Rado CEO Adrian Bosshard On Design Philosophy, High-Tech Ceramics And Rado True Round x Les Couleurs Le Corbusier collection

There is something rather pleasing, almost quietly satisfying, about design when it is done properly, and in the case of Le Corbusier, it was never about noise or spectacle, but about a considered, methodical approach to how we live with objects and spaces. That same spirit finds a thoughtful continuation in the Rado True Round x Les Couleurs Le Corbusier collection, guided by the steady hand of Adrian Bosshard, who approaches design not as a fleeting trend but as a long term exercise in balance, restraint, and material intelligence. Rado, after all, has built its reputation on doing things differently, particularly through its mastery of high tech ceramic, a material that is not only remarkably durable but also rather agreeable to wear, which is more than can be said for many things that look good on paper. What makes this collection particularly interesting is not simply the use of colour, but the way it has been borrowed, quite respectfully, from Le Corbusier’s Polychromie Architecturale, a system that treats colour as something purposeful and architectural rather than decorative. The True Round, with its clean geometry and reassuring symmetry, becomes an ideal platform for this idea, allowing each tone to sit exactly where it should, without fuss or unnecessary drama. It is, in many ways, a very sensible collaboration, one that brings together two schools of thought that were always likely to get along. The result is a set of watches that feel considered rather than contrived, which is increasingly rare. In a conversation that explores this measured approach to design, material innovation, and enduring relevance, Outlook Luxe had a tête à tête with Adrian Bosshard, CEO of Rado, and Brigitte Bouvier, Director – Fondation Le Corbusier.

RADO has long been synonymous with material innovation and design forward watchmaking. What made Le Corbusier’s design language a natural partner for the brand at this moment in time?

Adrian Bosshard: The design of the Le Corbusier editions are strong because they are first of all inspired from the creativity of Charles-Édouard Le Corbusier and three of his really iconic buildings, and one of these buildings is coming from Chandigarh. So all the three pieces are extraordinarily produced in high-tech ceramic, matte high-tech ceramic with premium mechanical movements and of course also with the beautiful colour combination of the polychromy of Le Corbusier. That means design-wise they are inspired, colour-wise they are inspired and on every single watch on the dial, the dials are also in high-tech ceramic. That means it’s really a combination of creativity of Le Corbusier and the huge competence of the engineers, the watchmakers and designers of RADO. This collaboration bridges architecture and horology.

This collaboration bridges architecture and horology. How did Le Corbusier’s principles influence the creative and technical direction of the collection?

AB: Le Corbusier, was a genius, really an artist and a great creative in terms of architecture, design and also colours. And I see in our company we are working with our internal designers with a lot of talents. These talents get inspired from the pioneering spirit from Le Corbusier.

Le Corbusier believed that good design should serve both function and emotion. How does this philosophy translate into the watches being unveiled ?

AB: These were buildings who were created 78 years ago but still today they are shaping the future. It’s pure emotion and also a RADO watch is a pure emotion because our watches are mainly a special gift for an anniversary, for an important milestone in the life, for a wedding and therefore the beauty and the artwork of our watch in terms of design and material and the sensitivity of a watch.

RADO is often described as a master of modern materials. Were there specific colours, textures, or architectural cues from Le Corbusier’s work that challenged or inspired your design teams?

AB: But the realisation of it, this is the mastery of the work because every single colour, you need to find the right alloy, you need to have the right temperature and the ovens to make the sintering and to make the right finishing in order that we are aligned with the polychromy of Le Corbusier because we can only get approval from basically the brain of Le Corbusier’s vision that would mean the foundation. When the colour is matching 100% on the colour code of Le Corbusier and this I would say only RADO can do. It’s because we are working with high-tech ceramics for 40 years we are not only known as the master of material we got this reputation through the huge experience which we have through the huge expertise since generations.

India has a deeply rooted appreciation for art, architecture, and collectible design. How significant is the Indian market for RADO when launching culturally meaningful collaborations such as this one?

AB: It’s been around 4 years that the Indian market became the biggest market for RADO and this is of course something which is a huge satisfaction for the whole team here because first of all it’s a huge quantity of population that we are strongly rooted and I believe one of the reasons that we have this important position and this huge market share is exactly what the Indian people they like colours. The Indian people like art, design therefore also they engaged Mr. Le Corbusier to create the city Chandigarh. Here they like also particular and also pioneering designs and thanks to this situation we have huge quantity of fans here in India and I believe it will become more and more also in the upcoming months and years

In an era where consumers increasingly seek objects with narrative value, how important are collaborations like these in shaping the future identity of luxury watchmaking?

AB: A collaboration must make sense and it make only sense but basically the content of the collaboration is based on the same values and Le Corbusier’s also relation with art, with design, with colours was very strong. Like the brand DNA and the brand philosophy of RADO was always material, design and colours it’s a perfect match and therefore we are working already many years together..

Looking ahead, do you see RADO continuing to explore partnerships beyond traditional horology, perhaps further into architecture, art, or industrial design? What does the future of design driven watchmaking look like to you?

AB: Since decades designs and art is an important driver for our designers, for our engineers, for our brands and so the inspiration is endless. We are every year surprising customers with new beauties and every year we are surprising the customers with new beauties last year it was the DiaStar with Tej Chauhan. This year it’s a Le Corbusier we are in a running collaboration with the foundation that means inspiration it will never end and stay tuned all designers are hungry as Charles Edouard Le Corbusier was and therefore we have still a lot of surprises in the pipe for the Indian watch fans, art fans and design fans.

Le Corbusier’s work continues to influence generations of designers. What does it mean for the Foundation to see his legacy interpreted through contemporary watchmaking?

Brigitte Bouvier: Le Corbusier’s destiny fixed by his parents was to become a watchmaker because he took an engraving class in La Chaux-de-Fonds in an art school and he was supposed to be a watchmaker. But at the age of 15, his teacher said no you will be an architect I have higher purpose and goal for you so watchmaking is part of the DNA of Le Corbusier because he was born in the capital of watchmaking in Switzerland because he was trained as a watchmaker. What is funny is that now so many years after his death we come back to the origin and I think it’s very very moving that we have this collaborative project with RADO celebrating innovation, design and also the connection between architecture and art through innovation and through the research of materials.

Colour was central to Le Corbusier’s architectural vocabulary. How faithfully have his iconic palettes been translated into the watches?

BB: They are perfectly translated because the colours designed by Le Corbusier are checked and are approved before the new collection of RADO is launched. So there is a strict process of validation of the colours, they are faithful to Le Corbusier’s heritage.