Going Tri-Tone With The Blue-Dial Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph
It’s been almost a year since Rado invited me to go to the EFG Swiss Open Gstaad tennis tournament in Switzerland. It was a memorable experience, and as a lifelong tennis player and fan of the sport, I always find it brilliant to see the professionals at work. Another thing that stood out during the event (for which Rado is the official timekeeper) is how popular the larger ceramic Captain Cook models are. While I prefer the brand’s ceramic Anatom series and the smaller stainless steel Captain Cook variants, quite a few people were wearing different versions of the 43mm Captain Cook. That’s why I was definitely intrigued to take the new blue Captain Cook High Tech Ceramic Chronograph for a spin.
As soon as the blue Rado Captain Cook High Tech Ceramic Chronograph (ref. R32195202) landed on my desk, it was impossible to ignore. With its remarkable presence, it’s a watch that immediately stands out. On top of that, the new blue and rose gold version has even more presence than the two models that Lex reviewed last year, in full black with rose gold details and gray ceramic and green. This new version is probably my favorite of the three, as I like the combination of the dark blue dial and bezel with the gray ceramic. Those two colors combine very well. And the rose gold details add an extravagant touch. Is it a touch that makes it better? I had to wear it to find out.
The details of the Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph in blue
But first, let’s talk specs. The Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph has a 43 × 49.8 × 16.2mm high-tech ceramic case with a 300m depth rating. It’s a big, chunky diving chronograph that won’t slip under your shirt cuff. The dark gray ceramic case is paired with a rose-gold-PVD-treated bezel with a blue ceramic insert featuring a white diving scale.
On the right side of the case, you will also find the rose-gold-colored crown and pushers. Although the blue sunray dial has a slightly different, softer look, the color matches the bezel insert nicely. In terms of design, the dial has three sub-dials in the classic 3-6-9 layout with the date integrated into the sub-dial at 6 o’clock.
Functionality-wise, the register at 3 o’clock is the running seconds, while the registers at 6 and 9 o’clock are the chronograph’s 12-hour and 30-minute counters, respectively. The date aperture at 6 o’clock displays a white disc with red printed numerals.
I was surprised to see a red-on-white date display. While I understand the white disc, as it aligns with the rose-tone, lume-filled hour markers, the red numerals are an odd choice.
But if you look closer, you will see that red is also present on the tips of all three chronograph-related hands. A clever little detail is the integration of the 300m / 1,000ft depth rating into the sub-dial at 6 o’clock. Hovering over the dial are the signature lume-filled Captain Cook hour and minute hands, here in a rose gold tone just like the central chronograph hand with its red tip.
The R801 caliber inside the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph
If you turn the watch around, you get a good view of the Rado’s caliber R801 through the sapphire display in the titanium case back. The automatic chronograph movement is based on the ETA A31, which is a modern evolution of the ETA 2894. To make it a chronograph, the Rado watchmakers put a Dubois Dépraz chronograph module on top of the movement. Of course, this increases its thickness and, therefore, that of the watch overall.
The R801 operates at 28,800 vph, features 37 jewels, and offers a 59-hour power reserve. Furthermore, it comes equipped with an antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring. The finishing is fairly straightforward, but some visual brilliance comes in the form of perlage on the bridges and a brushed, anchor-shaped rotor with vertical stripes.
The bracelet and clasp
Finishing the look of the blue Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph is a ceramic three-row bracelet with matte outer links and polished center links. The bracelet opens and closes with the asymmetrical titanium butterfly clasp.
The larger part of the clasp features the Rado logo, but unfortunately, it doesn’t include a micro-adjustment system. Funnily enough, the bracelet’s look adds to the watch’s overall extravagance. While it isn’t as vibrant as the rose gold tone details, I found that the high-polished center links certainly stood out when I wore the watch.
Wearing the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph
Once on the wrist, the bracelet’s soft feel enhances the wearing experience. I am always amazed by how comfortable Rado’s ceramic bracelets are. On top of that, the bracelet perfectly balances the watch on the wrist. At 169 grams, the Captain Cook Chronograph is far from light. However, it is noticeably easier to wear than a stainless steel chronograph of this size.
On top of that, the watch is nicely proportioned despite its large dimensions. It’s surprisingly easy to wear on my 18.5cm (7.3″) wrist. But to say this is a modest watch would be lying. Plus, with its 16.2mm thickness, it’s a watch that will definitely remind you it’s there. Especially in this specific colorway, it is hard to ignore during the day.
Final thoughts on the new Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph
Nevertheless, I must say that I had a fun time wearing the new Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph. As it is certainly an acquired taste and vastly different from a watch I’d typically choose, it offered a nice change from the usual ones I tend to wear. This watch also feels very nicely made, and the materials make it soft to the touch and comfortable to wear. One thing that I can’t leave unmentioned is that the polished center links are fingerprint magnets. So if you are like me, you will be tempted to clean them multiple times a day.
Other than that, operating the watch is also more confirmation that this is a very well-built chronograph. Especially the crisp pusher action, with nicely defined clicks, gives a reassuring feel; you are wearing a high-quality product. The price for this new blue-dial version of the Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph is €6,500 / US$6,250 / £5,500 / CHF 5,700, which is in line with the black and rose-tone model that Lex reviewed last year.
After a week of wearing this new blue Captain Cook Chronograph, I understand why the oversized Captain Cook models are popular with a large crowd. While it would not be my first pick from the Rado collection, the quality and looks make it a great option for people looking for an oversized watch with strong wrist presence. The Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph ref. R32195202 offers that in abundance.
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