Rado..... This is one brand that has never been in my list of "must-have". However, from a technological point of view, I have been following this brand very closely. The way Rado has been able to use exotic materials for its watch designs intrigues me.
Of all the Rado designs available, I like the turtle-shaped watch casing the best. This style is under the Original Diastar line of watches. When I stumbled upon the Model R12639023, I was blown away.
The Rado Original was touted as the world’s first scratch-proof watch. To achieve this feat, the Rado Original uses a ‘high tech hard-metal’ bezel. Due to the design on the watch, the hard-metal bezel on the Rado Original covers half the watch case.
The material used for the hard-metal bezel is tungsten-carbide. This special alloy has a rating on the order of 1400-1700 Vickers on the Vickers hardness scale. It is highly polished. Side by side with the rest of the watch casing which is made out of stainless steel, you will notice a colour tone difference between the two materials. Tungsten-carbide is also heavier than steel, and the weight of the watch is obvious.
From a divers' watch perspective, this particular model is on the low end of the size spectrum. The case measures just 38.6 mm in diameter without crown, 42.6 mm crown inclusive. The turtle shaped case in longer on the top-bottom alignment with a length of 46 mm. Despite incorporating an internal bezel as well as an automatic movement, the case thickness is just 12.6 mm.
The third material used in this watch is titanium and is used specifically for the clasp.
The watch sits perfectly on my wrist. The design of the unique lugs falls nicely on other side of my wrist which creates a balance that is seldom seen in many watches. The lugs measures 24.2 mm. The unique measurement of the lugs is one clear sign that it would be difficult to substitute generic after-market straps for this watch. Nevertheless, from a design perspective, the lugs are pivoted to follow the contours of one's wrist. It sits much better on the wrist compared to many other watches.
The shape of the watch makes it easy for the watch to slip under shirt cuffs. As such, this watch is equally at ease in formal functions. In fact the polished hard-metal bezel is very 'dress-watch' like.
For more visit:
http://westernwatch.blogspot.com/2014/12/rado-original-diastar-diver-automatic.html
