Rado x Rainer Mutsch True Stratum

The True Stratum is the final timepiece in a series of six watches where Rado collaborates with today’s up and coming modern designers across multiple genres. Today, we delve into the textured depths of Austrian designer Rainer Mutsch.

Co-developed with Austrian designer Rainer Mutsch, the Rado True Stratum bears hallmarks of Rainer’s complementary expertise in Furniture Design, Product Design and Industrial Design. The multi-discipline Rainer often invites an element of play into his work.

Growing up in the carpenters workshop of his father, Rainer developed a keen sense balance (honed from with human scale measures) and responsible design. The essence of his creative work on the Rado True Stratum is emblematic of Rainer’s trademark style – the black dial of the True Stratum features delicate, asymmetrically arranged descending steps that emphasize the three dimensionality of the concave surface, an invitation to follow the path to the soul of the watch, the contrast seconds hand sweeping and evoking to emotions of what makes mechanical watches so thoroughly engaging – Rainer has infused the True Stratum with passion so its spirit prevails when it stands on its own.

Meanwhile, the slightly raised, oblong logo plate of Rado, imparts excitement to what otherwise might be a perfectly symmetrical albeit monochrome face – think Cindy Crawford sans beauty mark – gorgeous but nothing invites you to explore the rest of her face.

Matt rhodium hour and minute hands and a yellow second hand provide a pop of colour as well as easy readability. A perfectly centered metallised black dot anchors the entire aesthetic, at first glance, it appears as if an element situated on the hands but really, it’s affixed on the underside of the sapphire crystal. Naturally, the Rado True Stratum features brand’s signature high-tech ceramic matt black surfaces.

Much of Rainer’s exploration of new materials and production techniques is evident and the True Stratum is informed by his commitment to elegance, simplicity and precision; an element he plays up with the small sapphire glass window on caseback, which gives the wearer a glimpse of the automatic movement within.

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