Over the years, Rado hasn’t been producing watches that caught the market’s eye. After last year’s Baselworld, Rado has released a couple watches that have definitely surprised us. After a comeback in the brand, Rado has introduced the Tradition Captain Cook MKIII, which is based on another 1960s Captain Cook, this time the tonneau-case version.
This new watch has a beautiful titanium case that is very lightweight and seems small on wrist despite the large dimensions – 46.8mm wide, 48.3mm long and 13.9mm high. What makes this watch seem small is the almost non-existent lugs that allow the watch to wear like a smaller timepiece.
Comparing to last year’s Captain Cook model, HyperChrome, this divers watch has an incredible 220 meter water resistance rather than 100 meter depth ratting of the HyperChrome.
What inspired the fitted “box-type” sapphire crystal was from the domed PlexiGlas. Many of the dive watches from 1960s and 1970s featured an internal, uni-directional bezel for measuring elapsed time that is operated via the crown at two o’clock. Inside the bezel you can find fully luminous markings and also first 15 minutes in bright yellow to time decompression stops.
The dial has been totally redesigned featuring large, sword-shaped hands and applied indices, a distinct departure from the chunky, oblong hands and markers found on the original. Most crucial about this is the minute hand in yellow for divers to see better.
Powered by the ETA C07.621, the day-date version of a calibre used by several Swatch Group brands. With an 80-hour power reserve, this timepiece also has a low friction escapement and 3Hz balance. The escapement parts are made of ARCAP, a copper, nickel and zinc alloy that is extremely anti-magnetic, as well as low friction.
The Rado Tradition Captain Cook MKIII Automatic (ref. 764.6030.3.117) is priced at US$2550.
