Founded in Switzerland in 1917, the company initially produced watch movements. It wasn’t until the late 1950’s that Rado launced it own collection of watches under the Rado brand. In 1962 Rado produced the first ever scratch proof watch which they named Diastar 1. Today Rado continues to produce top quality scratchproof watches made from unconventional materials such as hardmetal, high-tech ceramics, high-tech lanthanum, sapphire crystal and high-tech diamonds. Using such unusual materials has brought Rado distinction among other quality watch brands. In 1983 Rado joined the SMH group, also known as the Swatch group, the biggest watch conglomerate in the world.