Bold claim first: a blockbuster career on screen meets a surprising role behind the scenes as a watch designer. Ji Chang-wook, beloved for his versatility—from romantic leads to era-spanning heroes—takes on a hands-on creative challenge with Rado. The actor-turned-collaborator experienced the craft up close during a visit to Rado’s high-tech Comadur ceramic facility, where intricate watchmaking sparked a new appreciation for the timepieces he would later help shape.
It isn’t clear who floated the idea first—Ji or Rado CEO Adrian Bosshard, who guided him through the factory—but the result is a collaborative creation: a watch born from Ji’s input. The Healer star didn’t hesitate to embrace the opportunity, noting that the factory tour deepened his connection to Rado’s artistry and the watches themselves.
The partnership culminated in Bangkok with the debut of the True Square Open Heart Limited Edition, a timepiece Ji helped design alongside Rado. The reveal highlighted Ji’s personal preference for the True Square, a model he enjoys wearing in everyday life. “Since I wear it so often in real life, I wanted to craft my own version of it,” he explained.
Limited to 987 units—a nod to Ji’s birth year, 1987—the watch pairs a matte black high-tech ceramic case with an open dial that showcases the movement’s decorative circular grain and Côtes de Genève finishes. Ji proposed the open dial to emphasize transparency and a contemporary edge. The caseback is titanium with a small sapphire crystal window that reveals more of the automatic R734 caliber and its Nivachron hairspring. Ji’s signature graces the sapphire crystal, adding a personal touch.
A striking detail: 12 red rubies encircle the dial, reflecting Ji’s birthstone and symbolizing luck in his culture, where red is considered auspicious. While rubies aren’t rare in watchmaking, their hardiness and resistance to wear make them ideal for reducing friction at crucial movement points—though they are often tucked away from casual view.
For more on Rado’s evolving story with iconic partnerships and innovative materials, see related coverage on ceramic watchmaking and Rado’s lasting collaborations.”}
