Watch design often draws inspiration from unexpected places. For Rado’s latest collaboration with Chinese actor and singer Tan Jianci, it was the shifting colours of a Swiss lake that provided the starting point.
During a recent visit to Switzerland, Tan, who serves as Rado’s global brand ambassador, was particularly taken by Lake Lungern and its distinctive turquoise waters. The experience would eventually inform the colour palette of the Rado True Square Thinline x Tan Jianci Limited Edition, a 320-piece release that brings a more personal dimension to the brand’s established ceramic watchmaking.
Rather than introducing an entirely new design, the collaboration builds on the existing True Square Thinline, using colour, material and subtle detailing to give the familiar silhouette a different character.
A Different Expression Of Ceramic
Rado has long made high-tech ceramic central to its identity, exploring the material’s possibilities beyond conventional watchmaking applications. Its appeal lies in a combination of hardness, scratch resistance, lightness and the smooth sensation it offers against the skin.
For this collaboration, Tan worked with Rado CEO Adrian Bosshard and the brand’s design and product teams, eventually selecting the True Square Thinline as the foundation.
At just 5mm thick, the watch takes a decidedly understated approach to contemporary design. Its rounded-square case offers an alternative to traditional circular watches, while the slim proportions allow the ceramic construction to take precedence.
The most distinctive element is the dial. Rendered in turquoise mother-of-pearl, its shifting tones recall the waters of Lake Lungern without attempting a literal interpretation of the landscape. Against the polished white ceramic case and bracelet, the colour introduces a softness to the otherwise geometric design.
Yellow accents on the hands and Rado logo provide an unexpected contrast, preventing the composition from becoming overly restrained.
Personal Details, Minimalist Design
Celebrity collaborations frequently rely on prominent signatures or conspicuous branding. Here, Tan’s involvement is expressed through smaller details.
The case back carries the inscription “CO-CREATED BY JCT”, alongside a yellow accent, while the bracelet clasp is engraved with the words “KEEP SHINING”. Each case back also bears the inscription “ONE OF 320”, referencing the limited production run and Tan’s community of supporters.
Inside is Rado’s R420 quartz movement, a practical choice that complements the watch’s exceptionally slim construction. This is not a timepiece intended to showcase elaborate mechanical complications. Instead, its appeal rests on the interaction between colour, material and form.
The Rado True Square Thinline x Tan Jianci Limited Edition is ultimately an exercise in how relatively modest design changes can alter the personality of an established watch. Its connection to Lake Lungern gives the turquoise dial a story, but it is the contrast between the luminous mother-of-pearl and white ceramic that makes the design visually distinctive.
