With its global legacy as the “Master of Materials,” Rado has built upon this reputation through the reimaging of its iconic watches throughout the century and bringing them to the present day. The Swiss watch company has creatively modernized its well-known pieces that highlight Rado’s beloved high-tech ceramic material — such as the Captain Cook and True Square.
The Captain Cook was first introduced in 1962 and was unveiled again in 2021 with Rado’s material of choice, high-tech ceramic. Rado’s high-tech ceramic material was first used by the company in 1986 and is renowned for its durability, light substance and scratch resistance. But above all, the high-tech ceramic has a comfort that makes it silky to the wearers’ touch.
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As a natural choice for the modern-day explorer, the Captain Cook collection self-references the original Rado dive watches. The duo of new Captain Cook models in blue Monobloc high-tech ceramic with polished sunshine yellow and burnt orange inserts is a limited-edition series of colorways, with just 262 units made.
Another new model is the True Square Skeleton model in matte yellow with softly rounded corners — a shape that has become synonymous with Rado’s success story. The watchmaker earned its reputation through its invention and production of these square high-tech ceramic watches.
Extending its legacy in tennis, Rado has once again renewed its partnership with the Mubadala Citi DC Open this year as its official sponsor and official timepiece.
Held in Washington, D.C. from July 27 to Aug.4, the Mubadala Citi DC Open is the only event combining ATP and WTA 500. The tournament was founded in 1969 to support Arthur Ashe’s vision of a professional event held at a public park for full access to everyone.
Since then, it has gone on to become the fifth-largest professional tennis event in the U.S. and the longest-running professional tournament held at the same site in the U.S.
At the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Rado will showcase its latest lunch, a Captain Cook with its blue-to-white gradient dial that features Rado’s signature moving anchor symbol in gray on a purple backplate. The watch varies with interchangeable straps of stainless steel, blue leather and blue and white textile NATO-style.
“Rado and the game of tennis share some essential values,” said Adrian Bosshard, chief executive officer of Rado. “There’s the relentless determination, as well as the commitment to push our own boundaries and test our own limits. And from our first contact with the Mubadala Citi DC Open, we’ve recognized that we have partners who are to not only staging a world-class competition, but also to supporting a worthy foundation. Once again this year, we can hardly wait for the first serve.”
Rado became involved with the world of tennis as a title sponsor of the 1985 Swiss Open. Reminiscing on Rado’s associations in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the company has returned to the world of tennis in 2022 and has become the Official Timekeeper of other ATP Tour tennis tournaments including the Abierto Mexicano Acapulco or Mexican Open and BMW Open in Munich.
Through Rado’s YoungStar program, the watchmakers have partnered with promising youth talents, such as American player J.J. Wolf, to help them in their pursuit of perfection and embodying the same values that define Rado: endurance, strength of character and dynamism.
Mark Ein, chairman of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, said that this partnership with Rado is the embodiment of their shared commitment to “world-class excellence.”