40th Anniversary Edition of the RADO Anatom
In 1983, RADO launched the first Anatom watch in New York City. To commemorate the occasion, Andy Warhol created a canvas. It would be one of his final paintings. It is only fitting then that forty years later the brand would choose Art Basel in Miami Beach to launch the all new RADO Anatom in high-tech ceramic.
Advertisement
Rebirth of a Brand Icon
At a dinner party the night before the launch, CEO Adrian Bosshard told those gathered, “When I came to RADO in 2020, I said we must have the Anatom…and it must be in ceramic.”
Rico Steiner, Vice President of Marketing International–who was also in attendance in Miami Beach–had at his wrist one of the very first Anatom’s ever produced. It was his father’s watch, and it looks as good today as it did forty years ago. That’s because the original Anatom was made from Hardmetal–a primarily steel and tungsten carbide alloy first used in the construction of the DiaStar, making it virtually scratch resistant.
High-Tech Ceramic Construction
The latest iteration of the Anatom has a bezel rendered in high-tech ceramic and a stainless steel black PVD mid-case. It is also larger than the original, measuring in at 32.5mm in diameter and 46mm lug to lug. The new timepiece also receives RADO’s R766 automatic movement. However, even with the mechanical calibre, the watch remains a svelte 11.3mm.
Master of Materials
RADO take their tagline as Master of Materials very seriously and have slowly been flipping through the back catalogue upgrading different models under Bosshard’s tenure, leaning hard into high-tech ceramics and Ceramos–yet another alloy developed by RADO which allows their ceramic timepieces to appear like highly polished metals.
Three New Colourways and a Limited Edition
The Anatom’s crystal is fashioned from cylindrical sapphire, bevelled, and black metalised, providing a stunning window onto the horizontally satin-brushed and lacquer-finished fumé dials of the production models. The brand has released three colourways, including the Blue and Cognac featured here, as well as a Green variety. The result is an almost luminous backdrop for the polished steel indicators and dauphine-style hands, as well as the emblematic rotating anchor above the brand name.
There is also a Limited Edition Jubilé, which features a matte black dial and diamond encrusted hour markers.
Rubber Strap /w High-Tech Ceramic Clasp (for now…)
For the first production run, the Anatom is equippped with a black rubber strap and deployant clasp, which has been given a protective high-tech ceramic cap. However, plans are already underway to add a high-tech ceramic bracelet next year, as well. As it is, the watch practically syncs to the wearer’s wrist.
Emblematic Curved Profile
Of course, this is the Anatom’s raison d’être–its famed case shape. The timepiece’s profile is curved so that it hugs the wrist. This “anatomical” design is also the reason it took RADO three years in research and development to be able to craft the new watch in high-tech ceramic.
The ETA-based R766 Calibre
From the underside, the steel case back opens a secondary portal onto the R766 (a varient of the ETA 2892), which has been decorated in Côtes de Genève, and sports a rotor in the shape of an anchor. The 21-jewel movement has been adjusted to five positions and operates at a 3Hz beat rate in order to achieve a 72-hour power reserve. It also has a Nivachron hairspring.
Specs
| Case | High Tech Plasma Ceramic and PVD Steel 32.5 Diameter 46mm Lug to Lug 11.3mm Thick /w Glass Display Case Back 50m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Crystal Lacquered Dial Applied Index Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | R766 Nivachron Hairspring 21 600bph 21 Jewels 72-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Rubber Strap /w Ceramic Capped Deployant Clasp |
2023 40th Anniversary RADO Anatom
Advertisement
Of Interest
When I asked Adrian Bosshard from where he drew his passion for RADO and for the RADO Anatom, in particular, he said, “My passion for this brand comes with my confidence in its features…the advantage of our watches is that they remain an affordable accessory that–because of their materials, because of their construction–you can have it your whole life.” When it comes to his vision for RADO, he maintained that you must “always respect the DNA of the brand…the roots…and the identity.” Indeed, the Art Basel launch for the Anatom was an extension of that identity in Bosshard’s estimation. “The Anatom is a kind of art,” he said. “We have always partnered with designers, with artists. Art Basel is the perfect venue for the Anatom.”
Final Thoughts
Like the original, the 2023 RADO Anatom has a futuristic appeal, not only in its use of materials, but also in its design language. In some ways it almost parodies the ubiquitous smart watch with a Warhol-esque wink at pop culture. But in others, it provides the smooth-flowing sensuality and uninterrupted lines of a high-performance automobile. RADO is not one to follow fast fashion trends. Consider the DiaStar. The Integral. Or the Glissière. All of them were courageous creations that differentiate RADO from the herd. The newest Anatom is equally courageous.
As RADO seeks to harness the buying power of the North American market, the 2023 Anatom is a bold move. At a time when most other brands are looking backward with vintage sports watch reissues, RADO unearths a design that was futuristic for its time and remains so now. As an object and a product, it belongs with the other works in the halls of Art Basel. The brand is banking on its melding of innovative materials and a modern design aesthetic to carry the day–and it might just work.
Pricing & Availability
The RADO Anatom retails for $3350USD. For more information, please visit the brand website.
About the author
Brent Robillard is a writer, educator, craftsman, and watch enthusiast. He is the author of four novels. You can follow him on Instagram.
Off The Cuff articles are full-length, hands-on reviews of the watch in question and represent the opinion of the author only. All photos are original, unless specified otherwise. If you would like to have your watch reviewed on this site, contact us here.
Please understand that using any links to products on this site might result in us making money.
One thought on “RADO Launches the Stylish 2023 Anatom at Art Basel in Miami”