Rado is probably best known globally for its ceramic shaped watches like the Diastar and Centrix, but if you ask the average watch enthusiast for their favorite Rado, nine out of ten times the answer will be the Captain Cook.
A 1960s dive watch revived by the Swatch Group brand in 2017, the Captain Cook is one of the best divers in its class, combining its mid-century good looks with upgraded materials from the brand known as the master of them.
Generally speaking, the Captain Cook’s unique design traits, which include a broad arrow hour hand, a concave bezel and a rotating anchor logo on the dial, prevent it from drawing many comparisons to other dive watches. But the brand’s latest model brings to mind a classic Rolex Submariner … albeit for a far lower price tag.
A collaboration with European Cricket, for which Rado serves as the official timing partner, the new limited-edition Captain Cook takes pretty clear inspiration from the Rolex Submariner Date “Bluesy” (current Ref. 126613LB), an iconic Sub reference recognized for its blue dial and bezel and two-tone “Rolesor” steel/yellow gold construction.
Like all Rolesor Rolexes, the Bluesy’s gold parts, in this case its center links, bezel and crown, are made of solid gold. That’s part of the reason why the watch retails for $19,450. The new Rado, meanwhile, is all stainless steel and uses yellow gold PVD coating on its center links, bezel and crown to give a similar visual look but for far less money.
