The Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton gets a green and gold Aussie update
Jamie WeissWhen I hear ‘Rado’, two things immediately come to mind. The first thing is ceramic: Rado styles itself as the ‘Master of Materials’, the brand having introduced the world’s first scratchproof watch in 1962 as well as pioneering the use of high-tech ceramic in the 1980s. The second thing I think about is the Rado Captain Cook. Also making its debut in 1962, the Captain Cook was one of the world’s first modern dive watches. Boasting a unique angled bezel and oversized hour hand, it’s one of the most underrated dive watch designs out there, in my opinion at least.
These days, I also increasingly associate Rado with skeletonised watches, with the Swiss brand’s expansive range featuring dozens of skeletonised, open-worked and open-heart timepieces literally. You can see where I’m going with this: the Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton is all three of these things, brought together in a sporty, cohesive and eye-catching package. The latest iteration of this dive watch features a somewhat Australian green and gold look: a colour scheme Rado has dabbled in before. You beauty.
The case
Measuring up at 43mm in diameter, the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton’s case is crafted from a single piece of matte olive green high-tech ceramic. One of the main advantages of ceramic, of course, is not just its scratch resistance, but also its light weight, so despite this above-average diameter, it’s actually a fairly sprightly watch on the wrist. With the bracelet, it weighs in at 151.3 grams, which is 12.7 grams lighter than a steel Captain Cook.
Rado has paired this olive green ceramic case with a matching olive green circular-brushed ceramic insert for its unidirectional diving bezel, with that green framed by bezel knurling in PVD rose gold. The handset, lume plots and crown are also PVD rose gold. The patriot in me really likes this green-and-gold combination – which seems particularly appropriate for a watch called the Captain Cook – but you don’t have to be an Aussie to appreciate this Rado’s colour scheme. The olive green is subtle, vegetal and organic, while the gold highlights add a touch of luxury, and complement the gold-accented components of the movement that’s proudly on display.
The dial
As the name implies, the Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton features a skeletonised dial, on display under a smoked sapphire crystal. Compared to previous skeletonised Captain Cook references, the new dial isn’t smoked nearly as aggressively, but there’s still a subtle tint. It’s a bold move to obscure a watch’s movement after you’ve gone to the effort of skeletonising it, even if that smoked effect doesn’t really hide the movement.
As mentioned previously, the hits of rose gold from the handset and lume plots add an air of luxury, as well as help aid legibility. You’ve also still got that classic Rado anchor at 12 o’clock that spins like a miniature winding rotor – a design cue Rado debuted with the Captain Cook back in 1962.
The bracelet
The Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton is available with two different strap options: a rubber strap with a texture that evokes a Milanese bracelet, or a full olive green ceramic bracelet with a titanium butterfly clasp. Like the watch’s case, it’s uniformly matte, and features a pleasant three-link design.
The movement
The Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton is powered by the Rado calibre R808, a higher-grade version of the Swatch Group’s popular Powermatic 80 movement that’s designed with improved accuracy and beauty in mind. Befitting a skeletonised watch, the R808 in the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton is nicely finished on both sides of the movement, with a côtes de Genève-finished rotor and a rose gold-coloured brushed centre wheel bridge particular highlights. An exhibition caseback helps you admire the R808 from both sides of the watch, too.
Adjusted to 5 positions rather than the usual 3, the R808 in the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton features an anti-magnetic Nivachron hairspring, an 80-hour power reserve and helps this dive watch achieve a 300 metre water resistance rating. That’s three big boxes checked right there: a weekend-proof power reserve, proper dive watch water resistance and elevated finishing.
The verdict
There’s a lot to like with this green and gold Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton. There are few watches with movements as tastefully skeletonised as this Rado’s at this sort of price point, and fewer still in ceramic with the sorts of tool watch credentials it brings to the table.
Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton pricing and availability
The Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton is available now at Rado retailers and online. Price: A$7,450.
| Brand | Rado |
| Model | Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton |
| Reference Number | R32150162 |
| Case Dimensions | 43mm (D) x 14.6mm (T) x 49.8mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | High-tech ceramic with rose gold PVD highlights |
| Water Resistance | 300 metres, screw-down crown |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Skeletonised with smoked sapphire dial |
| Lug Width | 21mm |
| Strap | Ceramic bracelet or rubber Milanese-effect strap |
| Movement | R808, ETA C07 base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 80 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, unidirectional diving bezel |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | A$7,450 |