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The Allure of the Rado True Square Open Heart
News
The Allure of the Rado True Square Open Heart
Perhaps it’s the open-heart dial, with its unimpeded view of the movement. Or the intricate detailing therein, the tactile appeal of the case and bracelet. It might be the rich, glossy selection of dark and light colors. Maybe it’s just the cool aesthetic of monochrome ceramic, surprisingly warm to the touch.
With the True Square Open Heart, Rado is revisiting its roots. Accordingly, the case features a trio of distinctive, recognizable elements: square shape, rounded edges, ceramic construction. There is no other watch in the market that has this shape in this type of material. Like all great artists, Rado understands the power of a singular vision.
It knows from disruptive design, as well. The watchmaker has spent decades pioneering the application and use of high-tech, scratch-resistant materials. In the early days of ceramic and ceramic hybrids, the only way to shape the material was straight lines. Accordingly, many of Rado’s modern landmarks (Ceramica and Sintra, from 1990 and 1993, respectively) featured square cases. By the early 2000s, it was already an essential element of the company’s DNA.
To obtain certain colors, getting the correct saturation and hues from monobloc construction demands exacting technical precision. The case is “cooked” in a special oven, reaching temperatures of 1450 degrees; when it’s removed, the color is a sort of beige. It’s then passed through a second oven, which introduces specific gasses. These activate the color, bringing the ceramic to its specified appearance.
Of course, this level of creativity and engineering cannot be rushed. The minimum timeline for bringing a new ceramic watch style to market is about two years. But given its extensive research and development, and the high standards of its in-house technicians, Rado’s process might take closer to three. First, the initial concept needs to be dreamt up and sketched out, the watch and its many components meticulously designed, a new and unique mold manufactured. The latter step alone can take upwards of nine months to complete.
Once the mold is prototyped, it must pass rigorous quality control. The next step is injecting the ceramic mixture. Various treatments follow, and it usually takes another four months to see an eventual product. Testing begins with a sample in hand, in preparation for the final approval and product launch. If, at any point, the watch doesn’t meet Rado’s specifications, the entire process must start all over again.
This attention to detail results in the technical breakthrough of the True Square: Rado’s first square watch made using injected monobloc ceramic construction.
By way of example, consider the Open Heart’s most distinctive feature: the visible movement. After all, that’s half the fun of this design. Housed inside the True Square skeleton, you’ll find a super-efficient, anti-magnetic ETA CO7.631 automatic movement. It’s a mighty little engine, offering approximately 80 hours of power reserve.
These details give the Open Heart remarkable staying power. The brand’s signature use of high-tech ceramics only amplifies this, given the material’s mega-durable properties. It’s sure to please watch enthusiasts, but even the layperson can appreciate the appealing tactical sensations of the True Square’s ceramic case, which won’t ever feel too warm or too cold.
The market is filled with stainless steel watches, but Rado’s range of high-tech ceramic timepieces, developed in an array of striking colors over the last few years, is a remarkable achievement. In terms of design, it’s an ideal canvas; Rado can do anything in terms of shape. It’s a truly unique combination.
It’s also a reminder that design is the brand’s single greatest initiative, with groundbreaking use of materials never far behind. Rado claims the True Square Open Heart is “the shape of things to come.” That statement should be immediately put to test because clearly this is a watch for the here and now. Unleash your own creativity and listen to what your heart tells you.
Movement
ETA.CO7.631 Automatic, 25 jewels, 3-hands, with 80-hour power reserve, 38 mm, total weight 120 gram
Case
Polished black, white, or plasma high-tech ceramic, monobloc construction, black PVD coated titanium case back with sapphire crystal, polished high-tech ceramic crown, flat sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, water-resistant to 5 bar (50m)
Dial
Vertical brushed with rose gold colored bevels, rose gold colored applied indexes with white Super-LumiNova white printed minute track, yellow or rose gold colored moving anchor symbol, white or grey printed Rado and Automatic logos
Bracelet
Polished high-tech ceramic, titanium 3-fold clasp
Price
Plasma Grey USD 2,550; White with diamonds USD 2,900; Black USD 2,350
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