Rado True Round X Les Couleurs Le Corbusia collection
Rado, a dynamic Swiss watch brand known for pioneering into the world of high-tech ceramic watches nearly 40 years ago—with its first ceramic watch in 1986, followed by multiple collections thereafter—continues its pioneering spirit. The brand has long been adept at new materials, engineering scratch-resistant ceramic in a spectrum of colors, and experimenting with artistic and technical innovation over the decades. Now, it revisits one of its most compelling creative avenues with the new Rado True Round x Les Couleurs Le Corbusier Special Edition watches.
Each watch is powered by an automatic movement.
At the heart of the collection is Le Corbusier, born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, widely regarded as a pioneer of modern architecture. His influence extended far beyond buildings to urban planning, furniture, painting and theory. Among his most enduring contributions is the Polychromie Architecturale, a system of 63 carefully calibrated colors developed between 1931 and 1959. Conceived as inherently harmonious and infinitely combinable, the palette remains a touchstone for architects and designers today. His architectural legacy includes icons such as the Unité d’Habitation in Marseille and the Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts at Harvard—his only North American building—as well as the master plan for Chandigarh, India.
Rado’s partnership with Les Couleurs Suisse, mandated by the Fondation Le Corbusier, dates back several years and has already yielded a dozen vibrant timepieces rooted in this color system. I recall being struck by the very first collection—its streamlined forms and fearless use of color in high-tech ceramic felt both design-forward and emotionally resonant, a rare balance in watchmaking.
The Rado True Round X Les Couleurs Le Corbusia collection of watches consists of three models, each retailing for about $3,000.
The latest trio of watches deepens that narrative in a more expressive, almost architectural way. Each piece is tied to a specific Corbusier landmark—Marseille’s La Cité Radieuse, the Carpenter Center, and the civic buildings of Chandigarh—but rather than literal translation, Rado distills their essence. The dials are where this becomes most apparent: finely laser-engraved with striations that mimic the grain of poured concrete, they create a layered visual rhythm that shifts with the light. It’s not just texture for texture’s sake—it evokes the way Corbusier used béton-brut to give his buildings both structure and soul.
Color, too, plays a more nuanced role than in earlier editions. Instead of bold, singular hues, each watch blends four tones from the Polychromie Architecturale, resulting in subtle yet sophisticated contrasts. Hands in unexpected shades—soft ultramarines, vivid orange, or muted greens—float against the textured dials, adding a sense of movement and modernity without overwhelming the composition. The effect feels curated, almost painterly, and very much in line with Corbusier’s belief that color should shape emotion and space.
The back of each watch boasts a color wheel of Le Corbusier’s 63 colors.
Technically, the watches remain grounded in Rado’s material mastery. The monobloc high-tech ceramic cases—lightweight, hypoallergenic and virtually scratch-proof—carry color all the way through the material rather than as a surface treatment, lending a depth and permanence that mirrors architectural intent. Inside, the automatic R763 movement delivers an 80-hour power reserve, while the sapphire caseback frames a ring of all 63 Corbusier colors—an intimate, almost hidden detail that connects the wearer back to the full scope of his vision.
I have had the distinct pleasure of witnessing previous Rado / Le Corbusier collections as they were being unveiled, and I am always struck by the commitment to color, texture and geometry that accurately reflect the genius of the man. The new watches retail for approximately $3,000.
Rado True Round X Les Couleurs Le Corbusia collection.
