Rado is a brand that, frankly, that suffers the burden of not being on many people’s radars, as far as I can tell. They’ve got an interesting lineup, particularly when you hone in on their use of ceramics. Not just bezel inserts, nossir, it’s the whole watch, bracelet included! While recent releases have been round, this week’s announcement has them giving some love and attention to the Rado True Square collection.
As I’ve said in previous Rado ceramic reviews, if you’ve not expereinced one of their watches, you really don’t know what you’re missing. On one hand they look like their steel counterparts, but the feel – both in hand and on the wrist – lets you know that this ceramic is quite something else.
In this new release, there are actually four different models. You’ve got three that come in at a 38mm square (and a svelte <10mm height even with an automatic), and then a fourth at 29mm. If you’ve been following my writing for awhile you know those sub-40mm cases have really been grabbing my attention lately. And while I do appreciate the traditional round case, squared cases can be a nice “mix-it-up” option.
Of the four released, my favorite of the bunch is the $2,150 Rado True Square. Sure, it’s “just” a three-hander with date, but to settle on those specs just sells short the look of the watch. While blue is my favorite color, I think the pairing of the blue dial with soft silver tones of the ceramic case and bracelet just gives a perfect, almost timeless look. It could certainly work with a casual look, it’s got the flexibility to shift right over to a dressier look.
On the other hand, if you want to go really black tie, you’ve got the Rado True Square Diamonds in both 38mm ($2,350) and 29mm ($2,000) for a solid his-and-hers pairing, For the larger watch, it’s very much the same piece as the one I featured first, except in a very tuxedo finish and that extra sparkle of diamonds and rose gold finishing. For the smaller version, by necessity, the automatic movement is swapped out for a quartz movement.
Last, but very much not least, you’ve got the visually impressive (in a mechanical sense) Rado True Square Open Heart ($2,550). For me, this one is a study in contrasts. You’ve got that silky smooth look of the ceramic set against the very mechanical look of the movement, with the raw (but still finished with stripes) movement holder that you can see on the dial side. As always, I can have a difficulty reading these sorts of dials, but this one seems to have struck the balance with filling in things and having the rose gold tones setting off so you can pick out the handset.
And there you have it – the latest Rado True Square family members. Again, Rado’s use of ceramic is definitely unique, and if you’re looking for something that isn’t stainless steel, this is a very cool way to go. I do like the look of the blue one, but there’s also the details in the mix, such as their use of a rotating anchor to indicate that there’s an automatic movement? That’s worthy of a chef’s kiss. Many times, we want something that’s very casual in a watch, but when you’re ready to up that wrist game without feeling like you HAVE to break out a tuxedo to match the watch, something like the Rado True Square is a very, very solid choice in my book. rado.com
Tech Specs from Rado
Rado True Square Automatic
- Ref. 763.6077.3.020
- Movement: ETA C07, automatic, 25 jewels, 3 hands, date at 3 o?clock, up to 80 hours power reserve
- Case
- Polished plasma high-tech ceramic case, monobloc construction sandblasted titanium case back
- Polished plasma high-tech ceramic crown
- Flat sapphire crystal
- Water-resistant to 5 bar (50m)
- Dial
- Blue, sunray
- Rhodium coloured applied indexes with white Super-LumiNova? white printed minute track
- Rhodium coloured moving anchor symbol
- White printed Rado and Automatic logos
- Hands
- Rhodium coloured with white veneer and white Super-LumiNova?
- Rhodium coloured second hand
- Bracelet: polished plasma high-tech ceramic; titanium 3-fold clasp
- Dimensions: 38.0 x 44.2 x 9.6 (WxLxH in mm)
Rado True Square Automatic Diamonds
- Ref. 763.6078.3.070
- Movement: ETA C07, automatic, 25 jewels, 3 hands, date at 3 o?clock, up to 80 hours power reserve
- Case
- Polished black high-tech ceramic case, monobloc construction
- Black PVD coated titanium case back
- Polished black high-tech ceramic crown
- Flat sapphire crystal
- Water-resistant to 5 bar (50m)
- Dial
- Black lacquered, jubil?
- 12 diamonds, 135/140, Top Wesselton, VS-SI, full cut, 0.120 carat
- Rose gold coloured moving anchor symbol
- Rose gold coloured printed Rado and Automatic logos
- Hands
- Rose gold coloured with white veneer and white Super-LumiNova?
- Rose gold coloured second hand
- Bracelet: polished black high-tech ceramic; titanium 3-fold clasp
- Dimensions: 38.0 x 44.2 x 9.6 (WxLxH in mm)
Rado True Square Diamonds
- Ref. 079.6080.3.070
- Movement: quartz 3 jewels, 3 hands, date at 3 o’clock
- Case
- Polished black high-tech ceramic case, monobloc construction
- Black PVD coated titanium case back
- Polished black high-tech ceramic crown
- Flat sapphire crystal
- Water-resistant to 5 bar (50m)
- Dial
- Black lacquered, jubil?
- 12 diamonds, 125/130, Top Wesselton, VS-SI, full cut, 0.096 carat
- Rose gold coloured printed Rado logo
- Hands
- Rose gold coloured with white veneer and white Super-LumiNova?
- Rose gold coloured second hand
- Bracelet: polished black high-tech ceramic; titanium 3-fold clasp
- Dimensions: 29.0 x 34.3 x 8.1 (WxLxH in mm)
Rado True Square Open Heart
- Ref. 734.6086.3.016
- Movement: ETA C07.631, automatic, 25 jewels, 3 hands, up to 80 hours power reserve, open heart with circular grain decoration, C?tes de Gen?ve decorated movement holder
- Case
- Polished black high-tech ceramic case, monobloc construction
- Black PVD coated titanium case back
- Polished black high-tech ceramic crown
- Flat sapphire crystal
- Water-resistant to 5 bar (50m)
- Dial
- Black vertical brushed with rose gold coloured bevels
- Rose gold coloured applied indexes with white Super-LumiNova?
- White printed minute track
- Rose gold coloured moving anchor symbol
- White printed Rado and automatic logos
- Hands
- Rose gold coloured with white veneer and white Super-LumiNova?
- Rose gold coloured second hand
- Bracelet: polished black high-tech ceramic; titanium 3-fold clasp
- Dimensions: 38.0 x 44.2 x 9.7 (WxLxH in mm)
