Rado has been around since 1917 as the “Schlup & Co.” brand, changing to the new name of Rado in the early ’50s and making a name for themselves with their early water resistance technologies. The Rado Captain Cook line made its first appearance in 1962, a response to the explosion of amateur divers taking up the sport.
In the 1960s, the world saw Jacques Cousteau conquer the depths of the oceans, his iconic videos inspiring a newfound love of underwater exploration. The Captain Cook introduced many of the dive watch tropes that still grace watches today, including the concave dive bezel, the “beads of rice” bracelet and the sub lens magnifying the date window.
The watch didn’t have an auspicious beginning as production number remained low; it went quietly into retirement after 1968. It wasn’t until the relaunch in 2017 of the 37mm “vintage replica” version based on the 1962 model, and a more modern 45mm version, that the model came into popularity. The rise in interest for vintage and retro watches drove collectors to the Rado Caption Cook and launched the line into a profitable future.
In recent years, the Captain Cook line has seen many versions, colors, materials and themes that proved to be industry trendsetters, with other brands quick to follow Rado’s lead. Three new models in the first semester of 2022 are joining the Captain Cook legacy.
Rado Captain Cook Chronograph
The latest Captain Cook Chronograph brings a slimmer profile, thanks to the Rado caliber R801 automatic movement with its slender dimensions. The 43mm case comes in either polished stainless steel or circular-brushed bronze, and each model boasts a high-tech ceramic inlay on the bezel.
It’s the first chronograph for the Explorer line, and the proportions are beautifully arranged with the symmetrical subdials at three and nine o’clock, and a square date window at six balancing the Rado anchor and logo at 12 o’clock. The legibility is front and center, with the distinctive arrow shaped hour marker and all-important indicators treated with Super-LumiNova for those low-light conditions.
Rado is also offering the Captain Cook Chronograph in three variations to suit any style preference. The first, ref. R32146208, has a deep blue sunray dial, and a matching polished blue high-tech ceramic insert with a case of brushed bronze for an on-trend look. Using the Rado EasyClip system, the watch is paired with three straps: a blue and gold NATO strap, a blue leather strap and a solid blue NATO strap.
The ref. R32145208 takes a sportier turn with a polished stainless steel case, a very interesting silver to blue gradient dial, and blue ceramic insert. The rhodium color of the hands and indexes coordinates well with the stainless steel. Again, the watch comes with three strap options: a stainless steel bracelet of brushed and polished stainless steel links, a blue leather strap and a blue textile NATO strap.
Lastly, ref. R32145158 takes a turn for the dramatic with a polished stainless steel case and high contrast black ceramic bezel insert. The dial uses the silver to black gradient with rhodium colored hands and indexes. This one comes with a polished and brushed stainless steel link bracelet, a black leather strap and a black NATO strap.
Each Rado Captain Cook Chronograph comes in a presentation box whimsically modeled after an old- fashioned treasure chest and has storage for the two unused straps as well as the timepiece.
Tech Specs
Rado Captain Cook Chronograph
Movement: Automatic caliber R801; 59-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph and date
Case: 43mm; brushed bronze or polished stainless steel with blue or black high-tech ceramic insert; water resistant to 300m
Dial: Blue sunray, yellow gold colored indexes with vintage-style yellow Super-LumiNova coating; silver to blue gradient, rhodium colored indexes with white Super-LumiNova coating; or silver to black gradient, rhodium colored indexes with white Super- LumiNova coating
Strap: Coordinating NATO style textile with pin buckle, leather with folding clasp, and/or polished and brushed stainless steel with extendable folding clasp
Price: USD 4,410 on brushed bronze; USD 3,710 on stainless steel
Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Diver
Rado’s newest dive watch, the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Diver, brings the latest in ceramic research, their Nivachron anti-magnetic hairspring and their iconic Captain Cook style to a new model with an impressive six variations. The new model features ISO 6425 certification, a first for Rado, largely surpassed thanks to its 300-meter water resistance rating.
