Lengnau, Switzerland
In the middle of the digital age, the Japanese design duo YOY is giving one of Rado’s best-known faces an update that is as contemporary as it is analogue.
The True Square Undigital combines two real design icons. The angular bars of the digital display meet the square Rado ceramic watch. But not everything is as it seems at first glance. This watch is truly smart.
The Rado True Square won a 2020 Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum.
The Swiss company Rado is known as the ‘Master of Materials’ for the way it has revolutionised traditional watchmaking, leading the industry by introducing high-tech ceramic, ultra-light high-tech ceramic, colourful high-tech ceramic and Ceramos to its design-led collections.
As part of its latest designer collaboration, Rado presents a series of interpretations of the new, ground-breaking True Square – the first square watch made from solid high-tech ceramic, whose flowing shapes are created using injection moulding.
As part of its latest designer collaboration, Rado presents a series of interpretations of the new, ground-breaking True Square – the first square watch made from solid high-tech ceramic, whose flowing shapes are created using injection moulding.
The interpretations are designed by the Italian-Dutch duo Formafantasma, the British industrial designer Tej Chauhan and the Japanese design duo YOY.
Designed by The Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, Rado True Square Formafantasma is sticking with tradition with a side of mystery. Taking the base of the new True Square, this special design edition draws on the historic idea of a closed watch to create a bold and impactful style statement.
The idea of the closed watch refers back to historical pocket watches. The housing of the watch was made to protect the delicate dial and mechanism inside. Only a small opening gave a glimpse of the time – the true function of the watch.
With flowing shapes, innovative high-tech ceramic and bold colours, the Rado True Square Tej Chauhan visualises the great futuristic visions of pop culture.
Design inspiration for this collaboration came from the enduring futurist visions from popular culture, from movies to typography to colour theory. For his personal interpretation of a “near future,” Tej Chauhan found the ideal partner in Rado.
“We strategically use shape, colour and material to bring joy to people. This common foundation of materials, colour and contrast made the collaboration with Rado an absolutely natural process,” said Chauhan.
The matt yellow high-tech ceramic case highlights the unique texture of the high-performance material and is combined with a case back in polished dark grey PVD- coated stainless steel with sapphire crystal and special engraving.
It is complemented by a bracelet made from yellow cushion-shaped leather elements held by high-tech ceramic connectors. A stainless-steel folding clasp with a dark grey PVD coating completes the composition.
RADO True Square Undigital by Tej Chauhan RADO True Square Undigital by YOY RADO True Square Undigital by Formafantasma
Designers: YOY, Formafantasma, and Tej Chauhan
Manufacturer: Rado Watch Co. Ltd.on
