SOTC Part One - The Diastars
It's taken me a long time to get round to this but here is my list of Rado Diastars.
Firstly, and this is the one that started it all for me. My first, and the world's first Diastar, the unnumbered model released in 1962.
To be historically correct I usually keep this on an original leather strap:
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...f1a9ccafa5.jpg
The strap is too short for my ridiculous wrists so I have switched it onto a genuine Rado milanese bracelet that was also available at around that time:
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...f6eff8e391.jpg
Not bad for 53 years old.
Rado Diastar 1. The first appearance of the now-famous faceted crystals. I have two of these, one with a slightly aged yellow dial:
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...3bb3c1bb90.jpg
And one with a gorgeous mirror dial:
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...9ca519551f.jpg
This dial also features on the Asian version of the Diastar 1 with the cushion case:
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...83a0ffd672.jpg
The first variant was the Diastar 1/E chronometer, this one has the same dial as my unnumbered DS"0":
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...5775c8b402.jpg
The Diastar 2 also suffers from the same problem as the first model in that the spring bars are fixed directly into holes in the tungsten carbide. As such they are extremely prone to breaking the lugs off, making them unwearable. Thankfully this one is intact and features the same yellow dial and my DS1, albeit in better condition:
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...15a42bd474.jpg
I have a thing for the numerous mineral dial watches released by Rado. The first range to feature mineral dials was the Diastar 8/1. Having recently sold my red goldstone version I currently have three, left to right lapis lazuli, abalone shell, blue goldstone:
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...ec823b0bfc.jpg
The Diastar 13-g (not gold as stated by Henry) is a big chunk of metal and mine features a replacement Diastar Magic dial:
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...4ba7d026b9.jpg