The Rado R763 movement is housed in a 43mm case of high-tech ceramic with a monobloc construction that brings the latest in scratch resistance and skin- friendly materials in a nearly indestructible timepiece. As a sports watch, the Diver is lightweight as well as robust; a discreet date window at three o’clock of the traditional Rado style of red lettering on white background is a nice balance to the white on red of the Rado anchor logo.
The references R32129152 and R32129158 feature a black-and-white color scheme with a matte black ceramic case and a lacquered and polished black dial that contrasts well with the rhodium colored hands and indexes. The former is paired with a bracelet of polished and matte ceramic links and the latter is on a matte black rubber strap.
The ref. R32144102 has a dial of rich gray with a sunray pattern, and the ref. R32144202 has a dial of sunray blue. Each is paired with a bracelet of polished and matte plasma ceramic links.
The references R32130312 and R32130318 take a trendier and more monochromatic turn with dial and bezel of matte olive green in a coordinating matte olive ceramic case. The former has a bracelet of matte olive green ceramic links, and the latter is paired with a matte olive green rubber strap.
Tech Specs
Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Diver
Movement: Automatic caliber R763; 80-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date
Case: 43mm; matte black or olive green high-tech ceramic, or matte plasma high-tech ceramic; water resistant to 300m
Dial: Lacquered and polished black, sunray gray/blue, or matte olive green; applied indexes with white Super- LumiNova coating
Strap: High-tech ceramic or plasma high-tech ceramic bracelet with titanium triple folding clasp, and/or coordinating matte rubber with stainless steel extendable folding clasp
Price: USD 3,000 on rubber strap; USD 3,500 on bracelet
Rado Captain Cook Over-Pole
As vintage and retro watches continue to fascinate collectors, Rado brings another blast from the past with the Captain Cook Over-Pole. Based on the Over-Pole World Timer from the 1960s, this new model captures the essence of the original with some modern updates.
The Rado Over-Pole timepiece was designed as a variant of the Captain Cook series. It was aimed at the growing stream of “jet setters,” offering a turning bezel with key cities of the world for quick time adjustment.
Globetrotters of the ’60s embraced the concept, and the line was a huge success. Now, as an anniversary celebration of the original, the new Captain Cook Over- Pole Limited Edition is a reinterpretation that will renew world travelers’ interest. The Rado manual winding caliber R862 has an 80-hour power reserve to outlast even the most exhausting of air travel, and it includes the anti- magnetic Nivachron hairspring for ultimate reliability.
This watch is also quite easy on the eyes with a beautiful silver to black gradient dial, the world’s cities marked around the black ceramic bezel insert, and a polished stainless steel case with a very comfortable 37mm size.
To ensure that the traveler is ready to transition from a day trip at a museum to a nice dinner, the timepiece employs the Rado EasyClip system and comes with both a brown leather strap in a retro modern style and a stainless steel “beads of rice” bracelet packaged in a stylish brown pouch.
This piece is limited to 1,962 pieces — a nod to the year of the first Over-Pole release.
Tech Specs
Rado Captain Cook Over-Pole
Movement: Manual winding caliber R862; 80-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date and world-timer
Case: 37mm; polished stainless steel with bidirectional turning bezel; water resistant to 100m
Dial: Silver to black gradient; rhodium colored indexes with white Super-LumiNova coating
Strap: Brown vintage leather with stainless steel pin buckle featuring EasyClip System; additional stainless steel “beads of rice” bracelet
Prics: USD 2,400
Availability: Limited edition of 1,962 pieces
Captain Cook Is Thrice Blessed
With these three new models, the Captain Cook line gets some exciting updates, each with the strong vintage Rado DNA that collectors love as well as new technology that continues to push innovation. Whether you’re looking for a precision chronograph, a new ISO 6425 compliant dive watch, or a distinctive world traveler, Rado has covered all the bases. With the diverse range of colors and styles, there’s a new Rado Captain Cook for any collector.
