RADO HyperChrome CAPTAIN COOK collection

RADO have released a new collection of divers and divers-style watches that were inspired by their historic 1960s Captain Cook diver.



The collection consists of the 3 models. The first model in the collection is the HyperChrome Captain Cook Ref. 763.0500.3.130 – my favorite as it most closely resembles the 60s Capt. Cook. It’s actually a pretty faithful reproduction – although with just 100m of WR.



Its case is in polished Stainless steel measuring a modest 37.3mm in diameter with a lug-lug measurement of 43.1mm and a thickness of 11.1mm.



It is fitted with: a Stainless steel diver’s bezel with a black ceramic insert displaying a 45 min. dive-time scale. It doesn’t come across in the images but it is also equipped with a special vintage-style box shaped Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides.



Unfortunately also not shown in this series of images is the watch’s three-Seahorse stamped polished Stainless steel screwdown caseback and crown.

The caseback is also engraved with the watch's Limited Edition number out of 1962 – a nod to the original’s launch date.



We can however see a stunning, black sun-brushed dial that has printed vintage-style SuperLumiNova hour-markers along with silver colored printed - Captain Cook, Rado and Automatic logos as well as a large rhodium-plated moving anchor symbol with red background.



The hands, a throwback to the vintage Capt. Cook’s, chunky arrow-shaped hands are rhodium-plated and also with vintage-style SLN. The watch comes on a dark brown vintage leather strap.



The second model in the collection is the HyperChrome Captain Cook Ref. 763.0501.3.220 which has larger 45mm in diameter Grade 5 Titanium case with a regular domed crystal. The already hard Grade 5 Titanium case has been given an additional hardening-treatment.



This model has 200 meters of water-resistance and is with a blue sun-brushed dial and ceramic bezel. It is presented on blue textile strap with a Stainless steel extendible folding clasp with a satin brushed Stainless steel cover. This is also with a hardening-treatment.



And for the ladies – the HyperChrome Captain Cook Ref. 763.0500.3.070 with its polished 100m Stainless steel case, measuring 37mm in diameter, a silver colored dial with jubilé, 8 diamonds, 1.25-1.30, Top Wesselton, VS-SI, full cut, 0.064 carat and a polished steel Milanese mesh bracelet.



BTW the ladies' version also features the same vintage-style box shaped double AR-treated Sapphire crystal as the Ref. 763.0500.3.130. Because the men'' and ladies' share the exact same dimensions they should both be able to use the mesh bracelet (theoretically).



All models in the HyperChrome Captain Cook collection are powered by 11 ½ Swiss made ETA C07.611, automatic movement with: 25 jewels, 3 hands, date at 3 o’clock and up to 80 hours of power-reserve. So which one do you like best???