We know that High-Tech ceramics are one of the specialties of the Swiss watchmaker Rado; which belongs to the Swatch Group, remember. And the Captain Cook is one of the brand’s historic models. A model originally launched in 1962 and which would only be produced for six years… Vintage lovers take note!
Riding on vintage fashion, Rado successfully relaunched this model in 2017, since then offering it in different versions close to the design of the original model, but with more contemporary materials and size.
With this new variation, Rado abandons the vintage side of this watch to bring it fully into the modern world. Overall, we obviously find the spirit of the historic piece, but in a more contemporary version, whether in terms of its size, the materials used or the caliber.
In fact, this watch sports an imposing 43 mm monobloc case, water-resistant to 300 meters. The latter, like the bezel, the screw-down crown (a first) and the bracelet clasp, is made of matte navy blue High-Tech ceramic, an unalterable, light and hypoallergenic material, which resists all the “scratches of time” while while being pleasant to wear.
The unidirectional rotating diving bezel is made of ceramic with a scratch-resistant blue ceramic insert. We notice the particular texture of the ceramic of the bezel which offers an anti-fingerprint structure. So no fingerprints!
The smoked glass dial reveals the heart of the caliber and its skeletonized plate which nonetheless remains extremely readable thanks to large indexes associated with the famous hands, very characteristic of the Captain Cook, covered in luminescent material with blue emission.
This diver features the automatic mechanical “three-hand” caliber, the Rado R808, equipped with a Nivachron hairspring which has the advantage of protecting the timepiece from magnetic fields (practical when passing under airport gates for example) .
Very precise, it also offers a very comfortable power reserve of 80 hours! Weekend proof therefore. The latter and its Rado anchor-shaped oscillating weight are visible through the smoked sapphire and brushed navy blue PVD titanium case back.
Let us also remember that all automatic calibers are symbolized on the Rado by the mobile anchor – which moves with the movements of the wrist – on a red background placed on the dial at 12 o’clock.
The whole thing is worn on a navy blue rubber strap which closes with a ceramic buckle. To discover at Emile Léon in Paris.
