Rado might have pioneered high tech ceramics in watch-making but its recent slew of new gems have unearthed a treasure trove of exquisite references which faded out of contemporary memory: among them, this new execution of Captain Cook in Bronze.
Some watch lovers believe revisiting one’s own heritage archives in the hopes of rediscovering forgotten gems of watchmaking is an exercise in cynical commercialism but with the new Rado Captain Cook Bronze and last year’s limited edition Rado Golden Horse (a hand’s on review coming shortly), the Swiss luxury watchmaker founded in 1917 and is unearthing a treasure trove of exquisite references which faded out of contemporary memory when the brand pioneered the first scratch-resistant watch, the DiaStar, in 1962.
Since then, in the minds of the modern watch connoisseur, Rado has the hard earned reputation and association in the realm of high tech, scratch proof ceramics and plasma ceramics – a technique now used in sister brands across Swatch Group (that said, there is no official word if the material process used by Jaquet Droz is the same as Rado’s). For 2020, Rado revisits the Rado Captain Cook in bronze with a bronze bezel with high-tech ceramic insert – blending the brand’s signature 60s icons with modern ceramics.
The oldest man-made material, bronze was first used by the ancient Sumerians in the Tigris Euphrates valley around 3500 BC; comparatively, ceramics have only been in use for the last 2000 years or so, with the root word derived in the 1850s from the Greek ‘keramos’, meaning potter’s clay. Hence the new Captain Cook Bronze signals a book-ending of a great heritage; The new Rado Captain Cook’ bronze combines the striking appearance of earthy golden bronze with lush forest green hues, a winning combination of natural aesthetic contrasts: box-shaped sapphire crystal framed by bronze bezel with high-tech ceramic insert, the bronze case of the new Captain Cook is a compelling diver’s watch both visually and technically.
The modified ETA C07 movement provides 80 hours of power reserve, an advanced workhorse calibre which belies the vintage appearance of Rado’s heritage diving watch. Traditional yet innovative, enduring yet evolutionary: the new Rado Captain Cook Bronze is designed for eternity.
Movement automatic ETA C07 with 80 hours power reserve
Case 42mm bronze case with bronze bezel with polished green high-tech ceramic insert with metallised numbers and 300 metres water resistance
Strap Dark Green Leather
Price S$3530
What a gem of a luxury watch!