Rado evolves their flagship Captain Cook line with the new Discover, an all-ceramic sports watch with a futuristic flair.
Rado has carved out an interesting niche of its own within the modern watch space. While its reputation as the master of materials is certainly part of its legacy, what’s particularly interesting is its gradual, continuous commitment to a neo-futuristic aesthetic.
Models like the True Square, Anatom and DiaStar have consistently embraced high-tech, cutting-edge design principles. But there exists a collection in Rado’s catalogue that has, for the most part, tracked in the opposite direction: the Captain Cook.
Born and reborn as a robust, old-world dive watch, the model line is decidedly more heritage-driven than the rest of the brand’s current roster. However, that may be beginning to change, and for the better, might I add. While Rado has toyed with the collection in various ambitious forms, such as the High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph and Skeleton models, these still retained traces of the Captain Cook’s past. This year, however, the brand has opted to transform the DNA of the watch entirely, introducing a new line of references that promises to bring the Captain Cook into the thematic fold.
Ceramic Kings
Meet the new Captain Cook Discover, a subgenre of the collection that reinterprets it as a versatile sports timepiece. With a 40.7mm case diameter and a thickness of 12.3mm, the new watches essentially guarantee a seamless, near-universal wearing experience. I say this with confidence, as the prevailing case material of choice is the brand’s proprietary high-tech ceramic, interspersed with titanium components.
An advanced, ultra-dense version of standard ceramic, Rado’s high-tech ceramic is incredibly scratch-resistant, rated at around five times as hard as stainless steel. Furthermore, the case material is exceptionally lightweight, hypoallergenic and coloured all the way through, ensuring that the watch will consistently look as it did when purchased.
The four black ceramic models in the collection also feature a surprising variation in finishing, offering a mixture of brushed and polished surfaces as though they were made from stainless steel. The glossiness of ceramic, as seen in the single white version, can often be distracting for some, but the mixed finishing on the black cases demonstrates the extent to which Rado has mastered the craft of ceramic watchmaking.
Regardless of whether you opt for black or white, the bracelet is also made from ceramic, tapering gently towards a folding clasp with tool-less micro-adjustability. Interestingly, it initially looks like a regular diver-style micro-adjustment system, with a spring bar and fixed holes for each available level of adjustment.
However, the spring bar itself features the same push-in tabs you’d normally see on interchangeable straps, of which the Captain Cook Discover has none. It’s an interesting approach to the micro-adjustable clasp, and one that perhaps warrants a more in-depth look to determine its efficacy. In any case, the entire collection is rated to 150 metres of water resistance, striking a perfect balance between the capabilities of typical sports watches and those of more robust dive watches.
Sun & Surf
As you can see for yourself, the Rado Captain Cook Discover represents a major departure from the classic Captain Cook aesthetic. At first glance, the watch does an effective job of blending the collection’s history of toughness, the brand’s technological advancements in ceramics, and the dressier lines seen in past collections like the Golden Horse.
This results in five unique models, each bringing its own flavour of neo-futuristic design. The first three feature an array of smoky, fumé sunray-brushed dials, available in green, blue or red. The radiance of the finish helps offset the matte elements of the ceramic case, making the dials pop against the black backdrop.
Depending on the reference, the colours of the indices and skeletonised baton hands change accordingly. For the blue and red models, Rado has elected to dress them up with rose gold and yellow gold accents, respectively, filled with white lume.
For the green dial, however, the brand has opted for black accents to match the case, along with green lume instead of white. My immediate comparison is to holographic wrist communicators as seen in sci-fi series like Star Wars, or even the Omnitrix from Ben 10. It’s a unique look among its dressier peers, complemented by a green spinning anchor logo instead of the white seen on others.
But if a hyper-neo-futuristic aesthetic isn’t what you’re looking for, and you still love the practicality of high-tech ceramic, the final two references take a slightly more conservative direction. Forgoing the sunray-brushed finish, each watch is equipped with a black dial featuring a laser-engraved wave pattern.
The texturing helps contrast the black baton hands against the dial, as do the white spinning anchor logo, seconds hand and printed minute track. Leaning further into the modern, sporty aspects of the Captain Cook Discover, these two still offer enough contemporary flair to warrant a second glance. The other three, however, are certain to be conversation starters.
Anchor Point
For all the technological innovation and aesthetic appeal of the watch, Rado’s own Calibre R763 keeps it running behind the scenes. Based on the Swatch Group’s Powermatic 80, itself built on the architecture of an ETA movement, the watch beats at a steady 3Hz (21,600VpH) and boasts an 80-hour power reserve.
A mainstay of the Captain Cook collection since its revival in 2017, the Calibre R763 has remained a dependable companion across successive Captain Cook models. Though the finishing is quite spartan, I do appreciate what the brand has done with the automatic rotor.
Instead of the classic rotor obscuring half the movement, Rado has once again incorporated its spinning anchor motif into the winding process itself. It’s a fun touch of branding that still serves a practical purpose, alongside respectable modern features like the Nivachron hairspring for added magnetic resistance.
Initial Thoughts
Perhaps Rado’s biggest, yet most underappreciated, strength lies in how it conveys a neo-futuristic aesthetic. Within its price point, the brand seems to consistently get it right, given its partiality to advanced materials like ceramic that lend its watches an otherworldly appearance. It’s why, not long after its introduction to the roster, I immediately gave it a spot on a guide to some of the best ceramic watches of the year.
And though the Captain Cook has traditionally been a classic diver, the Discover collection marks what may be the next step in Rado’s pursuit of neo-futuristic design. As fanciful as the aesthetic is, each watch feels surprisingly grounded, thanks to its capable mechanics and unparalleled wearability. I certainly hope Rado realises what kind of a gem it has on its hands here, from both a design and engineering standpoint. And if it already does… well, won’t that be a sight?
Reference & Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Reference | R32279312 (Green) R32279322 (Blue) R32279332 (Red) R32278162 (White Wave) R32279162 (Black Wave) |
| Dimensions | 40.7mm case diameter x 12.3mm thickness |
| Case | Black / White high-tech ceramic |
| Dial | Sunray brushed green / blue / red with black / gold accents Black with laser-engraved wave pattern (White Wave, Black Wave) |
| Crystal | Sapphire |
| Caseback | Open, sapphire |
| Movement | Automatic Cal. R763 with date complication |
| Power Reserve | 80h |
| Beat Rate | 3Hz / 21,600VpH |
| Water Resistance | 150m / 15bar |
| Strap/Bracelet | Black / White high-tech ceramic bracelet with micro-adjustable folding clasp |