Rado Brings Back the Integral, 40 Years On

By Elliot Nash - News

Updated: 11 April, 2026

Readtime: 7 min

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40 years of Rado High-Tech Ceramic
Limited edition revives original 1986 design
Integrated case and bracelet still the hook
Core range spans 23mm and 31.5mm sizes
Pricing starts at AUD $3,800

To mark 40 years of its pioneering High-Tech Ceramic, Rado is reviving the Integral with a limited anniversary model and a refreshed core lineup. While most watches age quietly, the Integral still looks like a retro-futurist relic belonging behind glass – untouched since the ’80s, in the best way possible.

Same square case, same black ceramic running through the bracelet, just tightened up with modern materials and finishing. The reason it still works is pretty simple. It was never designed like a normal watch.

And while some purists demand mechanical, the use of slim quartz movements allows the Integral to maintain its signature ultra-thin profile – just 7.3mm for the Anniversary model.

Built as One Piece, Not Parts

Most watches are case first, bracelet second. The Integral was always the opposite.

Case, bracelet and even the curved sapphire crystal were designed to flow together as one continuous shape. The crystal is bonded directly into the case, which is why the whole thing reads softer than it should, even though it’s one of the hardest materials on the watch.

And that’s where it gets its name. Everything is integrated, not added on later.

And once you notice it, you can’t really unsee it. It’s less “watch on a bracelet” and more a single object that happens to tell the time.

Ceramic Before Everyone Else Cared

Rado introduced high-tech ceramic to watchmaking back in 1986, well before it became a go-to material across the industry.

It wasn’t just about looks. Ceramic gave the watch a smooth, almost frictionless feel on the wrist, while also resisting scratches far better than traditional steel.

That combination still holds up. You wear it for a day and it feels different. Lighter, smoother, less fussy. You don’t think about it until you wear something else again.

Rado 40th anniversary limited edition r20258162 9 — Rado 40th Anniversary Limited Edition (R20258162) | Image: Supplied

The 40th Anniversary Model

The anniversary piece sticks close to the original formula. You’re looking at a compact 28mm case in yellow gold-coloured PVD steel, paired with black ceramic centre links through the bracelet. Inside is Rado’s PreciDrive quartz movement, with a simple two-hand layout and a date at six.

Worth noting, the watch wasn’t even called the Integral when it first launched. Early versions went out as the DiaStar Anatom before the name settled in a couple of years later.

Rado Integral 40-Year Anniversary (Limited Edition)

Reference: R20258162
Case size: 28.0 x 39.8 x 7.3 mm
Movement: Rado calibre R279 (quartz, PreciDrive)
Functions: Hours, minutes, date (6 o’clock)
Case: Yellow gold-coloured PVD stainless steel
Crystal: Curved sapphire, anti-reflective coating
Dial: Black vertical brushed
Hands & indices: Gold-coloured with Super-LumiNova
Bracelet: PVD steel with black high-tech ceramic centre links
Water resistance: 50 metres
Price: Upon request

Rado integral diamonds super jublié r20249152 9 — Rado Integral Diamonds Super Jublié (R20249152) | Image: Supplied

The Super Jubilé

A 23mm stainless steel case is paired with black ceramic centre links and a diamond-set bezel, framing a black aventurine dial that catches the light with a subtle shimmer. The 56 diamonds around the case do most of the talking, but the dial holds its own once you notice it.

Powering it is Rado’s R209 quartz movement, keeping the layout clean with a simple two-hand display.

Rado integral diamonds super jublié r20249152 3 — Rado Integral Diamonds Super Jublié (R20249152) | Image: Supplied

Rado Integral Diamonds Super Jubilé (Ref. R20249152)

Case size: 23.0 x 6.1 mm
Weight: 61.8 g
Movement: Rado calibre R209 (quartz)
Functions: Hours, minutes
Case: Stainless steel
Bezel: 56 diamonds (0.580 ct)
Crystal: Curved sapphire
Dial: Black aventurine
Hands & indices: Rhodium-plated
Bracelet: Stainless steel with black high-tech ceramic centre links
Clasp: 3-fold stainless steel
Price: AUD $7,550

Rado integral diamonds 23mm 2 — Rado Integral | Image: Supplied

More Variants, Same Formula

Alongside the anniversary model is a wider collection across two sizes, 23mm and 31.5mm.

From there, it scales up in detail rather than changing the design. Entry models keep things clean, while others add subtle touches like four-diamond hour markers or mother-of-pearl dials.

At the top end, the Jubilé versions go all in, with 56 Top Wesselton diamonds framing the dial.

Across the range, you’re getting quartz movements, curved sapphire crystals, and the same integrated case and bracelet design. The differences come down to size, finish, detailing, and, of course, price.

Pricing starts around AUD$3,800 and runs up to about AUD$7,550, depending on how far you want to take it.