When back in the 60s all watch replica makers were still producing steel timepieces, Rado had already started to craft the very first scratch-resistant watch replica es replica; a smart move that most brands wouldn’t even take into consideration at that time and a move that became one of the trademarks of the company from Legnau. Rado was the first manufacturer to ever create its own metallurgy department and today, this department, is still in charge of producing different ceramic compounds; a reality that some of the most famous brands and Rado ‘s competitors only started to discover 10 or 20 years ago. Rado ‘s ideas are still so fresh and vibrant that it makes you wonder whether the company only appeared on the market a few years ago, so it is strange to think that the Rado Diastar , the very first scratch resistant timepiece ever created and the very first timepiece featuring a sapphire glass to guard the dial, only came to life in 1962.

My relationship with Rado started when I was young and it is linked to my father, who still wears a Rado Captain Cook , also known as Rado Ticin (from the name of the importer of Rado watch replica es replica in Italy). My father introduced me to this brand when I was only 10; a time when my passion for watch replica es replica was growing bigger and bigger by the day. Back in those days Rado ‘s billboards sported ads claiming that its watch replica es replica were “ Extraordinary Watches for Extraordinary Men ” and it advertized different watch replica models, among which was the Rado Captain Cook (the scuba diver’s watch replica par excellence) and the Rado Diastar , the very first scratch-resistant timepiece in history.

Only five years after its foundation in 1957, Rado patented a new type of alloy called “Hardmetal”, this alloy is created from Tungsten carbide powder that is initially injected into a high temperature oven and  then transformed into a new mass through a sintering process. If compared to the most traditional surface anti-scratch coatings, the production process used for the Rado Diastar Original ‘s case is a completely different concept: DLC and PVD coatings are surface treatments aimed at improving a watch replica ‘s scratch-resistance, but they are traditionally applied to a standard steel core, whereas Hardmetal , despite looking like a classic steel watch replica , is not a coating, but rather a mass in itself.

The Rado Diastar Original is the new edition, which is virtually identical to the original one, of the Rado Diastar ; Rado ‘s milestone but, strangely enough, one of the brand’s least famous timepieces. Unless you were born around the time that this timepiece was originally launched on the market you are probably not too familiar with it and Rado ‘s ads are usually much more focused on the Hyperchrome , which is definitely its leading collection. If in 1962 you were in your 20s or 30s and you had a few money put away to get yourself a nice watch replica , your most likely choice would be a Rado Diastar ; a classic-looking, simple and sturdy timepiece sporting high quality features. Back in those days, opting for a Rado Diastar was a controversial choice, but that also meant that you would be wearing the only timepiece featuring a sapphire glass in a time when every other watch replica ‘s dial was still covered in plastic.

This three-hand-timepiece with its 35mm unconventionally shaped case might look like a woman’s watch replica , it is actually a bit tiny if you have a thick wrist like mine (the circumference of mine measures 20cm ) and you need to get used to its odd look, but its typical 70s style is really unique and I am actually wondering why Rado isn’t producing one with a 40/41mm case so as to make it more appealing to an even greater audience. The watch replica ‘s steel bracelet is a nice feature and it is the exact same as the orginal one, unlike the case it is not made of Hardmetal (I reckon it might be a bit complicated to cast the links using the same production process of the Hardmetal ) and it features a clasp that looks modern but it is actually cheapishly made and its double button opening is not the easiest to manage.

If you are looking into buying a small piece of history of Swiss watch replica making, you can get your hands on this Rado three-hand automatic watch replica at an accessible price that is just below 1,100 €.