Bought a watch - Rado content
Discussion
So I've had a Ceramica Chronograph XL for a little under 10 years (will be 10 in January in fact)
It still looks about 98% as good as new (could do with a clean!) and I've worn it 24/7 for those 10 years, only taken off the few times it's been serviced (or when I slammed a car bonnet on it...) and on the odd occasions I used to be in the water to actually swim as opposed to just relax.
Anyway, despite not being a well known or 'money' brand (I actually like this) I've always liked what Rado do, their clever materials and designs, they've always been just a bit different. I was indulging in some Baselworld porn as you do and in 2016 noticed the Rado True Open Heart. Initially limited to 500 of each colour (matte black or white ceramic) it appears they now sell this as a standard watch, however it is only available in gloss black with silver hands / hour marks, which I didn't like.
I've thus just occasionally kept an eye out for one of the originals to come up, and lo and behold one turned up on ebay being sold by cash converters! Initially it was up at £1,300, which is slightly more than a new (gloss black) one can be had for, so I just stuck it on the 'watch list' and thought I'd see if it hung around.
I checked it again yesterday and it was listed at £1,100 buy it now or best offer. So I made an offer, it was accepted, and tomorrow a matte black Open Heart will be arriving. I'm a little bit excited
Why have I bought one? I think the 0.2mm layer of mother of pearl makes it look absolutely stunning, and given how well the Ceramica has worn it will make a nice alternative I could easily wear every day. The Ceramica is also a quartz so it'll be nice to have an automatic
It looks in good condition in the (awful) pictures, obviously if it's somehow scuffed to pieces I'll send it back, but I'm optimistic given the material.
Not my pictures of course, but just to give the unaware an idea of the face.
Thought I'd stick a picture of the Ceramica up, managed to catch the slightly odd 'oily' effect under the glass that appeared after the last service. This is apparently an effect of the adhesive used to stick the glass back on as it had to be removed (after the bonnet slam incident), needless to say that was a bit disappointing as it's noticeable at certain angles... That'll specifically be being asked to be sorted next time it goes back as it does irk me, but at the time not enough to kick up a fuss and have it sent back again.
Never realised how skinny my wrists have become
It still looks about 98% as good as new (could do with a clean!) and I've worn it 24/7 for those 10 years, only taken off the few times it's been serviced (or when I slammed a car bonnet on it...) and on the odd occasions I used to be in the water to actually swim as opposed to just relax.
Anyway, despite not being a well known or 'money' brand (I actually like this) I've always liked what Rado do, their clever materials and designs, they've always been just a bit different. I was indulging in some Baselworld porn as you do and in 2016 noticed the Rado True Open Heart. Initially limited to 500 of each colour (matte black or white ceramic) it appears they now sell this as a standard watch, however it is only available in gloss black with silver hands / hour marks, which I didn't like.
I've thus just occasionally kept an eye out for one of the originals to come up, and lo and behold one turned up on ebay being sold by cash converters! Initially it was up at £1,300, which is slightly more than a new (gloss black) one can be had for, so I just stuck it on the 'watch list' and thought I'd see if it hung around.
I checked it again yesterday and it was listed at £1,100 buy it now or best offer. So I made an offer, it was accepted, and tomorrow a matte black Open Heart will be arriving. I'm a little bit excited
Why have I bought one? I think the 0.2mm layer of mother of pearl makes it look absolutely stunning, and given how well the Ceramica has worn it will make a nice alternative I could easily wear every day. The Ceramica is also a quartz so it'll be nice to have an automatic
It looks in good condition in the (awful) pictures, obviously if it's somehow scuffed to pieces I'll send it back, but I'm optimistic given the material.
Not my pictures of course, but just to give the unaware an idea of the face.
Thought I'd stick a picture of the Ceramica up, managed to catch the slightly odd 'oily' effect under the glass that appeared after the last service. This is apparently an effect of the adhesive used to stick the glass back on as it had to be removed (after the bonnet slam incident), needless to say that was a bit disappointing as it's noticeable at certain angles... That'll specifically be being asked to be sorted next time it goes back as it does irk me, but at the time not enough to kick up a fuss and have it sent back again.
Never realised how skinny my wrists have become
Edited by SturdyHSV on Wednesday 25th July 15:59
I have a Rado Diastar Original Diver that I bought second hand for about 500 around five years ago. I'm guessing it was 4/5 years old at that point?
Still looks like new - its been in the sea etc. Seems pretty indestructible.
Looking at Chrono24 values don't seem to have dropped either so I guess the first owner took quite a bath on it (metaphorically).
I'd buy another Rado, but not many appeal - the square ceramic ones just conjure up the image of a certain sort of person....like a '90s salesman or similar.
The new Captain Cook looks good but either is too large at 45mm or too small at 38mm.
Still looks like new - its been in the sea etc. Seems pretty indestructible.
Looking at Chrono24 values don't seem to have dropped either so I guess the first owner took quite a bath on it (metaphorically).
I'd buy another Rado, but not many appeal - the square ceramic ones just conjure up the image of a certain sort of person....like a '90s salesman or similar.
The new Captain Cook looks good but either is too large at 45mm or too small at 38mm.
See I was too young to have any 90s salesman images, just when I was a teenager I really liked the fact it was all one uniform width the whole way around, and that's largely why I wanted a Ceramica
Anyway, it arrived, I suspect it's had a hard life
The box is remarkably tatty and there are a 3 links that have a little mark on, but the crystal, face and case all look immaculate (once I'd fingernailed off some weirdly stubborn transparent residue
, possibly adhesive from a sticker)
Will send it off for a service in the near future, get it cleaned up and the seals replaced etc. Pleased with it though, glad I waited for a matte finish to turn up instead of the gloss
Anyway, it arrived, I suspect it's had a hard life
The box is remarkably tatty and there are a 3 links that have a little mark on, but the crystal, face and case all look immaculate (once I'd fingernailed off some weirdly stubborn transparent residue
, possibly adhesive from a sticker)Will send it off for a service in the near future, get it cleaned up and the seals replaced etc. Pleased with it though, glad I waited for a matte finish to turn up instead of the gloss
jdw100 said:
Very interesting watch.
MOP not my taste but the case/bracelet I really like - looks like a smokey dark grey, very cool!
I wouldn't mind one with a grey face.....
Congrats. I'm sure you'll enjoy wearing it.
Thanks, interesting is the word MOP not my taste but the case/bracelet I really like - looks like a smokey dark grey, very cool!
I wouldn't mind one with a grey face.....
Congrats. I'm sure you'll enjoy wearing it.
I actually went and looked online at the Captain Cook they've re-done, and although typically I'm not a divewatch fan in any way (quite the opposite in fact), it does look really quite nice!
The MOP is what really makes it work for me, the normal 'True' is a very clean watch and the thinline is remarkable if you do fancy one with a grey face, but it's the way the MOP changes with the light that I found fascinating!
Away from the light it's just a sort of smokey translucent appearance and the movement is as if visible through a cloud
I'm a fan anyway, posted on here as I wanted to share the excitement, only have one mate who 'gets' watches
Both great watches SturdyHSV
I have always been a Rado fan, more so the older models, though they don't seem to have much of a following in the UK, and have seven of them.
The one that eludes me, and is what started my interest in watches after seeing someone wearing one, is the Cerix.
I have always been a Rado fan, more so the older models, though they don't seem to have much of a following in the UK, and have seven of them.
The one that eludes me, and is what started my interest in watches after seeing someone wearing one, is the Cerix.
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