Rado DiaStar Original X Tej Chauhan
Rado’s New DiaStar Original Taps Into Designer Tej Chauhan’s Future Shock
The disruptive Rado DiaStar was already decidedly futuristic when it debuted in 1962. With the eye-catching help of European industrial designer Tej Chauhan, the latest DiaStar wristwatch hops back into a time machine firmly set to the future.
By Mike Espindle
Executive Editor
The biomorphic “egg” that is Rado’s DiaStar may be 63 years old, but it still stands out on anyone’s wrist. The story of the DiaStar has been one of constant evolution while relying on the watchmaker’s historic dedication to artful form and materials to make its visual impact.
The faceted view past the crystal down into the skeletonized works of 2023’s DiaStar Original Skeleton is a recent case in point. But when Radio collaborates with a noted designer to create a more directly artful line to a watch, well, you are in for something special, like last year’s Rado True Square collaboration with Japanese artist and fashion designer Kunihiko Morinaga.
Designer Tej Chauhan splits his time between London and Helsinki, and his inventive touches influence nearly every aspect of the new DiaStar without breaking the offbeat, tried-and-true presentation so beloved by fans and collectors.
Amazingly, the new DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan Special Edition is recognizable as a DiaStar but entirely unlike any other example of the icon.
Color Coup
The DiaStar case really cannot be overworked without spoiling the impact. However, this 38mm Chauhan-influenced case is crafted with highly polished yellow gold-hued PVD-coated stainless steel with a Rado-proprietary Ceramos ceramic bezel (combining ceramic's hardness with a metallic alloy’s luster).
I don’t think the DiaStar has ever had a more dramatic “frame” than this one, down to the elegantly flat crown on the side.
On the dial, there is much play with color, proportions, real estate allotment, and graphical impact by way of the designer: Simplified “rays” of muted grey-silver and brilliant turquoise (for the 00:45 to 00:00 quadrant of the dial) radiate from the center of the matte black concave dial.
Meanwhile, hollow bold-white lumed triangles form the hour and minute hands, a neon green-yellow seconds hand dances around the dial, and an abbreviated two-letter day (in green with two different propriety Tej Chuahan-designed fonts for each letter) and red date rides horizontally at 3 o’clock.
I am a big fan of the DiaStar’s original vertical day/date indicator at 6 o’clock, but this new approach is simply stunning and pleasingly different.
Material World
Beyond the fascinating dial approach, the designer’s influence is most visible on the highly unique integrated strap. The pillowy light grey-white rubber fastener immediately falls into the “space age” DNA of the DiaStar overall.
However, on the reverse side, you’ll find some telling stealth engraving on the strap delivering the designer’s “TC” logo and secret messages of “The time is now…” and “Souvenir of The Near Future.” This strap badging is complemented with further customized engraving on the caseback of the watch, which also features a large, pill-shaped view into the movement at 9 o’clock.
Outside the box and fun? You betcha.
The Details
Powered by the automatic R764 calibre (which sports an 80-hour power reserve and Rado-proprietary Nivachron titanium-alloy hairspring), the new DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan Special Edition is technically a “special” edition, but no production number limit was listed at press time.
The timepiece lists for $2,250. You can learn more by visiting Rado’s website.