trend of watches that featured lots of glass and small amounts of case material. The Rado DiaStar Original was the definition of a trendsetter, one that enjoyed astounding success, selling millions of units, inspiring countless imitations and helping establish Rado as the Master of Materials.

That unmistakeable case design is still on display today, but in a more evolved expression. Now, its platinum-coloured bezel, mounted on a stainless steel case, is constructed from CeremosTM. Comprised of around 90% titanium carbide, this astonishing material, first introduced to the DiaStar Original range with the 60th Anniversary Edition in 2022, combines the hardness of ceramics with the toughness and lustre of a metal alloy, for improved scratch-resistance and a significantly lower specific weight than hardmetal. Add in a facetted sapphire crystal and the entire top face of the watch is covered by Rado high-tech materials.

Minimalism meets maximalism
But let’s talk more about those dial colours, because let’s face it, they practically scream out for attention. They mean the conversation is no longer centred on technical accomplishments – those are a given. Instead, they bring out a new, playful side of the Rado DiaStar Original, enabling wearers to shout their story from the rooftops. And these new dials don’t just pop. Up close, they also mesmerize, thanks to the detailing of four zones, satin-brushed in different directions. Somehow, minimalism meets maximalism. Against those three colours, the rhodium-coloured hands really stand out, as does the Rado branding, moving anchor symbol and date window. The piece is powered by the Rado R586 calibre automatic movement, featuring a 48-hour power reserve, and it’s water resistant to 100 metres. Set on a stainless steel bracelet, it’s the perfect combination of design credentials, contemporary style, practicality and comfort. That’s already a killer combination, but most of all, the colours of the Rado DiaStar Original represent the pride of uber-confident personal style. For Rado, this is a new milestone, for a watch that’s already enjoyed a few. 60 years old? 60 years young, more like. Rado has reset the clock on the DiaStar Original, and there’s a whole new world to grasp.