Rado Captain Cook: now available in 39mm

And in ocean-ready colors

Even if all you’re looking for from a watch is basic timekeeping, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of capability thrown in for good measure, right? That’s where our friend the steel sports watch comes in. They can be capable and good looking. And, if you’re on the hunt for something a bit smaller, then the new 39mm versions of the Rado Captain Cook just might be a good fit.

Rado Captain Cook: what it is

The Rado Captain Cook is what we consider to be the “standard” dive watch for the brand. You get a three-hand setup (including the broad-arrow hour hand), paired to luminous indices and a uni-directional dive bezel. It carries a 300m WR rating, which means it’s going to be able to handle whatever water you can throw at it. Inside, it’s the Rado calibre R763, which offers up an 80-hour power reserve, and runs at 3 Hz. This should be fairly reliable and accurate, and will do all you need it to do.

How it goes a bit more upscale

With Rado, it’s all about the little touches. First off, you’ve got the red ruby under the anchor at 12 o’clock on the dial. What’s this about? On their automatic models, this anchor is free to spin, just like the rotor of the movement.

Next up, along with the more-compact case (at 39mm), it’s actually relatively thin for a 300m watch, coming in at just 12mm thick. That means it’s going to be fitting under your shirt cuff with ease. Finally, they’ve got the watch paired to a multi-finish grains-of-rice bracelet, which is functional (for getting in the water) as well as giving you that bit of flash that you want when you’re dressing a bit more formal.

Wrapping things up

This new Rado Captain Cook was introduced last month, and comes in two different colorways. You’ve got the light blue gradient dial (with a color-matched bezel), as well as a darker black-to-turquoise dial that comes with the black ceramic bezel. Regardless of color, the watch comes in a $2,450 (it looks like the darker version is currently sold out). Check it out, and order yours, directly from rado.com

Rado Captain Cook Tech Specs

• Movement

  • Rado calibre R763, automatic, 25 jewels, three hands, date at 3 o’clock

  • 80-hour power reserve, antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring, adjusted five positions

• Case

  • Polished stainless steel case

  • Polished stainless steel turning bezel

  • Polished stainless steel screw-down case back with three embossed seahorses

  • Polished stainless steel screw-down crown with embossed and laser-enhanced anchor logo

  • Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides

  • R32223203 (light blue dial): Polished light blue high-tech ceramic bezel insert, with silver metallised numbers, markers and triangle

  • R32223213 (black-to-turquoise dial) Polished black high-tech ceramic bezel insert, with numbers, markers and triangle in white Super-LumiNova®

• Dial

  • Rhodium-coloured applied indexes with white Super-LumiNova®

  • Rhodium-coloured moving anchor symbol on ruby background

    • R32223203

      • Light blue-to-silver gradient

      • Cool grey-printed Rado and Captain Cook logos, 300m/1000ft

    • R32223213

      • Black-to-turquoise gradient

      • White-printed Rado and Captain Cook logos, 300m/1000ft

• Hands: Rhodium-coloured with white Super-LumiNova®

• Bracelet

  • EasyClip system

  • Polished and brushed stainless steel, rice grain-type stainless steel, 3-fold clasp

• Dimensions: 39.0 x 45.5 x 12.0 (W x L x H in mm)