VIDEO: The evolution of the Rado Captain Cook continues with more high-tech ceramic models
Time+TideUntil five years ago, the Rado Captain Cook was a largely forgotten watch. This handsome skin diver with a rotating bezel was in circulation from 1962 to 1972, before Rado moved onto fresh horological pastures and began establishing its reputation in the world of high-tech ceramics. But then in 2017, the brand surprised the watch world with an unexpected reissue. The Rado HyperChrome Captain Cook Limited Edition was a limited-edition heritage piece that measured a modest 37.3mm. Out of nowhere, it proved the unlikely hit of that year’s Baselworld fair.
Buoyed by that success, Rado expanded the Captain Cook family in subsequent years. The range grew to include all sorts of different iterations – fresh colourways, bronze cases and, last year, a high-tech ceramic model with a smoked sapphire dial. By the looks of things, they’re not done yet either. This year, another six references have been rolled out in high-tech ceramic as the Captain Cook reaffirms its positioning as a watch aimed at the modern adventurer.
This outdoorsy angle that Rado are pushing for the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic models is actually merited given how a good dive watch can really stand up to pretty much anything when required. The use of ceramic as a case material isn’t just about the colour variety and liquid-like shine when polished, it’s also fantastic for activity because it’s scratch and heat-resistant making it both more comfortable in the summer and less susceptible to wear. That said, Rado’s mastery of ceramic has been apparent for many years now, and they’re not afraid to show it with the variety of polished, brushed and matte finishes across the watches and the bracelets.
At 43mm in diameter, 49.8mm lug-to-lug and 14.6mm thick, there’s no denying this is a sizeable watch that’s built to withstand the knocks of a full-contact lifestyle. It’s made to perform in the water, too, becoming the first Rado qualifying for the ISO 6425 dive watch certification thanks, in part, to a water resistance of 300m.
The pick of the six new references is hewn from a silvery grey ceramic with a grey fumé dial and a two-tone finish created simply by the different polished and matte surfaces. Other versions of the case come in a charcoal black or a dusty khaki with each watch offering a choice of a matching ceramic bracelet or a beads-of-rice effect rubber strap.
The main change between the initial Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic and the new additions is the use of opaque dials. It’s a move that you’d imagine would only accelerate the Captain Cook’s momentum with skeletonised dials being a fairly polarising feature on last year’s releases. Check out the video to see what Andrew and Borna made of the new collection.
| Case Material | High-Tech Ceramic |
| Case Dimensions | 43mm x 49.8mm x 14.6mm |
| Water-Resistance | 200M |
| Dial | Blue, grey, black, green |
| Straps | Matching ceramic bracelet / matching beads-of-rice rubber |
| Movement | Calibre R763 |
| Power Reserve | 80 hours |
| Complications | Hours, minutes, seconds, date |
| Price | $4,775 AUD on rubber / $5,275 on bracelet |