Some watches take time to appreciate.
Others make an impression the moment they leave the box.
After spending my first week with the Rado DiaStar Original 60th Anniversary, I can confidently say this is very much the latter.
As a collector, I’ve always been drawn to watches that sit slightly outside the mainstream. Whether it’s the Omega Speedmaster Z-33, Seiko Giugiaro Alien, Tudor Black Bay P01 or Seiko Dashboard, I’m fascinated by watches that challenge conventional design and take risks. The DiaStar 60th Anniversary falls squarely into that category.
In fact, after a week on the wrist, I find myself thinking that Rado has created something rather special.
Not a Reissue, But Something Better
One of the things I appreciate most about the DiaStar 60th Anniversary is that Rado resisted the temptation to simply recreate the original 1962 DiaStar.
Instead, the brand worked with Swiss industrial designer Alfredo Häberli to reinterpret the design for a modern audience.
The result feels less like a heritage reissue and more like a design study.
It pays respect to the original without becoming trapped by it.
From the cushion-shaped case to the faceted sapphire crystal and monochromatic colour palette, everything feels deliberate and cohesive.
The watch has a distinctly brutalist quality to it, and I mean that as the highest compliment.
It is bold, architectural and unapologetically different.
Fifty Shades of Grey
If there is one aspect that continues to surprise me, it’s just how much depth there is within what initially appears to be a very restrained colour scheme.
The watch is essentially monochromatic, yet it never looks flat.
Depending on the lighting, the dial shifts through a range of greys, from almost silver through to charcoal and gunmetal. Combined with the faceted crystal, the watch constantly catches and plays with light in a way that is difficult to capture in photographs.
The effect is subtle but incredibly rewarding.
It’s the sort of watch that encourages you to glance down at your wrist more often than necessary.
Not to check the time.
Just to look at it.
Wrist Presence Without Bulk
One of my concerns before it arrived was how the unconventional case shape would wear on the wrist.
Thankfully, that concern disappeared within minutes.
The DiaStar sits remarkably well on the wrist. Despite its distinctive appearance it feels balanced, comfortable and surprisingly versatile.
Over the past week I’ve worn it with casual clothing, work attire and everything in between, and it never feels out of place.
If anything, its greatest strength may be that it doesn’t try too hard.
It confidently exists in its own lane.
The Mesh Bracelet
The supplied mesh bracelet deserves special mention.
Quite simply, it’s excellent.
Comfort is outstanding and visually it completes the design perfectly. The bracelet reinforces the watch’s overall industrial aesthetic and gives the entire package a wonderfully cohesive feel.
If I’m being picky, and this genuinely is a minor criticism, I would have loved to see some form of on-the-fly micro-adjustment.
That’s less about comfort and more about fine tuning the fit throughout the day.
Even so, this is very much a first-world watch enthusiast complaint.
The reality is that the bracelet works exceptionally well and suits the watch far better than I expected.
In fact, after a full week, I still haven’t fitted the included fabric strap.
Partly because I’m still in the honeymoon phase with the watch, but mostly because the mesh bracelet feels so right that I haven’t yet found a reason to change it.
A Watch for Design Enthusiasts
After a week, one thing has become very clear.
The DiaStar 60th Anniversary isn’t a watch for everyone.
That’s exactly why I like it.
This isn’t a watch purchased because of resale value, trendiness or movement specifications. It’s a watch for people who appreciate industrial design, originality and the willingness to challenge convention.
In a world full of familiar dive watches and vintage reissues, the DiaStar feels refreshingly different.
It stands as a reminder that some of the most interesting watches are created when designers are given permission to take risks.
Final Thoughts After One Week
The watch has exceeded my expectations.
I expected it to be interesting.
I expected it to be unusual.
What I didn’t expect was just how enjoyable it would be to wear every day.
After seven days on the wrist, I find myself reaching for it far more often than I anticipated.
For a watch celebrating sixty years of one of Rado’s most iconic designs, that’s perhaps the greatest compliment I can give it.
The DiaStar Original 60th Anniversary doesn’t feel like a watch looking back at the past.
It feels like a watch that still belongs in the future.
Author’s Note: If you’ve ever looked at the DiaStar 60th Anniversary and thought it seemed a little strange, my advice is simple: try one on. Like many of the best design-led watches, it’s the experience on the wrist that truly makes it click.
