While a number of brands have been dropping new watches throughout the year, there hasn’t been nearly as much news coming from the masters of ceramic, Rado. Well, that is, until the other day, when we were told about the Rado Great Gardens of the World.
These are watches that came about from Rado’s collaboration with Grandi Giardini Italiani, which features beautiful gardens across Italy. They’ve run with that garden theme on the dials of these watches. The Rado True x Great Gardens of the World, Chapter 1 is what I envision as the garden by day. The turquoise of the case and bracelet (and dial) reflect the clear sky and water features of the garden, and the flowers and leaves are, well, the garden itself. The diamonds? Well, let’s say those are drops of water captured on the leaves and reflecting the sun.
As bright and airy as the Rado True x Great Gardens of the World, Chapter 1 is, the Chapter 2 version takes that basic idea, and puts it in formal wear. Or, to take our garden theme, shows us that same garden, but at night. Other than the colors used, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 are basically identical. And, for what it’s worth, these look quite similar to the True Thinline that we reviewed. I mean, yes, it’s thicker here (have to house the automatic movement), but diameter, materials, and functions are very much the same. Which is to say – this should wear, feel, and look amazing on the wrist.
If those two didn’t do it for you, Rado True x Great Gardens of the World, Chapter 3 is a much different look. Gone are the petals and leaves. Instead, set into the center of the dark mother of pearl dial you’ve got a ring of engraved oak leaves set with diamonds, in the center of which circle the hands. On one hand, it sort of looks like something set in the middle of a garden pond (perhaps the pump cylinder after it’s been shut off). But it doesn’t feel like it fits as well as the other two do, both thematically and together. And I truly don’t understand the small handset used here. It’s almost like taking an original dial, handset, and movement from a much smaller watch and somehow shoehorning it into a much larger dial and case. Not my cuppa, I guess.
All three of these watches are available now. Chapters 1 and 2 will go for $2,450, while chapter 3 commands $2,660 (presumably due to the additional diamonds). Full specs are available down below, and of course over at www.rado.com
Tech Specs from Rado
Rado True x Great Gardens of the World, Chapter 1 (Ref. R27114902)
- Movement: Rado calibre R763, automatic, 25 jewels, 3 hands, date at 3 o’clock, 80 hours power reserve, antimagnetic NivachronTM hairspring, exceeds standard test requirements from 3 to 5 positions for higher accuracy
- Case:
- Polished turquoise high-tech ceramic case, monobloc construction
- Polished turquoise high-tech ceramic crown
- Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both faces
- Titanium case back with black smoked sapphire crystal
- Digital printing on sapphire crystal: GREAT GARDENS OF THE WORLD CHAPTER 1
- Water-resistant to 5 bar (50m)
- Dial:
- Turquoise mother-of-pearl, engraved silver coloured flowers and green leaves, jubilé
- 12 diamonds, 135/140, Top Wesselton, VS-SI, full cut, 0.12 carat
- Rose gold coloured moving anchor symbol
- Rose gold coloured printed Rado and Automatic logo
- Hands: Rose gold coloured
- Bracelet:
- Polished turquoise high-tech ceramic
- Titanium 3-fold clasp
- Dimensions: 40.0 x 47.3 x 10.4 (WxLxH in mm)
Rado True x Great Gardens of the World, Chapter 2 (Ref. R27109902)
- Movement: Rado calibre R763, automatic, 25 jewels, 3 hands, date at 3 o’clock, 80 hours power reserve, antimagnetic NivachronTM hairspring, exceeds standard test requirements from 3 to 5 positions for higher accuracy
- Case:
- Polished black high-tech ceramic case, monobloc construction
- Polished black high-tech ceramic crown
- Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both faces
- Black PVD coated titanium case back with black smoked sapphire crystal
- Digital printing on sapphire crystal: GREAT GARDENS OF THE WORLD CHAPTER 2
- Water-resistant to 5 bar (50m)
- Dial:
- Black mother-of-pearl, engraved gold coloured flowers and black leaves, jubilé
- 12 diamonds, 135/140, Top Wesselton, VS-SI, full cut, 0.12 carat
- Rose gold coloured moving anchor symbol
- Rose gold coloured printed Rado and Automatic logo
- Hands: Rose gold coloured
- Bracelet:
- Polished black high-tech ceramic
- Titanium 3-fold clasp
- Dimensions: 40.0 x 47.3 x 10.4 (WxLxH in mm)
Rado True x Great Gardens of the World, Chapter 3 (Ref. R27109742)
- Movement: Rado calibre R763, automatic, 25 jewels, 3 hands, date at 3 o’clock, 80 hours power reserve, antimagnetic NivachronTM hairspring, exceeds standard test requirements from 3 to 5 positions for higher accuracy
- Case:
- Polished black high-tech ceramic case, monobloc construction
- Polished black high-tech ceramic crown
- Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both faces
- Black PVD coated titanium case back with black smoked sapphire crystal
- Digital printing on sapphire crystal: GREAT GARDENS OF THE WORLD CHAPTER 3
- Water-resistant to 5 bar (50m)
- Dial:
- Black mother-of-pearl, engraved oak leaves, jubilé
- 12 diamonds, 135/140, Top Wesselton, VS-SI, full cut, 0.12 carat
- 20 diamonds, 085/090, Top Wesselton, VS-SI, full cut, 0.058 carat
- Rose gold coloured moving anchor symbol
- Rose gold coloured printed Rado and Automatic logo
- Hands: Rose gold coloured
- Bracelet:
- Polished black high-tech ceramic
- Titanium 3-fold clasp
- Dimensions: 40.0 x 47.3 x 10.4 (WxLxH in mm)
