Born of Fire: Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton
With the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton, a skeletonised model joins Rado’s Captain Cook collection, also known as the watch brand’s first diving watch, which debuted in 1962. This timepiece does not only distinguish itself through its high durability, but also through its uncompromising aesthetics.
The case
In line with the brand’s predominant use of ceramics, the case of the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton is made out of plasma high-tech ceramic. Temperatures of up to 20,000° Celsius – about four times that of the surface of the sun – are needed to create it. Thus, plasma high-tech ceramic is a material born of fire, with a particularly strong surface resistance and metallic appearance. The monobloc construction measures 43 x 49.8 mm in diameter and 14.6 mm in height. In addition, this timepiece has a water resistance of up to 300 m (30 bar).
Interplay of colors
The dark anthracite of the case offers a contrast to the rose-gold-coloured, rotating bezel made of stainless steel with a PVD coating. The bezel is equipped with an insert made of circular brushed plasma high-tech ceramic, whose anthracite colour interplays with the warm rose-tinted colour. In addition, the numerals, markers and triangle depicted on the insert, as well as the index ring that follows it, provide further accents through their colouring in rose gold. The screw-down crown in PVD stainless steel with the Rado anchor symbol also reflects this warm hue.
Free sight
Typical of the Captain Cook models, box-shaped and anti-reflective sapphire crystal on both sides provides a clear view from both the front and the back. With its light grey colouring, the sapphire crystal blends seamlessly with the colour scheme of the case. Surrounded by circular brushed titanium, the sapphire crystal on the caseback reveals the movement.
The dial
If you take a look at this timepiece, you will see the grey brushed skeleton dial of the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton through the smoked tint of the sapphire crystal. The brushed indices and three hands are rose-gold-coloured and coated with white Super-LumiNova. This makes it possible to read the hours, minutes and seconds reliably even in difficult lighting conditions. Directly below 12 o’clock is Rado’s characteristic moving anchor symbol coloured in rose gold against a synthetic ruby backplate. The brand logo below and the lettering with the model’s name and water resistance above 6 o’clock, however, are in white.
The movement
Following the tradition of some Captain Cook models, the calibre R808, an automatic movement, is at the heart of the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton. Especially with skeletonised models, small details allow the designers to emphasize the most intrecate parts. Thus, 25 gemstones adorn the movement. In addition, a new horizontally brushed plate, and the rose-gold coloured brushed minute-wheel bridge emphasise the complexity of the movement.
Going above and beyond the norm, the movement is tested with an antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring in five positions instead of three. It thus achieves greater precision and exceeds the standard test criteria. The power reserve is 80 hours.
Strap, price, and availability
Matching the case, the bracelet is made of plasma high-tech ceramic. While the outer links are matt, the middle links have a polished appearance. A titanium triple-fold buckle with Ceramos push-buttons completes the bracelet. The Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton is available for 4,750 euros.
After four years of development, the time has come: Breguet presents two new pilot's watches inspired by the Maison’s military (Type 20) as well as civilian (Type XX) models of the 1950s. The new Type 20 Chronographe 2057 and the Type XX Chronographe 2067 fully stand in the tradition of Breguet's close relationship with aviation.…
Breitling is celebrating its 140th anniversary and is kicking off the anniversary year with new additions to the Navitimer collection. This month, 10 new models will join the collection, which embodies the Breitling spirit like no other. Firstly, Breitling is presenting a new limited edition of the Navitimer Cosmonaute. This watch became the first Swiss…
The Hublot Square Bang is a reinterpretation of the Big Bang, housed in a square case. This novelty marks the first time the Manufacture has ventured into making a square case. At the same time, however, it is expanding the Shaped collection, whose only piece to date has been a tonneau watch. A total of…
Breguet is introducing a new Tradition Automatique Seconde Rétrograde 7097, this time with a blue dial. The wristwatch takes its inspiration from Abraham-Louis Breguet's subscription watches from the late 18th century, and also evokes Breguet's one-hand pocket watches of the time. The new edition, as with all Tradition models, showcases the calibre's components via the…
As the leaves turn brown and fall from the trees, many are bidding summer goodbye – but Richard Mille's new 07-01 Coloured Ceramics models are not amongst them. Under the vibrant parasol of its 'Endless Summer' campaign, the brand is introducing three dreamy new pastel-coloured watches for women. The watches draw inspiration from 1980s style,…
With the Oris ProPilot X Calibre 400, the Hölstein-based manufacturer is presenting three new pilot's watches equipped with the Calibre 400. The watches appear in a titanium case and have a matching bracelet made of the same material. They come with dials in grey, blue or salmon. The 39 mm Titanium Case The case of…
If you are looking for exquisite watches in Hamburg, there is no way around Neuer Wall, the most exclusive shopping street in the Hanseatic city centre. Next to luxury watch brands like Patek Philippe, Omega, Wempe, the recently opened AP House, and many others, the Swiss watchmaker Hublot is now also represented there with its…
The Laurent Ferrier Manufacture presents a new interpretation of the Classic Origin. The new watch by the name of Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin Green appears as a limited edition of 30 pieces. The case, although classically shaped, is made of titanium, which gives the timepiece a modern temperament. The Laurent Ferrier Classic Origin Green The…
The IWC Portugieser's origins go back a long way to the 1930s – longer than you would perhaps expect. Over the course of the Portugieser’s existence, IWC Schaffhausen has brought many small incremental upgrades, with today being no different during the novelties presentation at Watches & Wonders 2024. These new releases from IWC continue the…
At Watches & Wonders 2025, Chanel is once again merging the world of high fashion with the precision of fine watchmaking in the shape of the Monsieur de Chanel Superleggera Bleu Edition. The Bleu Edition features a distinctive blue hue, a ceramic colour that took five years to perfect and that appears to be almost…
Following the unprecedented departure of brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chopard and Chanel, Baselworld's MCH Group and representatives of exhibitors have agreed on a settlement for the cancelled Baselworld 2020. However, the MCH Group has also confirmed that Baselworld will not be taking place in 2021. The solution was drawn up in collaboration with the…
With this new model the Swiss watch brand Tudor combines two of its specialities: the world of professional diving and the one of motorsports. The new Black Bay Chrono S&G (Ref. 79363N), presented on the Swiss watch fair Baselworld 2019, is Tudor’s first chronograph with a self-winding Manufacture Calibre, column wheel and vertical clutch available in an S&G…