It will come as no surprise to frequent readers of The Calibrated Wrist that my favourite watch in the RADO lineup is the Captain Cook. I even had the opportunity to take one diving last summer. Originally launched in 1962, and retired in 1968, the diver was not produced in large quantities and may even have faded from horological memory were it not for its triumphant revival in 2017. Since then, it has become a flagship of sorts for the brand, with numerous iterations ranging from 37mm-43mm and running the gamut of materials—including High-Tech Ceramic.
One of the latest releases is the Rado Captain Cook Automatic in smoky blue (R32154208), which, like the Cameron Norrie Limited Edition, is designed for the courts…the tennis courts, that is.
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RADO’s involvement in tennis reaches back almost 40 years to 1985 when they were Title Sponsor at the Swiss Open Gstaad—Switzerland’s longest running tennis tournament. In 2022, the watchmaker returned to the courts in the Bernese Oberland but has since taken up its role as Official Timekeeper at a number of other ATP Tour tennis tournaments, such as the Swiss Indoors in Basel, and the Mubadala Citi Open in Washington.
In fact, since 2016 RADO has been actively supporting the sport in Switzerland as partner of the Swiss Tennis Federation and the Swiss Tennis International Tour.
Key Features of the RADO Captain Cook Automatic
Unlike the Cameron Norrie, the newest Captain Cook Automatic is not limited and joins the stable as a full production watch. It is rendered in a 42mm polished, stainless steel case and measures 49mm lug to lug with a height of 12.3mm. It features a 120-click unidirectional, stadium-style bezel with a glossy high-tech ceramic insert. The insert has an elapsed time scale with engraved numerals at 15, 30, and 45 (a nod to tennis?). These have been filled with white Super-LumiNova.
Overall, the case will look familiar to fans of the brand with its angular shapes and down-turned lugs. The oversized, screw down crown is signed in the anchor logo. The display case back is also screwed down and the watch offers up a solid 300m of water resistance.
The dial, on the other hand, is a bit of a revamp from previous 42mm models. Similar to the Cameron Norrie, it eschews the telltale white chapter ring for a slimmer colour-matched track and a much more open appearance. The broad arrow handset is the same, but the arrow-tipped second hand has been filled with a plot of yellow LumiNova—reminiscent of tennis balls. The polished wedge-styled hour makers and rhodium hands, for their part, have been treated in white. Against the gradient blue background—and under the beautiful sapphire dome—these various elements combine for strong legibility.
Powering the Captain Cook Automatic is the RADO calibre R763. It is based on the ETA C07.611 and features an anti-magnetic Nivachron balance spring with an 80-hour power reserve. The movement has 25 jewels and a beat rate of 21600vph.
The Captain Cook Automatic comes on a stainless steel bracelet with a deployant butterfly clasp (and a half-link for more precise sizing); however, there are two other strap options, including a blue leather two-stich and a striped NATO-style textile band. The watch is also delivered in a blue leather pouch.
Specs
| Case | 316L Stainless Steel 42mm Diameter 49mm Lug to Lug 12.3mm Thick 20mm Lug Width Unidirectional Ceramic Bezel Screw Down Crown & Display Case Back 300m Water Resistance |
| Dial & Crystal | Box Sapphire Crystal /w AR Gradient Blue Dial Arrow and Sword Hands Applied Indices White/Yellow Super-LumiNova |
| Movement | Rado R763 Regulated in Five Positions Nivachron Balance Spring 25 Jewels 21 600bph 80-Hour Power Reserve |
| Strap | Stainless Steel Bracelet Blue Leather Striped NATAO |
Rado Captain Cook Automatic
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Final Thoughts
While RADO has doubled down on ceramic over the last few years—billing themselves as Master of Materials—the brand still does make a solid stainless steel dive watch, at a fraction of the cost. This iteration of the Captain Cook Automatic, even with its display case back, provides a very satisfying water resistance of 300m and features an excellent movement with a power reserve in excess of 3 days. While the brand has switched things up on the dial somewhat, the true hallmarks of the Captain Cook Collection remain: the concave stadium-style bezel, the rotating anchor logo at twelve, and the broad arrow handset. While the proliferation of polish may give you pause, the various strap options provided in this package should prepare you for any occasion. The colourway is beautiful, as well, with its smoky blue gradient. And I have always said, very few watchmakers do a box crystal like RADO. Those lovely distortions!
Pricing & Availability
The RADO Captain Cook Automatic retails for $2700USD ($3600CAD). 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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