Rado have been on a release spree since the start of April, bringing to the market quite a few pieces across their core collections, and this week, we had the pleasure of seeing them up close and personal in Sydney at their lunch launch at Aalia Restaurant.
Rado have added quite a few models this year to four of their collections – quite a feat for any watch brand. For Rado, these releases showcase why they are the experts in their material craft, mainly ceramic with many of these pieces designed and built in their High-Tech Ceramic.
Whilst is was a Middle Eastern and African affair at Aalia restaurant, the intimate venue just off Martin Place in Sydney known for it’s Middle Eastern and North African cuisine, the weather outside was anything but warm. Thankfully the hospitality of the Aalia staff was, as was Rado’s.
On show was a smorgasbord of watches to go with the banquet lunch, and perhaps the star of the show was the new DiaStar Skeleton 60th Anniversary piece. With its skeleton dial, the angular multifaceted sapphire crystal and retro 60’s design, was something to see in person.
The new Centrix models, whose designs and aesthetics were inspired by the desert, were a hit, especially with the ladies in the room. You can see how Rado has used the tones of the desert in these watches, and their subtle elegance and mix of materials and gems really bring these to life. The contrast of white and gold on the Centrix White Diamonds grabbed a lot of attention not surprisingly.
The new Rado Captain Cook Skeleton in High-Tech Ceramic was one for the men in the room, and did garner a bit of attention from them. The Captain Cook is Rado’s premier sports watch and these do look great in a range of colours and materials offered from Rado.
Personally the Captain Cook is my favourite collection, and having reviewed the Rado Captain Cook Bronze Chronograph late last year (check it out here), I was keen to see the new model with skeletonised dial and full High-Tech Ceramic case and bracelet in Anthracite grey. It doesn’t disappoint, and the rose-gold-coloured PVD bezel, crown and indices offset the muted grey tones well.
One of Rado’s evergreen collection’s, the True Thinline was also on display, and this year, they’ve teamed up with the Great Gardens Of The World, and as a result, the collection in collaboration pulls exquisite natural motifs from three quite-different plants into stunningly original dial designs, which is highly evident on the dials, like the the dial of the Chapter 10. A splendid creation in two layers where a rose-gold-coloured backplate shows through a skeletonised top layer, smartly cut out in organic shapes reminiscent of the mesmerising, intricately entangled branches of the Yemeni Dragon Blood Tree. Under the warm lights of the restaurant bar, looks stunning!
For those square watch lovers out there, Rado has their new line of True Square pieces available in both light and dark colourways to suit most people’s tastes. The standouts were the all White and Black variants with their skeletonised, two level dials, and Yellow and Rose coloured indices and hands.
It was a great afternoon of good food, good company and good watches. The numbers were kept small to maximise the time with pieces, which is much needed at events like these as the more time you get to spend with the watches, the more you can appreciate them and get to know them.
Our personal experience was flawless I might add too. From the pick up at the airport, to the lunch, the hospitality and warmth of the Rado staff, we were very much made to feel important and welcomed at the same time – it’s a nice feeling!
Some more images from the lunch and some more images of the new Rado watches below. Enjoy!
