Rado

What is Rado?

Rado is a Swiss watch brand whose origins lie in Schlup & Co., a movement factory founded in Lengnau in 1917. The history of that business must be distinguished from the date of an individual Rado watch.

Models and materials

Rado’s own history describes the development of its watch brand during the 1950s. The DiaStar was launched in 1962. The DiaStar became known for its hardmetal construction. Technical ceramics later became important to the brand, including the Integral in 1986. Model names, materials and construction differ between periods; an older Rado is therefore not necessarily a ceramic watch.

What to examine

When assessing a pre-owned example, document the reference, movement, dial, hands, case and bracelet together. Photographs of the dial and case back provide a useful starting point. Establish whether parts have been replaced and what any claimed service actually included.

Scratch resistance does not mean indestructibility. Rado explains that hard materials can suffer damage and that water resistance is not permanent. The moving anchor on certain dials is an independent decorative feature, not a reading of the movement’s condition.

See our wristwatches category.

Sources

Rado: factory origins, Rado’s model history and Rado’s material and service explanations.