Ji (left) and Bosshard at the event celebrating Rado boutique’s opening in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
Luxury Swiss watch brand Rado is not known to do things by halves, and the opening of its new boutique in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is testament to its commitment to horology.
The momentous occasion last November was marked by a red carpet event welcoming popular South Korean actor Ji Chang-wook. This was the star’s first overseas appearance with Rado since he was signed on as brand ambassador early 2023.
Hundreds of excited fans thronged the mall from as early as that morning just to catch a glimpse of their favourite K-drama heartthrob, some flying in from Sarawak, Singapore and even Australia. The crowd went wild when Ji, clad in all black, finally appeared and made his way to Pavilion Mall’s centre court amid loud cheers and screams, signing autographs and shaking hands with ardent fans along the way.
Global stage presence
The actor, who also has a notable career in stage musicals, has gone from strength to strength with an uninterrupted string of starring roles in TV series and films dating back to 2010. He has been a fixture at Asia’s most prestigious awards presentations and his honours include the APAN Global Star Award, three Asia Artist Awards, a Chinese Drama Award and multiple KBS Drama Awards.
Ji walking down towards the centre court in Pavilion KL.
During an exclusive interview with StarChrono, Ji says he is honoured to be appointed Rado’s global ambassador and looks forward to working on more exciting projects together with the brand. In his role as Rado’s standard bearer, Ji dons the Captain Cook High-Tech Skeleton.
“The Captain Cook range is Rado’s signature series, and it’s really beautiful and modern. It’s also a diver’s watch, so it’s resistant to scratches. I love the detailed craftmanship and sophisticated designs, especially the unique dial,” he says.
He is astonished by the warm welcome he receives during his appearance at the brand event, saying: “We knew that it was going to be a great event, but I don’t think any of us realised so many people were going to show up.
“Everyone in Kuala Lumpur gave me an amazing welcome and I look forward to coming back when I have more time. It was such a pleasure to be here with (Rado CEO) Adrian (Bosshard) and the entire Rado team. I love the new watch!”There has been a lot of traction on his recent series, The Worst of Evil, as the character he portrays is quite intense. This series is Ji’s first foray into the noir genre.
From left: Tong, Whulandary, Bosshard, Ji, Ruhainies and Azrel.
“I worked hard to focus on the character’s situation,” he says. “There was some physical action, but I tried to focus more on the emotional aspects, especially the relationship between Jun-mo and the people around him. I hope the subtle emotions and tension between them were well conveyed. It’s always challenging and fun to be able to play a variety of characters. If it’s a good movie and character, I’m always willing to try it.
“I’ve been an actor for a long time, but I still find acting challenging, from reading the script to playing a new persona (character), working with the other actors and crew. It’s not just about me, the actor, but a lot of other people are involved in the production, and that’s what makes it interesting,” he adds.
On the heels of the action-packed series is Welcome to Samdal-ri, a heartwarming romance drama.
“It’s a story of small touches and fun between lovers, friends and family. I hope I conveyed some warmth to viewers this winter,” he says.
In an actor’s world, timing is everything, with a split-second difference in delivery making or breaking a scene. When asked what time meant to him, Ji replies: “Time is limited which makes it all the more precious. I feel it goes by too fast if I’m not paying attention, so I try to spend more quality time with good people.”
The first yellow gold-coloured Rado DiaStar Original Skeleton with the brand’s ground-breaking Ceramos bezel.
Rado’s new star
Founded by the Schlup brothers Fritz, Ernst and Werner under the name Schulp & Co in 1917, the company grew to become one of the largest producers of watch movements, its name synonymous with Swiss-made quality.
In 1962, it released the Rado DiaStar, the world’s first scratch-proof watch, crafted from ultra-resistant hard metal and boasting a futuristic design. Introduced during a time when watches were more conventional, the DiaStar stood out from all the rest, thanks to its unusual design and avant garde use of materials. Intended to be a watch that would outlive practically anything, the nature of the Diastar is such that it has a diamond-like resistance and an indestructible shine, making the clever fusion of the two words – DiaStar – an apt moniker.
Fast forward six decades later, Rado celebrated DiaStar’s 60th anniversary in 2022 with new models that switched the case material from tungsten carbide, a defining part of the watch, to Rado Ceramos which boasts extraordinary durability, lightness and scratch resistance. Ceramos also delivers a unique feel and unmatched comfort for the wearer, and is an integral part of Rado’s impressive evolution.
During the opening of its boutique, Rado also launched an update of the yellow gold-coloured DiaStar Original, which has remained popular with watch aficionados since its first appearance in 1972.
Rado DiaStar looking good even after turning 60 years old.
Rado chief executive officer Adrian Bosshard presented one of the timepieces to Ji who became the first official owner of the new striking yellow gold-coloured DiaStar Original Skeleton.
“I’ve been gifted and worn other colours of the DiaStar Skeleton before, so it’s refreshing to see a different colour. The yellow colour is beautiful because it’s unique and has its own vibe,” says Ji.
The new interpretation is the first yellow gold-coloured DiaStar Original Skeleton to be fitted with a Ceramos bezel. Beyond the yellow gold-coloured case, the new DiaStar Original Skeleton watch also features Rado’s celebrated Art of Skeletonization – the innovative anthracite-grey coated version of the R808 automatic calibre – on full display through the sapphire crystal, both on the front and back of the case. The Rado and DiaStar logos are printed on the inside of the front crystal.
The movement, thoroughly tested in five different positions, is equipped with a Nivachron balance hairspring, making it particularly resistant to the influence of magnetic fields that are common nowadays. The R808 movement offers a power reserve of 80 hours and the watch is water-resistant to 10 bar/100m.
The black dial, seen in sharp contrast to the case and bezel, features a white printed minute track and flying yellow gold-coloured indexes which, like the hour and minute hands, are coated with white Super-LumiNova, offering great legibility in all reading conditions. The dial is also enhanced with a gold-coloured Rado anchor symbol on a red background.
This DiaStar Original Skeleton is presented in a polished and brushed yellow gold-coloured PVD coated stainless steel bracelet with a triple-fold clasp and Rado’s EasyClip system. Like the other watches in the updated DiaStar Original collection, the yellow gold-coloured model communicates the radical design DNA of its predecessor with a refined shape that is elegant and sophisticated.
