Is the Rado True Thinline Anima the watch of 2020?

Well, not in the sense of representing the year, given that this year really isn’t in anybody’s top anything given all the problems. But, if you’re going to limit yourself to releasing 2020 pieces of a watch, well, the tie-in is there. This new Rado True Thinline Anima takes everything we like about the True Thinline and dials it up a notch.

Now, we’ve talked about the True Thinline watches before and have even reviewed one (here). There are two major takeaways from this line, in general – they’re super-thin, and they feature colorized ceramic cases and bracelets. Those two together make for a very comfortable fit on the wrist, as well as a look and feel unlike anything you’d get from steel. Generally, when they introduce a new model there’s a new color of ceramic coming along for the ride, and this one is no different – a matte-finish olive green. We tend to associate that with military-inspired stuff, but this is definitely no trench watch.

No, the Rado True Thinline Anima is rather elegant. At it’s heart you’ve got an automatic mechanical movement (no mean feat for a case this thin) with a very tidy 64-hour power reserve. While you’ve got that high-tech ceramic protecting it on the sides, you also have a boxed sapphire crystal on top, and a titanium case back closing things in. All in all, it only offers a 30m WR rating, but that’s enough for washing your hands or getting caught in the rain. Swimming? Yeah, this isn’t the watch for that.

In terms of the wider True Thinline, well, line, this is the most complicated dial that I’ve seen appear. The dial itself is skeletonized in a very architectural manner, and even the date wheel has been carved out. I’ve not seen this before, and it allows it to sort of blend into the other background bits (along with the carbon fiber weave look on the movement spacer) except for where it comes into the date window at 6 o’clock. Many bits of the movement and the dial are dark and matte, so that should help the polished dauphine hands to stand out, but that’s something you’d really want to see in person to tell.

And if you do see the Rado True Thinline Anima in person? Be sure to look for the detail I really like on all automatic Rado watches – the spinning anchor. Here, rather than being up at 12 o’clock, it’s mounted just above the date window in the 6 o’clock line. It’s a busier look than we normally see from Rado, but it’s one the best-done skeletonizations I’ve seen as of late. You can check out all the details, and get your own for $3,000, direct from rado.com.

Watch Overview

Brand & Model:?Rado True Thinline Anima

Price:?$3,000
Who we think it might be for:?You’ve liked the ultra-thin ceramic creations, but prior ones were just too “plain” for your tastes
Would I buy one for myself based on what I?ve seen??Skeleton watches are toss of the coin for me – if they’re not legible (and that’s hard to tell from photos) it quickly becomes a no

What spoke to me the most about this watch:?While I don’t like exposed date wheels – in general – this one I do actually like, as it becomes part of the architecture of the dial

Tech Specs from Rado

Ref. 766.6112.3.031
Movement: 111?2 ETA A31.L02, automatic, 25 rubies, 3 hands, date at 6 o?clock, skeletonised calendar disc, 64-hour power reserve, aluminium movement with black bridges and black DLC-coated rotor

Case
- Matt olive green high-tech ceramic case, monobloc construction Titanium case back with sapphire crystal
- Matt olive green high-tech ceramic crown
- Box sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides Water resistant to 3 bar (30 m)
- Special engraving on the case back: LIMITED EDITION ONE OUT OF 2020
Dial
- matt olive green skeletonised
- Olive green flange
- Carbon fibre structure
- Rhodium coloured applied indexes Rhodium coloured, moving anchor symbol White printed Rado and Automatic logos
Hands: rhodium coloured
Bracelet: matt olive green high-tech ceramic 3-fold titanium folding clasp