The Rado DiaStar Original is a remarkable timepiece that blends cutting-edge materials with a trendy design. In 1962, Rado achieved a significant milestone by launching the DiaStar 1, which was not only one of the first wristwatches marketed as “scratch-proof” but also featured sapphire crystal instead of the more common mineral glass. The DiaStar 1’s case and bracelet were made from tungsten carbide “hardmetal”, a rare material for that era. This watch set the stage for Rado’s future developments in ceramics. Additionally, in the same year, Rado introduced its first purpose-built divers’ watch, the Rado Captain Cook, featuring an inward-sloping, unidirectionally rotating dive-scale bezel and an embossed pair of seahorses on its caseback. These milestones paved the way for Rado’s signature achievement in 1986: the development of watch parts made of “high tech” ceramic, a material that combines durability, scratch resistance, and hypoallergenic properties.