It’s been quite a while since we last covered a Rado watch but the new HyperChrome Captain Cook demands some attention. Don’t let the futuristic sounding name fool you though, as the watch in question is actually a retro-inspired dive watch based on a Rado model of the same name from the 1960’s (sans the HyperChrome part of course).
HyperChrome Captain Cook
The HyperChrome Captain Cook was launched at Baselworld earlier this year without too much fanfare. It’s one of those cool, under-the-radar type of watches that in any other year probably would have generated a bit more buzz. As it was, Baselworld 2017 was dominated by vintage-inspired dive watches, like the Blancpain Tribute to Fifty Fathoms MIL-SPEC and the Seiko Prospex SLA017, and so to really stand out you had to do something special.
The HyperChrome Captain Cook isn’t special but it is a cool little piece of Rado history that has been recreated for the modern day, although aesthetically there’s not too much that’s modern about it. For a start the steel case is still a very 1960’s-ish 37mm in diameter and the matte grey-brown dial features painted dial markers as opposed to applied ones. Likewise, the red anchor logo just below 12 o’clock, which swivels as the watch moves, along with the red numeral date wheel and “Captain Cook” text, all come straight from the original model.
There have been some present-day technology upgrades however. For a start, the box-shaped crystal which sits high above the dial in typical vintage fashion is now made from sapphire instead of acrylic. The steel, bi-directional bezel meanwhile boasts an insert made from shiny polished ceramic. Like the original however it does not have any luminescent markings, a big no no when it comes to satisfying the ISO 6425 standards for mechanical dive watches. Not that Rado is suggesting that the HyperChrome Captain Cook is intended to be a dive watch, quite the opposite in fact. Still its rated water resistant to 100m, so you can wear it in the pool with you.
The HyperChrome Captain Cook is powered by a pretty standard ETA movement, the C07.611, which offers time and date functionality and an 80-hour max power reserve. It’s covered by a solid, screw-down case back which has been engraved with three seahorses and the text “One out of 1962” around the perimeter. As you might have guessed only 1,962 pieces will be produced, in reference to the year the original watch made its debut.
Presented on a simple brown leather strap with pin buckle the Rado HyperChrome Captain Cook will retail for US$1,800.
captain Cook is intended to be a dive watch, quite the opposite in fact. Still its rated water resistant to 100m, so you can wear it in the pool with you.