Tap the image to enlarge
Rado DiaStar Limited Edition 38mm Unisex Watch Grey
Ref. R12160103
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in the same dial colour
The DiaStar Original dates to 1962, when Rado built it around a then-radical ambition: a watch that could not be scratched. The oval case shape it pioneered has remained ever since, and this version updates it through a Ceramos coiffe — a hard ceramic-metal composite that sits above the case with a depth of shine that steel alone cannot hold. What distinguishes this particular reference is how it layers texture against that gloss. The dial is brushed in two directions, so the surface shifts tone depending on the angle of the light, and the sapphire crystal above it is faceted in parallel stripes rather than left flat — adding a further dimension between eye and dial without complicating the read. The hands carry Super-LumiNova in rhodium, which keeps the colour story a consistent cool grey from dial to strap. The R764 inside is built on the same architecture as the Powermatic 80, with a Nivachron hairspring that resists magnetic fields without the need for soft-iron shielding. The 80-hour reserve means a watch left off on Friday morning is still running Monday. At 141 grams on the H-link bracelet, it sits with some presence on the wrist — this is not a watch that disappears.
- Reference
- R12160103
- Brand
- Rado
- Collection
- DiaStar
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case thickness
- 12.1mm
- Case material
- Ceramic
- Case shape
- Oval
- Dial
- Grey
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA C07.111
- Functions
- Day-date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Three-fold clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 80 hours
Learn more about Rado
Rado began as Schlup & Co, a movement manufacturer founded by the Schlup brothers in Lengnau in 1917. It became one of the largest movement producers in the world before releasing watches under the Rado name in 1957.
The brand's entire identity rests on a single question: how do you stop a watch from looking worn? The DiaStar of 1962 was marketed as the world's first scratchproof watch, using hardmetal — tungsten carbide — and a sapphire crystal at a time when both were exotic in watchmaking.
Rado then spent decades pushing further into materials most watchmakers avoided because they are difficult to machine and impossible to correct. High-tech ceramic arrived in 1986 with the Integral, and the Ceramica of 1990 was made almost entirely from it. The company developed plasma high-tech ceramic, which is heated to 20,000 degrees to acquire a metallic sheen without any metal content, and Ceramos, a ceramic-metal composite.
The V10K of 2002 used high-tech diamond and reached 10,000 on the Vickers scale — the hardness of diamond itself, and a Guinness record.
Rado's design language is correspondingly clean and monolithic, with the True and Captain Cook lines carrying the modern collection. The company has been part of the Swatch Group since 1983.
- 1917
- Founded as Schlup & Co in Lengnau.
- 1957
- The first watches carry the Rado name.
- 1962
- The DiaStar introduces a scratchproof hardmetal case.
- 1986
- High-tech ceramic enters production.
- 2002
- The V10K reaches diamond-level surface hardness.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in the Rado DiaStar range (8), Automatic Watches (1,651), Grey Dial Watches (255), Limited Edition Watches (202) and Ceramic Watches (105).
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 38mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 80-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Rado DiaStar Limited Edition alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | R12160103 | 68053A77 | HCC009J1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,400 | £1,450 | £1,250 |
| Case size | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Fabric strap | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 80 hours | — | 72 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 80 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £1,400, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
More Rado watches like the DiaStar Limited Edition
In stock, and close on style and price
