As well as being a British explorer that you probably learned about at school, Captain Cook is also the name of Rado’s dive watch collection that originally debuted in 1962. We’ve been big fans of the dive watch range since the Swiss brand relaunched it at Baselworld in 2017, but our admiration was taken to a whole new level when the Rado unveiled the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic model earlier this year.
The Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic is the culmination of many years of research and development. It features some incredibly advanced manufacturing techniques in the innovative high-tech ceramic monobloc case construction – really demonstrating why Rado is referred to as the ‘Master of Materials’.
You see, Rado’s scientists have been using ceramic for over 35 years and despite being an incredibly difficult material to make a watch from, it adds a number of benefits, the most important of which is a high level of scratch resistance and durability. That makes the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic the perfect choice if you like to keep your watches in perfect condition and hate scratches and scuffs. It’s also lightweight, comfortable and hypoallergenic!
The innovation doesn’t stop on the surface, either, because the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic is powered by the Swiss-made Rado Calibre R734 which features a Nivachron hairspring and impressive 80-hour power reserve.
The innovative Nivachron hairspring not only sounds cool but also stops the movement from being damaged by magnetic fields. That means you’ll be able to go about your life without worrying that an errant magnetic field ruining the accuracy of your timepiece.
A design that blends retro and modern
As for the design, the Captain Cook Ceramic is presented for the first time in a case size of 43mm and in four versions.
The first version, and our personal favourite, is a black high-tech ceramic case and bracelet with a hardened stainless steel bezel and a black high-tech ceramic insert.
A second model holds this same case and dial but is offered with a rubber strap for those who prefer a more casual look.
Followed by the third model with a highly distinct plasma ceramic case and bracelet, with a hardened stainless steel bezel and blue ceramic insert.
These three models look sporty and ready for adventure – equally at home on top of a mountain, diving on a shipwreck, or walking around a new city.
There’s also a slightly more dressy version offered in black high-tech ceramic case and bracelet but with contrasting rose gold coloured PVD coated bezel and black high-tech ceramic insert.
All the references are water-resistant up to 300 metres.
Another truly amazing aspect of the design of this watch is the dial and case back, which are stunningly crafted in black-tinted sapphire crystal. This allows you to explore and admire the inner workings of the skeletonised movement. It’s subtle yet highly effective, whilst still proving to be legible.
This magnificent sapphire dial is also home to the iconic Rado rotating anchor at 12 o'clock. It’s a real talking point and sets the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic apart from lesser watches.
The triangle on the bezel, the indexes, and the classic Captain Cook chunky arrow hands are filled with white Super-LumiNova providing clear visibility in the dark. As well as making the watch highly legible in low light, it’s a brilliant nod to the model’s tool watch heritage.
Ultimately, the new Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic collection is Rado's DNA in its purest form. It combines the brand’s history and tradition with its innovative material science, the result is more than the sum of its parts, it’s the next chapter for the Rado Captain Cook.
