Rado watches

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Discussion

rich83

Original Poster:

14,192 posts

137 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
quotequote all
Are they any good? Look at the ceramic true (white one) for my wife for xmas. I am struggling to find one on the highstreet to have a look at to gauge quality.

Rich

PJ S

10,842 posts

226 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
quotequote all
Yes, they're a very decent brand.

dr_gn

16,140 posts

183 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
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I was looking at watches in a shop a few years back, and the customer asked the assistant "what's ceramic?" to which the reply was "Well basically it's a very hard metal...". I got the impression both were happy with the deal, despite everything.

rich83

Original Poster:

14,192 posts

137 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
quotequote all
dr_gn said:
I was looking at watches in a shop a few years back, and the customer asked the assistant "what's ceramic?" to which the reply was "Well basically it's a very hard metal...". I got the impression both were happy with the deal, despite everything.
Ohh dear....

sad61t

1,100 posts

209 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
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Tried on a gents Rado about a year ago, 38mm black and gold ceramic case and bracelet. It was very comfortable - light weight, smooth finish to the bracelet which wrapped to the wrist easily. I was close to buying but the price wasn't quite right (i.e. full RRP up front, no return) and the one I wanted (a slightly different model) wasn't in stock. Certainly a watch I wouldn't mind finding under the tree.

The "very hard metal" comment may come from experience; trying to describe ceramic as tough pottery could make potential customers wary of it breaking if they knock it too hard. Material science and people's intuition don't always tally.

MarsellusWallace

1,180 posts

200 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
quotequote all
rich83 said:
Are they any good? Look at the ceramic true (white one) for my wife for xmas. I am struggling to find one on the highstreet to have a look at to gauge quality.

Rich
Leonard Dews in Blackpool had a couple of these in their window last time I was looking a couple of weeks back heavily reduced-i think they could have been half price.Maybe worth a call.

CardShark

4,190 posts

178 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
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There's not much chat about Rado, probably due to the design language more than anything else. They pioneered the use of ceramic and hard metal technologies (the two aren't the same) and, IMO, make some interesting watches.

Here's mine, so I've put my money where my mouth is smile







Edited by CardShark on Tuesday 2nd December 22:27

rich83

Original Poster:

14,192 posts

137 months

Tuesday 2nd December 2014
quotequote all
I must admit they look lovely. I dont think id like one for everyday wear, as I would be afraid of scratching the high polished case.

CardShark

4,190 posts

178 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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The dressier styles are usually ceramic, the chunkier more casual diver styles may use the hard metal cases. Both are scratch resistant, especially the ceramic models which is why Rado originally introduced them, though for some models it's only the case that's ceramic and not the bracelet as well. My watch has a ceramic case and doesn't have a single mark on it despite having a highly polished finish, the bracelet is steel however (with a titanium clasp) and the finish on that picks up fine swirls though they're easy to polish out.

ADP68

528 posts

170 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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They sell very well in Asia. I remember years ago, there was a kidnapping in Cambodia and the kidnappers demanded money and Rado watches! I never liked the space-age ones where the face blended in with the bracelet, but the one in the picture here looks rather nice.

CardShark

4,190 posts

178 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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Some more pics The comment about stripping back the collection has since proven to be a load of bull though rolleyeshehe

OP - the bottom line is that you won't go wrong in terms of quality with Rado, however that doesn't necessarily take precedent over what you think she'll like to wear IYSWIM.

rich83

Original Poster:

14,192 posts

137 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
quotequote all
MarsellusWallace said:
Leonard Dews in Blackpool had a couple of these in their window last time I was looking a couple of weeks back heavily reduced-i think they could have been half price.Maybe worth a call.
There might be a virtual pint coming your way very soon..... :-)

Wrong ones.... :-(

Edited by rich83 on Wednesday 3rd December 11:29

rich83

Original Poster:

14,192 posts

137 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
quotequote all
Found one on oxford street. Panic over.

Edited by rich83 on Sunday 7th December 09:46

kazste

5,665 posts

197 months

Wednesday 3rd December 2014
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Looks like bought now so a bit late to the party, I have the jubilee on leather strap lovely looking watch and after over ten years not a mark on it. Bought the wife one full ceramic she wears it to work and abuses it and again not a mark on it. They are in the main only a Quartz watch but IMHO they are very well made for the price point they sell at.

Variomatic

2,392 posts

160 months

Thursday 4th December 2014
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rich83 said:
I must admit they look lovely. I dont think id like one for everyday wear, as I would be afraid of scratching the high polished case.
You'd have to go some to scratch one. Ceramics typically have a hardness similar to sapphire so, unless you're in the habit of rubbing your watch up against diamonds, the finish is pretty safe smile

cardigankid

8,849 posts

211 months

Sunday 7th December 2014
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I bought one recently through SWD. We were able to get a model which none of the retailers could source. It seems that there is a wider choice in Europe than what is for sale in UK.

It is a very cool and high quality watch, nice material and great to wear. Personally I like the black ones. Ceramic is as said a very high tech basically clay material. However if they make parts of the space shuttle, and brakes for McLaren, Porsche and Aston Martin from it, you can be fairly sure that it is top quality.


mikeveal

4,559 posts

249 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
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The Ceramics won't scratch, but they will shatter if you drop them on something hard enough.

Good brand though. I have an early 60's Diastar chronometer with a tungsten case and a faceted saphire crystal. At 50 years old it's older than I am and there's not a mark on it. Wish I could say the same.

minipower

896 posts

218 months

Tuesday 9th December 2014
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I have had my Rado for five years now and wear it as an everyday work watch. I have been impressed with how durable it has been plus it fits very well so I do not notice it when typing.

sparkyhx

4,143 posts

203 months

Wednesday 10th December 2014
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most of the range are quartz and expensive for that. Some of their more recent stuff is quite nice

nearly bought this but it say awkward on my wrist

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/d/2088436/ra...

ATTAK Z

10,595 posts

188 months

Wednesday 10th December 2014
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I have three:

The first a present from the contractor when I worked in Saudi 1983 ... Jubilee with leather strap and still as good as new

The second a present to myself about 15 years ago bought in Lanzarote ... Jubilee with four diamonds and date ... my everyday watch

The third a copy bought in Sharm about 5 years ago and still going strong

The missus has two ... one ladies Jubilee from Turkey and an Egyptian copy with fake diamonds

I like RADO smile