LOFTY SIXTIES ADVENTURE FOR THE MODERN WORLD
Time never stands still, for true explorers. The same can be said for the watch designers at Rado, who have taken an iconic model from the Sixties and equipped it with a high-quality Swiss hand-wound mechanical movement with 80 hours of power reserve. Characteristic design aspects from the original "Over-Pole Worldtimer" have been modernized, with a high-tech ceramic insert added to the bezel, laser engraving and a box-shaped sapphire crystal, while true vintage essentials have been kept, such as the iconic 37mm diameter and overall style. The watch will catch glances from all modern adventurers and vintage timepiece enthusiasts.
In that exciting era, not so long ago, international travel was a new thing, and it inspired rock songs, books, as well as watchmakers, the world over. People dreamed of exotic places and mysterious frontiers where timelines converged. At Rado, sparked by the promise of that new world, gifted watchmakers were busy creating the Rado Over-Pole timepiece, as a clever variant of the early Captain Cook series. The new “Worldtimer” sported a turning bezel with the key cities of the world, for quick estimation of the time in those locations — a smart, open invitation for all would-be globetrotters.
The first Over-Pole was a huge success, as it hinted at reliable timekeeping at the planet's polar limits, under an evocative name. To mark the anniversary of that exploration-inspired timepiece, Rado is launching a new Captain Cook Over-Pole Limited Edition, updated with the brand's latest technological features, while preserving the "vintage" look. The totally-modern workings are housed in a polished stainless-steel case, around which the key elements of the original design are clearly recognizable, such as the inward-sloping bezel with city names, the classic red date-numeral at 3 o'clock and the box-shaped glass, always a conversation piece. In the reissue, the bezel carries a black, polished high-tech-ceramic insert with laser engraving, for the city names, and the new glass is sapphire crystal, treated on both faces with anti-reflective coating. Real watch-lovers will marvel at the tactile, hands-on quality of the new model, thanks to its action-ready, explorer-centred, manually-wound movement. The screw-down case back now also includes its own sapphire crystal, showing the mention "Limited Edition" and the timepiece's edition unit number, so one can behold the heart that makes it all happen.
Successful reissues of any iconic object typically retain key features, while updating those which technology has found smart ways of improving. As the "Master of Materials", Rado has solid experience in evolving its product line in keeping with innovations in materials, design and production techniques. The new Over-Pole model is a perfect example. The edition will be produced as an exclusive series of 1962 units, with a manual-winding movement that provides an impressive 80 hours of power reserve. The movement, equipped with a NivachronTM antimagnetic hairspring, was chosen for its distinctive reliability and accuracy, and allows the new Over-Pole to exceed test requirements by five full points.
The new Captain Cook Over-Pole Limited Edition is delivered in a stylish brown pouch with a second bracelet, in rice-grain-style stainless steel, quickly interchangeable for a different look, thanks to the EasyClip system.