Master of Materials
Rado opens 2024 with a refreshing take on their True Round Automatic Collection, first launched in 2018. The new Rado True Round Open Heart doubles down on the brand’s commitment to high-tech ceramic and skeletonized dials with a striking new cutaway and four new colours.
Craftily imagined in an offset figure eight, the new cutaway dials will be released in limited editions of only 888 pieces each. Considered auspicious—and a variation of the infinity symbol—the numeral is meant to express the eternal nature of time itself.
But no matter what you think of its symbolism, the skeleton dial offers attractive windows onto the sunray guilloché finish of R734 calibre oscillating beneath.
Key Features of the Rado True Round Open Heart
The case, fashioned from Rado’s now famous high-tech ceramic, measures 40mm in diameter and a svelte 10.4mm in height. On wrist, it weighs almost nothing. Paired with an equally lightweight ceramic bracelet, it practically melts into the wrist. The watch is also water resistant to 50m.
The dial of the black reference featured here features a rose gold-coloured dauphine handset and applied makers inset with white Super-LumiNova. Next to the dark colourway, the gilt elements positively glow and appear striking in certain lights.
The dial is capped with a unique dichroic sapphire crystal, which essentially splits beams of light into differing wavelengths, beguilingly shifting colours and changing the image of the watch in turn. The Rado logo, as always, with its rotating anchor, is positioned distinctively on the dial at the base of the figure 8.
The black PVD-coated titanium case back features a second sapphire crystal, allowing for an unobstructed view of the movement. The R734 is based on ETA’s Powermatic 80 and features a Nivachron balance spring. It is a 4Hz movement that, true to its origins, offers up an 80 hour power reserve, as well. Here the rotor is signed and features Geneva striping.
The watch is equipped with a polished plasma high-tech ceramic bracelet with a titanium 3-fold clasp.
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SPECS
| Case | High-Tech Ceramic 40mm Diameter 47.5mm Lug to Lug 10.4mm Thick (excluding dome) Monobloc Case 50m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Sapphire Crystal Skeleton Dial Applieded Markers Daupine Handset Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | R734 25 Jewels 21 600bph 80-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Three-Link Ceramic /w Titanium Butterfly Clasp |
Rado True Round Open Heart
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Final Thoughts
Rado have modelled themselves as the “Master of Materials” and the True Round Open Heart Collection certainly forwards the narrative. The watch is extremely comfortable on wrist. There are no hard edges anywhere. Every surface is sinuously curved. In some respects it is less like a watch than it is a work of art. Contemporary art. It takes a degree of courage to go your own way—as a watchmaker or as an enthusiast. While many brands are looking to the past, Rado is forging a way forward. This is that watch.
Pricing & Availability
The Rado True Round Open Heart retails for $2500 USD. 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.
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