Rado (watch)

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Rado Watches Co. Ltd.
Type Publicly traded limited company
Industry Luxury goods, Watch manufacturer
Founded 1917 as Schlup Co.
Headquarters Lengnau, Switzerland
Key people Matthias Breschan (CEO)
Products Watches,
Employees 470+ (worldwide)
Parent Swatch Group
Website www.rado.com
Rado Silver Star, circa 1980

Rado is a Swiss luxury manufacturer of watches, with headquarters in Lengnau, Switzerland. It is noted for its use of scratch-proof materials, a field in which it is considered a pioneer.[citation needed] Today the company produces about half a million watches a year with a staff of about 470 in total. Rado's watches are obtainable in more than 150 countries, at over 5900 points of sale. The most important markets are Southeast Asia, Japan, China, Middle East as well as countries within Europe (Switzerland, Germany, Italy) and the USA.

History

Formed in 1950 as [Schlup & Co.], Rado initially produced watch movements only. In 1957 the company launched its first collection of watches under the Rado brand. In 1962 the Rado Diastar, the world's first scratch-proof watch, was launched. It has been in production ever since, now sold as DiaStar The Original.

In 1968, Rado became part of the ASUAG, which merged 1983 with the SSIH to the SMH group, renamed in 1998 as the Swatch Group....

Design

RADO's differs from the traditional Swiss watch makers in that it leans towards innovative uses of high tech materials in distinct design. RADO has focused on pioneering the use of a number of materials that are unique within the watch making industry, such as hardmetal(tungsten- and titanium carbide which they call high tech ceramics), ceramics, lanthanum and sapphire crystal.

In 2004 RADO created a 'high-tech diamond', by the transformation of carbon into a nanocrystalline diamond with a Vickers hardness number of 10,000, thus naming the watch the V10K. It is the hardest watch on Earth, certified by the Guinness Book of World Records.

The newer RADO watches are also distinct from the traditional Swiss watch industry in that their aesthetic is unique. Market reaction tends to be mixed to such a strong aesthetic, with many who appreciate the unique and distinct RADO look and those who do not.

During their time, RADO has received more than 20 elite international design awards, from the RED DOT Award to the iF Design Award, for both their product and most recently, their collaboration with Jasper Morrison for an innovative watch box that mimics the shape of the human wrist.

Pricing

RADO watches vary in pricing according to model, age and materials but the core collection of RADO pieces will range from about US$700 to about US$28,000. Models that include pave dials of diamonds and baguette diamonds can cost approximately US$30,000 to US$250,000.

External links

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