Pictures of the new Rado Captain Cook MK II watch do not immediately reveal its most notable feature. It clearly joins the multitudes of vintage rereleases but remains remarkably true to the 1962 original Rado watch of the same name, even in its smaller (by modern standards) dimensions. Many recent retro-inspired releases updated for modern tastes and technology also have updated sizes, which make watches with this very ’60s/’70s cushion shape rather chunky on the wrist.
In polished steel, the 37mm width of the Rado Captain Cook MK II, with a lug-to-lug distance of only 40mm, however, makes for a very different visual impression and wearing experience. It retains its wrist presence with a raised “top hat”-style sapphire crystal, made to look like the acrylic ones of old, adding up to a 14.3mm thickness. Just like the original, the Rado Captain Cook MK II is water-resistant to an unusual rating of 220m and features an internal rotating diver’s bezel. The “grains-of-rice”-style bracelet with a cool “easy-change” system is also an appreciated feature. Another modern update is the inclusion of ETA’s affordable C07.611 automatic movement with an 80-hour power reserve. The Rado Captain Cook Mk II is limited to 1,962 pieces and available now directly from Rado’s website.
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