Blaze of Glory: Rado X Sam Amoia True Blaze
American interior designer Sam Amoia has joined forces with Rado to create a glittering vision for one of the watchmaker’s most sought-after watch designs.
The True Blaze is the first in a series of six watches where Rado collaborates with today’s up and coming modern designers across multiple genres. Today, we look at the work of interior designer Samuel Amoia.
Recently named by Vogue as “one of the Young Interior Designers to Watch, Samuel Amoia is an interior and furniture designer based in New York city. In working on the Rado True Blaze, it becomes readily apparent that materials are fundamental to his work as a designer – from the high tech ceramic ‘canvas’ to his choice of galvanic creation process, the interior designer’s vision and ethos takes an otherwise hyper-clean, unblemished (and nigh tarnish-proof) ceramic Rado True and infuses it with a face of glorious blazing stars.
Blaze of Glory: Rado x Sam Amoia True Blaze
Amoia’s inspiration for the Rado True Blaze draws upon nature’s majesty through simple, honest materials; in creating the True Blaze, Amoia has created something interesting yet still clean and sculptural. Layered with texture, his design approach is strongest reflected in the dial of the True Blaze.
“I wanted to create a simple but innovative piece. Something that reflects my aesthetic and personal design philosophy,” – Sam Amoia
Limited to 1001 pieces, the Rado True Blaze is a celebration of glitz and glamour. 40mm plasma high-tech ceramic case notwithstanding, the dial, evocative of a club element from our disco days is an expression of not just art but material science: The silvery metallic dial is created by using a galvanic process that replicates the crystalline structure of diamond powder, what results is an ostentatious glittery explosion with minimalist feel thanks to the simple gold indexes and subtle Rado logo imbuing the Blaze with a sophisticated aesthetic.
“The True Blaze has such a powerful visual impact, which makes it the perfect embodiment of the Radospirit. Adding Sam Amoia’s unique design sensibility to our collection is a huge enrichment, both for the brand and for our customers.” – Rado CEO Matthias Breschan
While the Rado True collection encompasses quartz movements as well, Amoia’s True Blaze found voice in the sweeping passage of seconds courtesy of an automatic movement. It is a choice, Amoia explains, which allows the watch to better connect with the wearer.
Sam Amoia was astounded how much work goes into a Rado timepiece and the bespoke element of handcrafts even before his unique dial technique was applied. As a recent recipient of the “Rising Talent” award from the prestigious Parisian Maison & Objet fair, it speaks volumes about Rado.
Limited to 1001 pieces, the Rado True Blaze features Amoia’s signature style housed in one of Rado’s most sought-after watch designs. Find out more.
Words by Jonathan Ho.