Summer Sizzling Shades of High-Tech Ceramic

THE DREAMS OF SUMMER IN SIZZLING SHADES OF HIGH-TECH CERAMIC
The fiery and luminescent realm where high-tech ceramic is born has for decades been one of Rado’s most glowingly creative and inspirational environments. From the watchmaking world’s celebrated Master of Materials comes a duo of new Captain Cook models in brightly polished blue monobloc high-tech ceramic cases, as limited editions of just 262 units, worthy companions to a recent version in deep and moody matt blue. A new True Square Skeleton model comes alongside, just in time for the sultry days ahead, wearing that friendly, round-cornered case that is now a well-known Rado success story. This time, it simply charms in matt yellow high-tech ceramic, a sunny extension to that superb and very well-received True Square product line.

The two Captain Cook models, respectively with polished bezel inserts in sunshine yellow or burnt orange, are created around a stunning blue high-tech ceramic case that is beautifully polished in this limited-edition series. The new True Square Skeleton, also in high-tech ceramic, but in sunny yellow in this latest series, is undeniably the most fitting complement to your best tan or naturally deep complexion. Subtle variants and creative originality in these well-loved product lines that showcase, once again, that unique Rado hightech ceramic material which simply has to be felt on one’s skin to be believed.

Inside, the highly rated Rado R808 automatic movement with 80 hours of power reserve and an antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring is identical for both new products, tested and benchmarked in a full five positions for optimal accuracy. In the True Square model, the skeletonized top plate and dial assembly in two levels gives a perfect view into the workings of the R808 calibre and its superb Côtes de Genève decoration, behind a flat sapphire crystal treated with anti-reflective coating on both faces. The Captain Cook models carry their own skeletonized creative accents, with a horizontally-brushed nickel-coloured movement finish on the dial side, perfectly visible through the signature box-shaped crystal with antireflective coating that everyone instantly recognises in a Captain Cook model. The exquisite, polished high-tech ceramic inserts in these models, whether you choose the orange or the yellow, carry engraved lacquered markers at each five-minute mark, and a crisp triangle at 12 o’clock treated with white Super-LumiNova®, in addition to identical luminescent coating on the hour and minute hands, at the tip of the second sweeper, as well as on the polished rhodium applied indices, to complete this highly-readable dial, at ease in all your adventures, in city or nature. An additional sapphire crystal is fitted to the titanium case back, to allow a full view of the finely skeletonized movement and its intricate workings, oscillating weight, minute-wheel bridge and sweeper systems, dotted with 25 jewels at crucial pivot points to delight watch lovers and provide best reliability and accuracy for years to come.

The new models come with similar sporty, matt-textured blue rubber straps equipped with high-tech ceramic-cover closures, in polished or matt finishes and shades to match their respective cases. The rubber straps are light and body friendly, as the material quickly adapts to the wearer’s skin temperature
for maximum comfort, but extremely resistant as well, in all your favourite places of play or work.

Why High-Tech Ceramic? – Because it feels like nothing else…
This is exactly what Rado high-tech ceramic is all about. It's why we say, "Feel it." The ancient origins of its base material render its durability almost inevitable, but it is indeed a great testimonial to the knowhow and experience of the "Master of Materials" that it has proven to be true. High-tech ceramic is a
beautifully light substance, and one that is also magnificently scratch-resistant. In itself, all that might be enough qualities to love, in one exceptional material, but surprisingly, it doesn't stop there. Not only is ceramic durable and impervious to almost everything, it has a rare silkiness to the touch that makes for exquisite comfort against the skin. Place it over a human wrist — fine, large, gentle or rugged, and it feels like it was made to be there — since forever. This is of course particularly true for timepieces making use of ceramic elements also in their bracelet, where the sensory experience becomes
total and absolutely unforgettable.

About High-Tech Ceramic
Chronologically-speaking, high-tech ceramic was first introduced by Rado in 1986. Its sensuous feel, durability, scratch resistance and surprising light weight quickly conquered the hearts of watch enthusiasts the world over. Though related in some respects to more common forms of ceramics we all know, hightech ceramic is truly a product of advanced science. Under highly exacting conditions, extremely pure and finely calibrated powders of aluminium oxide, zirconium oxide and silicon nitride with perfectly uniform grain sizes, are shaped into a particular form then baked at high temperature to create an object or a watch case of the desired dimensions and properties. New methods developed by Rado involve the use of a plastic carrier medium mixed with the mineral powders, to allow injection into precision moulds at pressures around 1000 bar. Once cooled, the pieces are removed from their parent mould and the carrier agent dissolved in a standard chemical solvent process, prior to a final sintering phase at 1450°C. This precisely controlled sintering is what makes possible the extraordinary level of density and hardness of High-Tech Ceramic, over regular ceramic. The procedure is true rocket-science territory, as the dimensions of the first moulded elements shrink during sintering; the particles tighten up as porosity disappears and precise calculations must take into account this important change of around 25% in the dimensions. The reward is a case that now stands at 1,250 on the Vickers scale and is ready for final diamond-tool machining and finishing, into an impressive Rado timepiece.