Bangkok has solidified its reputation as a luxury shopping destination in recent years—its urban landscape has evolved rapidly, with sprawling megamalls and new skyscrapers shooting up at every turn. In the business district of Bang Rak lies Central Park, the city’s latest high-end retail destination that is home to some of the world’s most coveted brands. It’s here that Rado recently unveiled its first standalone boutique in Bangkok, and its second in Thailand.
Related article: Tiffany & Co.'s Legendary Legacy Exhibition In Bangkok: Nature Reimagined
Attended by Rado CEO Adrian Bosshard and global brand ambassador Ji Chang-wook, the grand opening kicked off at an atrium mere steps away from the boutique, before a crowd of eager fans clamouring for a glimpse of the South Korean actor and singer.
Unlike the bustling atmosphere outside, the boutique, nestled in one of the shopping centre’s more peaceful corners, is calm and inviting. Its minimalist wood interiors feel futuristic without being aloof, mirroring the sleek design codes of the brand’s iconic ceramic timepieces. Here, customers can find Rado’s full range of watches “The best way to get to know Rado is to see and feel the product in our boutique,” says Bosshard. “When you do this, you [realise] that it’s the watch for your life.”
Related article: Patek Philippe Unveils New Gondolo Serata With Zebra Dial & Spessartite Gems
Later, we are whisked to CentralWorld, one of Bangkok’s most popular shopping malls, to witness another milestone: The launch of the True Square Open Heart x Ji Chang-wook Limited Edition.
Ji was invited to visit Rado’s headquarters in Lengnau, Switzerland, over a year ago. It was here that he witnessed the development of Rado’s signature high-tech ceramic firsthand. “I learnt so much about how difficult the process is to produce the ceramic, and how much skill goes into it when I saw it in person,” he shares. He was fascinated by the research and design processes that went into each Rado watch, something that did not go unnoticed.
Related article: Rolex & Cortina Watch Celebrate 70 Years Of The GMT-Master With An Exhibition
The Swiss brand then broached the idea of co-designing a limited edition timepiece together. Ji says, “It’s quite uncommon for an actor to collaborate on a watch design. I thought it was amazing that Rado wanted to work with me to make a watch, and I thought it would be fun.”
The actor chose to build on Rado’s emblematic True Square model, which he personally liked for its lightweight comfort and ease of styling with both casual and formal wear. Its matte black, high-tech ceramic gives the timepiece a refined, understated look, while the openworked dial shows off the watch’s Côtes de Genève-decorated automatic movement that offers an excellent 80-hour power reserve to tide the wearer through the weekend, as well as an Antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring for greater timetelling reliability.
Ji suggested marking the watch’s twelve indices with rubies, his birthstone. This design detail was something he pondered over, uncertain if it would complement the watch design. But he was happy with the final product, which strikes a balance between glitz and personality, and yet is grounded in Rado’s modern design language. On the titanium case back is a smoked sapphire crystal, bearing the words “Limited Edition, One Out Of 987” and Ji’s signature in white.
“Skill and design go hand in hand in watchmaking. But I think most people pay a bit more attention to design,” says Ji. “Over time, watches have evolved into something more meaningful beyond their function, into something that showcases identity. I think both are very important today.”