The Bold Bauhaus of the Rado DiaStar X Tej Chauhan – GNOMONIST
Wearing a Work of Art: The Rado DiaStar Original X Tej Chauhan (and Why I Might Just Be in Love)
Let’s talk about a watch that doesn’t whisper refinement — it yells retro-futurist fever dream from across the room.
This is the Rado DiaStar Original X Tej Chauhan. A watch so bold, so joyfully weird, that it makes most other watches look like they’re afraid to leave the house without a navy blazer and polished shoes.
🤝 Design Collab or Design Coup?
Rado partnered with British industrial designer Tej Chauhan — known for his pop-art-meets-space-age aesthetic — and the result is anything but polite. This isn’t a watch you “grow into.” It’s a watch that kicks the door open and says “I’m here, and I brought a yellow seconds hand.”
It’s got colours that shouldn’t work together, but somehow do: pops of cyan, fire-red date numbers, a neon yellow-accented seconds hand, and a soft-touch radical grey, pillow-shaped rubber strap. The overall look is something between a 1970s sci-fi movie prop and a MoMA design piece.
And I love that.
🧱 Build Quality: Funky but Formidable
This isn’t just style over substance. The Ceramos™ case — Rado’s scratch-resistant ceramic-metal fusion — feels smooth, space-age, and strangely luxurious. It’s lightweight but solid. The radial-faceted sapphire crystal adds distortion and dimension, turning even the simplest glance at the dial into a mini cinematic experience.
Inside? You’ve got the Rado R764 movement, based on the tried-and-true ETA C07 (with a healthy 80-hour power reserve).
💰 The Price (and Why AUD Makes a Big Difference)
The official retail is $3,750 AUD, which feels spicy — but this isn’t your average design collab. You’re getting actual premium materials, a Swiss automatic movement, and serious indie design credibility.
Is it a value watch? No.
Is it a value proposition for what it offers? Surprisingly, yes.
📦 Who’s This Watch For?
Let’s be honest — this is not your first Swiss watch. This is your fifth, when your collection’s already got a tool diver, a field watch, a chronograph, and a “safe choice.”
This is the statement watch. The wrist-based middle finger to minimalism.
You wear it when:
- You want to start conversations at creative events.
- You’re feeling brave (or just bored of black dials).
- You’ve had one too many espresso martinis and said, “why not?”
✅ Buy It If:
- You love design as much as horology.
- You’ve ever described a watch as “fun” without sarcasm.
- You don’t mind people saying, “Whoa, what is that on your wrist?”
❌ Skip It If:
- You’re still searching for the perfect all-rounder.
- You need to flip it later for value (this is a keeper, not an investor).
- You secretly wish all watches came in 38mm and navy blue.
💬 Final Thoughts
The Rado DiaStar X Tej Chauhan is like designer furniture for your wrist — not essential, not for everyone, but if you get it, you get it. It’s bold, it’s weird, and it’s unapologetically full of character.
And honestly? That makes it one of the most refreshing watches I’ve come across in years.
TL;DR: It tells time and makes you smile — and sometimes, that’s worth more than a COSC cert.
