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BACK IN 1962, Rado debuted the very first watch in its now vaunted Captain Cook line. The original Captain Cook timepiece was Rado’s first dive watch and was marketed towards “Doctors, engineers, athletes, deep sea divers and racing car drivers.” It proved to be an enduring, brand-defining design with one signature element that became even more iconic than the watch itself. That element was an embedded pivoting anchor indicating when the watch was due for a service. That anchor later became Rado’s logo, and that same forward-thinking, adaptable spirit still governs what the brand does to this day.
Over the years, Rado’s Captain Cook watches have changed forms and functions countless times. They no longer exclusively serve as dive watches, for one, and have been subject to numerous collaborations with renowned athletes, designers and artists, but they’ve maintained the vintage detailing that led to their initial popularity while adding a futuristic touch that appeals to the modern horological enthusiast. On no watch are those ideals better displayed than the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton.
In an age where we traverse concrete jungles far more often than actual forestry, the call of adventure imbued within every refined watch echoes more quietly than it has in the past. But that isn’t always the case. Rado’s Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton is a nod to the modern adventurer, embracing the vibrancy and tumult of bustling cities.
Gone are the days of verdant fields and lush forests; today’s adventurers weave through the jungle that is urban landscapes. Avoiding the standard adjective-laden parlance often used to describe luxury products with dizzying results, the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton effectively captures the essence of the modern adventurer, clad in PVD rose-gold detailing and rich olive tones.
Don’t let its sleek exterior fool you – this Captain Cook is suitably built for the rigours of urban exploration. The watch’s monobloc case and triple-row bracelet are both made of high-tech Rado ceramic, a material that is as durable as it is comfortable on the wrist. The ancient origins of ceramics – dating back to its utilitarian usage in everything from pottery to artistic figurines 25,000 years ago – speak for themselves, but the material used on in the construction of this watch isn’t just any old ceramic you would find in a $2.99 mug at your local department store.
Mastery of ceramic work has been in mankind’s domain for millennia, but in contrast, Rado’s high-tech ceramic is a relatively recent innovation. Introduced in 1986, Rado ceramic is created through an exacting process. First, similar to other ceramics, an assortment of fine mineral powders are shaped into the requisite form and baked at high temperatures. Rado makes it’s first distinction in this phase, incorporating the use of a plastic carrier medium that allows precision moulds to be injected at pressures of around 1000 bar. Then, a sintering phase at 1450°C begins, providing the unparalleled level of density and toughness that Rado high-tech ceramic is known for. The result is unbeatable comfort and scratch resistance from what Rado calls the “Master of minerals.”
Rado’s high-tech ceramic may be the standout feature of this Captain Cook watch, but it is not its only eye-catching quality. Peer through the signature box-shaped sapphire crystal glass and you’ll spot a movement that’s as impressive as the watch’s feel. The R808 25-jewel three-hand automatic movement, complete with an antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring, ensures impeccable accuracy and precision. That’s not all, with up to 80 hours of power reserve, it’s able to hold pace with even the most relentless of urban adventurers.
Flip the watch over and you’ll be treated to a glimpse of its skeleton movement, housed within a circular-brushed titanium case back beside its stainless-steel rotatable bezel. As is often the case with a Rado watch, the intricate workings going on beneath the surface are just as captivating as the watch’s outwardly visible design. Remaining with that design for a moment, don’t think for a second that Rado had to sacrifice the watch’s robustness to make room for aesthetics. The Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton maintains its heritage as a dive watch, with water resistance up to 300 meters.
So, to all the modern-day adventurers forging paths through urban jungles, Rado has created the ideal companion – the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton. With style, precision, and reliability, it’s more than a watch, it’s a statement that the spirit of adventure remains alive and well amongst the world’s most dynamic landscapes.
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