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The Rado DiaStar Original Automatic Skeleton that matches this title is reference R12162153. Rado lists it with a 38 mm stainless-steel case and bracelet, a Ceramos bezel, and an openworked automatic movement visible beneath sapphire crystal. Its listed power reserve is 80 hours. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent test results.
What is the Rado DiaStar Original Skeleton?
R12162153 is the standard steel-colored version of the DiaStar Original Automatic Skeleton. The open dial exposes the movement, while floating yellow-gold-colored indexes and luminous details provide the time display. Rado frames the skeletonized movement with a Ceramos bezel, making the watch’s materials and movement architecture its defining features.
Rado’s US product listing gives the case a 38 mm diameter and 11.9 mm thickness. Those dimensions help indicate wrist presence, but they cannot establish how the curved case and bracelet will fit a particular wrist. Trying the watch on is the most useful way to judge comfort and proportion.
Movement, power reserve and visibility
R808 automatic calibre
Rado specifies its automatic R808 calibre, an 80-hour power reserve and a Nivachron hairspring. The company says the movement is tested and adjusted in five positions. These are Rado’s stated specifications; they should not be read as independent accuracy or performance measurements.
#1 Best Overall
- Case Material: Stainless Steel and Ceramos
- Movement Type: Automatic
- Case Size: 38.0 mm
- Case Thickness: 11.9 mm
- Bracelet Material: Stainless Steel
Open dial and sapphire windows
The movement can be viewed through the open dial and the transparent sapphire caseback. Rado lists sapphire crystal at both the front and back. The black dial, floating yellow-gold-colored indexes and luminous details create the contrast around the exposed movement; the skeleton design also means the dial is less visually solid than a conventional closed dial.
What Ceramos means on this watch
Rado describes Ceramos as a combination of high-tech ceramic—specifically titanium carbide—and metallic alloy. On R12162153, it forms the bezel around the stainless-steel case and bracelet. Rado associates Ceramos with scratch resistance, but that is a manufacturer claim rather than an independent durability test.
Rank #2
- DiaStar Original X Tej Chauhan Special Edition - R12165155
The material is part of the DiaStar story: Rado’s user manual says the company introduced the scratch-resistant DiaStar 1 (The Original) in 1962. That historical account is Rado’s own published history.
R12162153 or the gold-colored skeleton variant?
Rado also lists skeleton reference R12164153. It is a distinct finish variant, not another name for R12162153: the Swiss listing describes a polished yellow-gold-colored Ceramos PVD bezel and a matching bracelet finish.
Rank #3
- Case Materials and Thickness: Silver Hardmetal and Stainless Steel. 11.9 mm
- Dial: Black Dial with Crystals as Indexes and Date Display at 6 o'clock
- Bracelet: Silver Stainless Steel and Fold Over Clasp
- Movement: Swiss Automatic and 80 Hours Movement Power Reserve
- Water Resistant: 3 bar (30 m)
| Reference | Finish and listed characteristics | Regional listed price |
|---|---|---|
| R12162153 | Steel-colored Ceramos bezel with stainless-steel case and bracelet; 38 mm diameter, 11.9 mm thickness; R808 automatic calibre and 80-hour stated power reserve. | $2,300 on Rado’s US e-shop when accessed in 2026; regional price and availability can change. |
| R12164153 | Polished yellow-gold-colored Ceramos PVD bezel and matching bracelet finish. The Swiss product listing identifies this as a separate skeleton reference. | CHF 2,250 including VAT on Rado’s Swiss listing when accessed in 2026; regional price and availability can change. |
The listings are for different references and different markets, so their prices are not a like-for-like regional comparison. Check the reference, finish, local price and stock with Rado or a retailer before buying.
What to consider before buying
- Finish: Choose between the steel-colored look of R12162153 and the yellow-gold-colored PVD finish of R12164153.
- Fit: Use the listed 38 mm diameter and 11.9 mm thickness as starting points, then assess how the watch sits on your wrist.
- Legibility: The openworked dial foregrounds the movement. Consider whether its display and luminous details suit how you read a watch at a glance.
- Movement specification: Rado states an 80-hour reserve and five-position adjustment for the R808; the listing does not provide independent timing results.
- Purchase details: Verify the exact reference, current local price, availability, warranty terms and seller status. The listed prices above are regional snapshots, not universal prices.
Official product information
Consult Rado’s US listing for R12162153 for the standard steel-colored version, and Rado’s Swiss listing for R12164153 for the yellow-gold-colored variant. Rado’s 2024 user manual explains the company’s material and DiaStar history. Product details and prices can vary by region and change over time.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Case Materials & Thickness: CVD-coated hardmetal, Stainless Steel, Stainless steel / PVD. 11.9 mm
- Dial: Gold with Crystal as Indexes and Date Display, Facetted Sapphire Crystal.
- Bracelet: Gold Stainless Steel / PVD and Fold Over Clasp
- Movement: Swiss Automatic, 80 Hours Movement Porwer Reserve
- Water Resistant: 3 bar (30 m)
Rank #4
- Case Materials and Thickness: CVD-coated harmetal, Stainless Steel and PVD. 11.9 mm and Oval Shape
- Dial: Facetted Sapphire Crystal with Crystal and Blue Crystals as Indexes
- Bracelet: Gold Stainless Steel, PVD and Titanium Clasp
- Movement: Swiss Automatic Movement and 80 Hours Movement Power Reserve.
- Water Resistant : 3 bar (30 m)
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
