Quick show of hands – how many of you would expect a luxury watch brand to launch a department-store exclusive?  Yeah, me either.  Be that as it may, come this October, Macy’s (at least in the US) will be the sole proprietor of the latest from Rado, the Rado Captain Cook MKIII.  Who knows, perhaps like the intrepid explorer, this is your chance to map out the coastlines of your local retail establishment.

Not content to simply reissue the original watch (named for the explorer, James Cook), Rado has kept on playing around with materials.  You’ve got a grade 5 titanium case (which means Victor will be salivating) for lightness and toughness, a boxed-domed crystal (you’ve got my interest), and a super dimensional dial (also of interest).

From the case to the dial design, the Rado Captain Cook MKIII is very much a vintage-style diver (fortunately, it can actually dive as well, with a 220m WR rating).  The case just screams old-school, and those pillars-for-indices do the same.  The handset it familiar, but not in any sense of the size they’re presented here (read:  large and in charge).  The use of yellow on the dial is as bold as those hands, and makes this a watch you’ll notice.

As mentioned at the outset, the Rado Captain Cook MKIII is going to be available at Macy’s this October (in the US; outside of the US, it’ll be available in normal retail channels).  If this one has caught your fancy, be prepared to bring $2,550 along for the ride as well (no idea if your Star Rewards discounts will be allowed to be brought to bear here).  If you see one in the wild, be sure to snap some photos and send them in to us, alright?  rado.com

Watch Overview

  • Brand & Model: Rado Captain Cook MKIII
  • Price: $2,550 via Macy’s starting in October 2018
  • Who we think it might be for:  You love strolling your local mall, and there just aren’t any good A.D.’s in it.  Oh, and you like vintage-style dive watches
  • Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen?  Hmm, no, this one probably isn’t the one for me
  • If I could make one design suggestion, it would be:  Make that anchor on the dial the running seconds
  • What spoke to me the most about this watch: The domed crystal and the extra-large handset

Tech Specs from Rado

  • Ref. 764.6030.3.117
  • Movement:  ETA C07.621, automatic, 25 jewels, 3 hands, day/date at 3 o’clock,up to 80 hours power reserve
  • Case
    • Sandblasted hardened grade 5 titanium
    • Screw-down titanium case back with 3 stamped seahorses
    • 2 polished PVD coated grade 5 titanium screw-down crowns
    • Box shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides thin black metallised anchor in the middle of the sapphire water-resistant to 22 bar (220m)
  • Dial
    • Black sunray, applied indexes with white and yellow Super-LumiNova® black inner turning bezel with white and yellow Super-LumiNova® large white moving anchor symbol with yellow background
    • White printed Captain Cook and Automatic logos
  • Hands
    • Rhodium coloured applied Rado logo yellow printed water resistance
    • Rhodium coloured with white Super-LumiNova®
    • Rhodium coloured minute and second hand with yellow Super-LumiNova®
  • Strap
    • Black textile with grey stitching
    • Stainless steel extendable folding clasp
    • Satin brushed PVD coated stainless steel cover
  • Dimensions:  46.8 x 48.3 x 13.9 (WxLxH in mm)

Categorized in:

Automatic, Diver, New Models, Rado,

Last Update: August 23, 2018