This is a 36 mm watch with fundamentally masculine looks, but with a diamond-set bezel. Watch brands don’t talk about men’s or women”s watches any more, they are just small, midsize, large or extra-large, and a watch like this has sure appeal in countries where a bit of glitter is good on men’s watches as well as women’s. Rado’s “new alchemy” transforms clay into ceramic, which is then transformed again into this gleaming, metallic-look substance by a firing in a plasma kiln that brings the ceramic components to 900°C, in a plasma atmosphere at 20,000°C that modifies the surface structure. The material is almost perfect, because it has the shine and colour of metal, amazing scratch-resistance, and it feels warm to the touch. Almost perfect, because the only problem with ceramic is that if it is dropped onto a hard surface, there is a chance that it will chip or break: this type of ceramic, though very hard, is brittle. It’s one of the directions in which Rado’s research is currently working: making ceramic tougher.
The grey dial and the dark grey metallic case, 36 mm in diameter and 10.4 mm thick, provide the ideal backdrop for the details in stainless steel with PVD pink gold finish and the 56 Top Wesselton diamonds set into the steel bezel for a total of 0.834 carats. The case is a monobloc, with caseback in ceramic and sapphire crystal; it is waterproof to 5 bar, 50 metres depth. It is mounted on a plasma ceramic bracelet with gloss finish and a folding titanium clasp with Ceramos pushers.
Movement
The watch is powered by the ETA 2681 self-winding movement, with 25 rubies and a 38-hour power reserve. The watch is a three-hander with date.
Reference
The Rado HyperChrome Plasma Diamonds Limited Edition is reference.580.0523.3.010. The watch is a limited edition of 600, with number engraved onto the ceramic caseback.
