Cover Rado DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan with yellow gold-coloured Ceramos bezel and a rubber strap
Rado DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan with yellow gold-coloured Ceramos bezel and a rubber strap
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The distinctive design of the Rado DiaStar Original served as a rich source of inspiration for industrial designer Tej Chauhan
As a designer, Tej Chauhan is guided by one crucial goal: to spark joy in every one of his designs. Known for such award-winning designs as the Colombo Two telephone in 2008 and the Motorola PIP in 2022, Chauhan’s talent for reimagining everyday objects with a modern, minimalist, and futuristic touch was tapped by Rado in 2020. That year, he reinterpreted the True Square ceramic watch in yellow with a black dial adorned with silver-coloured concentric circles.
This year, he was given the challenge to put his touch on the Diastar Original, a cushion-shaped watch first introduced in the early 1960s. “DiaStar Original is a Rado icon so my challenge was to create design distinction without compromising its integrity,” said Chauhan.
Read more: Rado celebrates opening a new boutique at The Exchange TRX with Hakken
Rado had only one request: that the watch comes with a rubber strap. Chauhan was initially apprehensive about this. “Rubber straps always feel sporty, an attribute I wanted to avoid for this design,” he said. But he was up for the challenge of bringing a different feeling to the material on a wristwatch.
As a Master of Materials, Rado is in a league of its own when it comes to material innovations that include the Ceramos, a form of ceramic that has the lustre of shiny metal. Chauhan chose the colour yellow gold for the Ceramos bezel of his DiaStar Original. “I wanted to see if I could put a fresh, contemporary spin on this otherwise classic colour.”
See also: How Rado paves the way for innovative high-tech ceramic watchmaking
Above Tej Chauhan has put his distinctive stamp on the classic Rado DiaStar Original
Tej Chauhan has put his distinctive stamp on the classic Rado DiaStar Original
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Beneath the faceted sapphire crystal is a black dial decorated printed with a series of lines in silver and blue—they double as the minute track. The hour and minute hands are treated with white Super-Luminova, while the seconds hand is coated in neon yellow.
But it is perhaps in the day and date windows where Chauhan’s design quirks stand out. The day features Chauhan’s font in a different colour, while the date, also in his font, pops in red.
As for the rubber strap, it has been molded into a comfy-looking pillow shape in grey. The clasp features a cover and pushers specifically designed by Chauhan. Powered by an automatic movement equipped with antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring, the stainless steel caseback has a small window that offers a peek at the mechanism within.
Read more: CEO Adrian Bosshard on Rado’s tireless quest for excellence
Above It’s easy to stand out with the Rado DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan watch
It’s easy to stand out with the Rado DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan watch
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Our verdict? An extremely cool rendition of a beloved classic, blending innovation and a design that captures the zeitgeist of today.
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Brian Cheong leads the watch (Tatler GMT) and jewellery content at Tatler Malaysia, combining sharp editorial insight with years of luxury lifestyle experience. A seasoned journalist in luxury watches based in Kuala Lumpur, Brian had previously helmed World of Watches, Men's Folio and Prestige Malaysia.
