A pioneer in the use of ceramics in watchmaking, Rado continues to pursue relentless research and development in terms of materials. Two new limited series of the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton offer new colour combinations.
For Rado technological experimentation on materials has been the main source of inspiration for years. Starting in 1962, with the creation of the Diastar (the world's first watch with an unscratchable case and crystal), the brand embarked on the path of studying more resistant materials and at the same time 'skin friendly'. This consolidated an important experience that led it to become, in the 1990s, among the brands pioneering the use of ceramics in watchmaking, when the field of processing this material was still unexplored.
Today, ceramics represent the ultimate expression of Rado production. In addition to having hardness characteristics equal to those of hard metals (such as tungsten carbide), but with a significantly lower weight, ceramics lent itself perfectly to the brand's pioneering philosophy and its values of style and design, offering the possibility of playing with colours, shapes and textures and ensure maximum comfort on the wrist thanks to its hypoallergenic properties, light weight and great dimensional stability. It is precisely the long-lasting and highly resistant qualities of the high-tech ceramic developed by Rado that provide the greatest impetus for the designers' work. This is demonstrated by a model such as the Captain Cook, the brand's first diver's watch, launched in 1962, which embodies the brand's vintage-inspired watchmaking in its catalogue.
Rado ceramics are manufactured in Le Locle in the factories of Comadur, a company owned by the Swatch Group. The components are then assembled by Rado.
A laser engraves numbers and indices on the ceramic bezel of the Captain Cook High Teh Ceramic.
With the introduction of the High-Tech Ceramic line, the Captain Cook has also embraced the technological spirit of Rado. The watch is now offered in two nuove limited series of 262 pieces, respectively with a bezel with polished yellow or orange inserts, combined with a polished blue hi-tech ceramic case.
Despite the 43 mm diameter of the one-piece case, the ceramic does not affect the weight. Equipped with a rotating bezel, a ceramic crown and a screw-down blue Pvd titanium case back, the watch is water-resistant to 300 metres. On the sapphire crystal protecting the skeleton dial, perfect legibility is provided by indexes and hands with white SuperLuminova.
Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton: 80-hour power reserve and Nivachron balance spring
Rado's rubber strap is light and ergonomic.
It is powered by the automatic R808 calibre with an 80-hour power reserve. It is also equipped with the Nivachron balance spring, a titanium-based alloy developed by the Swatch Group, which is not affected by magnetic fields, is resistant to temperature variations and has exceptional shock resistance.
A very interesting feature that brings attention to Rado's movements and not just the materials. Rado's R808 calibre is set in 5 positions: a quality standard offered mainly by high-end brands. The Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton comes with a navy blue rubber strap.
Price5,150 euro.
