Rado and renowned British industrial designer Tej Chauhan have teamed up once again to reimagine one of the brand’s most iconic models—the DiaStar Original. This second collaboration, hailed by many as the pair’s best work yet, infuses the classic design with a bold, futuristic twist while staying true to the timepiece’s celebrated heritage.

Tej Chauhan is an award-winning British industrial designer celebrated for his “Emotive Industrial Design” approach. Fusing futuristic aesthetics with human-centric practicality, his work spans a wide range of products—from telephones to nursery monitors. His innovative vision has consistently redefined design boundaries, making his collaborations highly anticipated in the watch industry.

Originally launched in 1962, the DiaStar Original was groundbreaking with its saucer-like case crafted from Rado’s signature “Hardmetal.” Today, Rado continues that legacy using its proprietary Ceramos material—a composite of ceramic and metal alloy—crafted via precision-injected molding techniques. For this special edition, the Ceramos bezel is treated with a yellow gold-coloured PVD coating, merging classic gold tones with modern innovation. Tej Chauhan’s playful yet sophisticated design revitalizes the iconic form, ensuring that the watch pays homage to its past while embracing a visionary future.

The heart of the new DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan is its captivating dial. A matt black concave dial sets a striking backdrop for silver and blue printed minute tracks that extend radially. Applied indexes at five-minute intervals and the signature Rado moving anchor logo at 12 o’clock provide familiar nods to the original design, while a neon yellow seconds hand adds a vibrant pop of color. The day-date window at 3 o’clock, rendered in Tej Chauhan’s proprietary font, further emphasizes the modern twist on this classic piece.

Every element of this special edition has been engineered for both style and performance. The 38mm case features a polished yellow gold-coloured PVD-coated Ceramos bezel paired with a matching PVD-coated stainless-steel middle case. A radial-faceted sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective inner coating and a dark grey PVD-coated stainless steel case back (engraved with “SPECIAL EDITION TEJ CHAUHAN”) ensure exceptional durability and a refined look. Water resistance is rated at 10 bar (100 meters), making the watch as practical as it is visually striking.

Breaking away from tradition, Tej Chauhan introduces a radical grey, pillow-shaped rubber strap for this edition. This innovative strap, secured by a polished dark grey PVD-coated stainless steel extendable folding clasp with yellow gold-coloured pushers engraved with “DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan,” perfectly balances avant-garde style with wearer comfort and functionality.

At the core of the DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan beats Rado’s celebrated Calibre R764 automatic movement. With an impressive 80-hour power reserve, rigorous five-position regulation, and an antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring, this movement delivers outstanding accuracy and reliability, ensuring the timepiece performs impeccably in any situation.

The Rado DiaStar Original x Tej Chauhan Special Edition is available now for $2,250 USD. With its innovative design, exceptional craftsmanship, and limited availability, this collaboration is a must-have for collectors and design enthusiasts alike.