Hands-on: Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Plasma Ceramic

Text/Photo: Aleksandar Mladenovic

Earlier this spring Rado launched several new Captain Cook watches in their pleasant High-Tech Ceramic cases. It was high time that we at Eqotime got to acquaint ourselves a little more closely with a legendary diver's watch in updated format.

The basics

Rado's diver's watch Captain Cook was launched in 1962. A tool watch for its time with a case that was water resistant down to 220m. The original was produced over a fairly short time period of 6 years and some information points to only about 8,000 watches being produced in total.

In 2017 Rado relaunched its diver's watch, and during recent years it has been produced in a range of different materials and sizes. Among other things in a 37mm (and 42mm) steel case, 42mm bronze cases and the 43mm ceramic cases.

Rado has long been known for its ceramic watches, above all in the form of their Ceramica models which are the models the editorial team most strongly associates with the brand. Last year the Captain Cook was introduced in a ceramic case for the first time in a range of different variants with semi-transparent dials.

New for this year are two models in black and green ceramic with matte dials that are available on both bracelet and rubber strap as well as two models in High-Tech Plasma Ceramic on bracelet with either a grey or blue sunray dial and it is the latter we have taken a closer look at.

The case measures 43mm in diameter, is 14,6mm thick and is just under 50mm long. It is a watch with substantial presence on the wrist that gives a robust impression. The watch has many similarities with the original model from the 60s: a domed dial, red typeface for the date and the little rotating anchor just below 12 o'clock above the Rado logo. We also have large and clear hands that are similar to the original.

What distinguishes the Plasma models from the "normal" ones in ceramic is that these have been treated in an oven where at a temperature of 20,000 degrees celsius gases are formed that transform white ceramic and give the case and bracelet that slightly grey-blue tone which has a slightly more "metallic" look. The Plasma Ceramic versions also have polished centre links on the bracelet.

The model is also ISO6425 certified and a "true dive watch" as well as water resistant down to 300m.

Everything is not made in ceramic, however. The bezel and the crown are made in steel and the back cover in titanium. The folding clasp (a triple one) is also made in titanium.

The dial is as mentioned domed, and has a sunray finish and is placed under a domed sapphire crystal that is anti-reflective treated. The dial really "lives" in different light conditions and shifts character quite a lot. Sometimes it was a little difficult to read the watch, above all to capture on camera, as there really is quite a lot going on when the light hits the dial under the domed sapphire crystal.

Both hands and indices are filled with SuperLuminova as well as the triangle in the bezel insert which is also ceramic. The watch glows strongly in the dark with a blue colour.

Something we miss with the bracelet is a micro adjustment, it can be a little tricky to get the right fit and the process is a little more time-consuming since there are pressed pins in the bracelet instead of screwed ones. This is something we would gladly see developed in coming models.

The movement is a Rado calibre 763 which at its base is a modified ETA C07.611 (base ETA 2824-2) which ticks away at 21,600bph and the somewhat lower frequency gives the movement a power reserve of 80h. It is no extraordinary movement, a fairly standard ETA movement which is known for its timekeeping and robustness.

On the wrist

It is a watch that demands its wrist, that is nothing you can hide under a chair. If you have a normal-sized wrist (we are thinking 17,5cm) then the watch sits well if you come to terms with the height and the feel of the watch generally. For those of us with slightly smaller wrists (think 16,5cm and smaller) it is a piece that is a little harder to carry off.

It would be very interesting if Rado in the future produced these pleasant ceramic divers in a smaller case, 37mm would probably be ideal for enthusiasts with narrower wrists.

Summarising thoughts

We are on the whole positively surprised by the watch. A ceramic diver on a ceramic bracelet under 50,000kr is probably not something many manufacturers can compete with. It has a nice finish and looks very pleasant when you behold it on someone else's wrist. With that said there is room for development, among other things regarding the lack of micro adjustment in the clasp as well as when it comes to wearability for smaller wrists.

If you have a normal-sized wrist or like slightly larger watches and then above all in ceramic, then we absolutely think you should take a closer look at the Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Diver.

For more information about the watch, visit Rado's website

Technical specifications

Brand: Rado
Model: Captain Cook High-Tech Plasma Ceramic Diver
Reference number: R32144202 (blue dial)

Diameter: 43mm
Thickness: 14,6mm
Case material: Plasma High-Tech Ceramic

Dial: Blue sunray
Water resistance: 300M
Bracelet: Bracelet in ceramic

Movement: Rado 763 (modified ETA)
Complications: Date
Power reserve: 80h
Winding: Automatic

Price: 42,500kr