ado was the first watchmaker to use high-tech ceramic in series, presenting it on the Integral in 1986. Featuring a bracelet with high-tech ceramic middle links, this groundbreaking model marked a new era for the industry, showcasing the material’s remarkable qualities – for colour that never fades, brilliance that never diminishes, and beauty that remains eternal.

The watch made a powerful statement that reinforced Rado’s status as Master of Materials, and the piece has remained in continuous production ever since.

High-tech ceramic starts life as fine, pure powders and pigments, which are subject to massive pressures and intense heat that transform them into one of the hardest man-made materials. Sitting between hardened steel and diamonds on the Vickers hardness scale, it is practically impervious to scratches, and similarly resistant to heat, compression and corrosion, creating timepieces that defy time itself. Yet for such an unyielding material, it is amazingly lightweight, it quickly matches body temperature and boasts hypoallergenic properties, offering unprecedented comfort.

In 1986, the year high-tech ceramics were launched, Europa Star published this significant article on Rado’s new products and interviewed its legendary director, Paul Lüthi.

©Archives Europa Star

Hosted by Rado CEO Adrian Bosshard alongside expert staff, the anniversary celebrations featured an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour, followed by a series of creative demonstrations that bring to life the unchanging sheen of high-tech ceramic. This exclusive opportunity offered guests a compelling insight into Rado’s innovative spirit and its mastery of materials, taking them to the very heart of the brand. It evoked the sense of awe and excitement that surrounded high-tech ceramic during its development four decades ago, and which still pervades the lab today. The fact that this precise methodology was perfected at this very site lent the moment additional gravitas.

The original Integral from 1986

The celebrations included a gallery-style display that presented high-tech ceramic, the enduring spirit of the Integral and Rado’s mastery of materials as a true art form. Curated around the concept of the material’s intriguing ‘forever beauty’ and complemented by a special dinner featuring bespoke molecular gastronomy, the experience created a striking contrast with the lab’s highly specialised watchmaking environment.

As the place ‘where the magic happens’, Rado’s High‑Tech Ceramic Lab also became a stage for Korean superstar magician Eden Choi. Known for jaw‑dropping performances that defy belief – and providing a fitting metaphor for the feats of engineering achieved by the Swiss watchmaker – he presented a captivating show that culminated in the unveiling of the new Integral Anniversary Edition timepiece.

Remaining faithful to the original design while introducing refined updates, the timepiece features a bracelet that pairs polished black high‑tech ceramic middle links with yellow gold‑coloured components. Its square, slim‑profile case is fitted with an edge‑to‑edge bevelled sapphire crystal, enhanced with precise metallisation. Powered by the Rado R279 calibre quartz movement with PreciDrive for unwavering accuracy, it also bears a special case‑back engraving: SINCE 1986, ANNIVERSARY EDITION.

The 40th anniversary model

Adrian Bosshard said: “Our unending quest for innovation is perfectly characterised by our journey around high-tech ceramic, a material that was 40 years ahead of its time. We are delighted to bring this story to life for our special guests, allowing them to feel the magic for themselves. Four decades after its original debut, the new Integral 40-Year Anniversary Edition stands as the true successor to one of our greatest technical breakthroughs – honouring the legacy of its unmistakable design, strength and eternal beauty, while shining confidently into the future.”

Rado Integral 40-Year Anniversary Edition

• Ref.: R20258162
• Movement: Rado calibre R279, quartz, 8 jewels, 2 hands, date at 6 o’clock. PreciDrive
• Case: Polished yellow gold-coloured PVD-coated stainless steel case. Polished and brushed stainless steel case back with special engraving: SINCE 1986, ANNIVERSARY EDITION. Polished yellow gold-coloured PVD-coated stainless steel crown with embossed and laser-enhanced anchor logo. Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on one side, bevelled, metallised and glued. Water-resistant to 5 bar (50m)
• Metallisation: Black, yellow gold-coloured
• Dial: Black vertical brushed. Yellow gold-coloured indices with white Super-LumiNova^®. Yellow gold-coloured printed Rado logo
• Hands: Yellow gold-coloured with white Super-LumiNova^®
• Bracelet: Polished yellow gold-coloured PVD-coated stainless steel. Polished black high-tech ceramic middle links.Polished stainless steel 3-fold clasp
• Dimensions: 28.0 x 39.8 x 7.3 (WxLxH in mm)