It wasn’t all that way back that Rado’s presence within the fanatic area was nearly completely centered on its retro-cool Captain Cook dinner diver line. Over the previous a number of years, nonetheless, this Swatch Group marque has reinvented itself, making a concerted push to return focus to its pioneering work with ceramics. This bolder, extra numerous facet of Rado has yielded spectacular outcomes, notably when its heritage-driven and materials-driven points intersect. The Anatom line sits squarely on this crossroads, combining an ’80s-modernist ergonomic silhouette with totally fashionable ceramic execution. Late in 2024, Rado added a brand new bracelet to this assortment, finishing the smooth, wraparound look of the design. The brand new Rado Anatom with bracelet presents a uniquely offbeat form of New Wave retro class, embellished with stable efficiency, refined ending, and class-leading supplies.
Like earlier strap-equipped variations, the up to date Rado Anatom’s rectangular “plasma ceramic” case measures in at a modest 32.5mm large and 44mm lug-to-lug. Whereas these dimensions is perhaps roughly in step with iterations of different well-known rectangular watches (such because the Reverso), the carrying expertise right here is markedly totally different. Your complete type of the Anatom, whereas not precisely built-in in the identical approach as a Royal Oak or a Nautilus, is nonetheless supposed to wrap across the wrist seamlessly. This extends to the case profile, the place the principle mid-case, the hooded lugs, and the crystal all observe the identical natural compound curve. The tip consequence feels much less like a conventional watch than a high-end cuff bracelet, with a easy, arcing type that wraps each comfortably and attractively on the wrist. Whereas the general form is crisp, minimal, and elegantly easy, there’s a welcome side of character right here courtesy of some ’80s-chic design touches. For instance, regardless of its look at a look, the Anatom is a totally bezel-less design. As an alternative, the chamfered, curving sapphire crystal wraps across the 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock case sides. This ornate crystal design produces some fascinating prismatic results at indirect angles and likewise lends your complete type a smooth and streamlined really feel. Our evaluation pattern arrived with the graphite grey “plasma ceramic” case possibility, and the virtually liquid-like full mirror sprucing and deep grey coloration serves the sleek, luxurious retro-modernist look right here effectively. The again facet does disrupt this easy, natural form considerably with a conventional flat sapphire caseback. Throughout put on, although, this contrasting angular component usually nestles between the wrist bones, so it’s usually solely noticeable when the watch is taken off. The Anatom is way from a visually sporty design, so its middling 50 meters of water resistance is unsurprising.
In comparison with the strap-equipped Anatom revival of 2023, this revised Anatom design cleaves far nearer to its ‘80s forebears in dial design. That is nonetheless removed from a direct recreation of these classic Rado fashions, however the heat taupe base dial hue with its array of engraved horizontal traces echoes the unique Anatom’s brushed silver dial with polished gadroons way over the colourful dégradé choices of the earlier era. This mixture of large and slim horizontal stripes provides the dial an nearly fabric-like look on the wrist and retains the in any other case fundamental format from feeling simplistic. Mixed with the rose gold tone baton fingers and matching indices, it’s a masculine, refined format that feels luxe with out sacrificing simplicity. The black date window at 6 o’clock is effectively executed right here, proving far much less intrusive than a traditional white date wheel would.
Rado powers the Anatom with the ETA 2892-based R766 automated motion. When it comes to efficiency, the R766 is a major step up from the off-the-shelf 2892, with a beefy 72-hour energy reserve at a 28,800 bph beat price alongside an anti-magnetic Nivachron hairspring. Alongside its stable efficiency, the R766 can also be handsomely completed for this worth level, with arabesque-brushed bridges topped by a customized rotor formed to match the Rado anchor emblem and completed with Côtes de Genève.
A lot of the allure of this up to date Rado Anatom depends upon its new plasma ceramic bracelet. Like most fashionable Rado ceramic bracelets, this one is light-weight and cozy, with a satisfying silky really feel to the contact. Nevertheless, the model elevates this one above its stablemates with considerate design. To match the case and dial, Rado accents the broad graphite grey most important hyperlinks with slender mid-links in rose gold PVD. It’s a heat, masculine coloration mixture on the wrist, with a appear and feel that means a far greater worth level than it really carries. As soon as once more, Rado’s liquid-look ceramic sprucing works in its favor right here, though it’s simple that this fascinating end is a magnet for smudges in a approach that few supplies can match. With that stated, cleansing off fingerprints and smudges is an affordable worth to pay for the acute scratch resistance of ceramic, however extra meticulous fanatics would possibly discover it tiresome to consistently wipe off the watch. Regardless of the flowing, natural design and absolutely polished ending, Rado nonetheless provides stable faceting work to this tapering bracelet. A steady edge chamfer runs all the way in which round either side of the wrist, extending seamlessly from the sapphire crystal all the way in which to the butterfly clasp. When mixed with the cupped profiles of the gold-tone mid-links, it’s an intriguing mix of soppy and laborious angles that additional improve the Anatom’s retro-luxe character.
Over the previous a number of years, Rado has redoubled its efforts in pioneering case supplies whereas on the identical time presenting a broader cross-section of its heritage than it has prior to now. The brand new bracelet-equipped Rado Anatom sits on the confluence of those two evolving sides of the model, and the outcomes are deeply compelling. That is certainly one of Rado’s most full, intriguing choices in current reminiscence, with a refined, Gordon Gekko-era strategy to luxurious that hardly ever reveals up in fashionable horology. The Rado Anatom is obtainable now via licensed sellers. MSRP for this watch as examined stands at $4,450 USD as of press time. For extra data, please go to the Rado web site.
