Rado HyperChrome

The HyperChrome collection is the most versatile in Rado's program. None of the Swiss watch manufacturer's other series features such a wide variety of functions, materials, and designs. The HyperChrome series offers a bit of everything: from sporty chronographs and elegant dress watches to retro models and diving watches, with materials ranging from stainless steel and titanium to plasma high-tech ceramic. Rado mainly uses automatic movements in this collection, though some models also come with quartz movements, further adding to the list of options.

The true stars of this collection are its chronographs, which come in numerous color variations. However, the classic diving watch Captain Cook and the retro 1616 watch also have a certain charm. Their designs hearken back to days gone by. The HyperChrome Ultralight, on the other hand, is appealing thanks to its low weight and stylish exterior. The collection's dress watches also look good, both with or without diamonds.

Of course, such a large variety of models go for equally diverse prices. You can find a stainless steel women's dress watch with a quartz movement and a date display at 3 o'clock starting at just over 1,000 euros. If you prefer an automatic movement, expect prices around 1,200 euros. Plan to spend about 1,200 euros for a quartz-powered stainless steel men's model with a leather strap and almost 1,300 euros for the same watch with a stainless steel bracelet. The HyperChrome Automatic is a similar watch but with an automatic ETA caliber. It costs just under 1,300 euros with a leather strap, while a stainless steel bracelet demands an additional 70 euros. If you would rather have a watch made of high-tech ceramic, be prepared to spend about 1,300 euros for the automatic women's model and 1,600 euros for the men's model. The model in a warm brown hue with hands and indices plated in red gold is a particular treat. You can get this timepiece new for slightly less than 2,600 euros.

The HyperChrome Automatic Diamonds floats in a similar price range. Its case comes in a white, black, brown, or metallic finish. The price for a women's model in white with four diamond indices on the dial sits around 2,500 euros. On the other hand, a men's watch made of black ceramic with twelve diamond indices and gold-plated hands goes for just under 2,800 euros. You'll have to spend a bit more for the version with a diamond-studded bezel, which demands prices of over 3,800 euros.

Rado offers versions of the HyperChrome Chronograph with an automatic ETA 2894 caliber and a monobloc high-tech ceramic case or with a quartz movement and a stainless steel case. It's easy to tell the two apart: Automatic models have their 30-minute counter, 12-hour counter, and small seconds dial at 9, 6, and 3, o'clock, respectively, and their date display sits between 4 and 5 o'clock. On watches with quartz movements, the small seconds dial sits at 6 o'clock while the minute and hour counters have migrated to 2 and 10 o'clock. The date display has also been slightly re-positioned to 4 o'clock. Both versions have hands and indices coated in luminous material and a Ceramos bezel with a tachymeter scale.

That the quartz models are less expensive should not come as a surprise. You can find a new model starting at as little as 1,100 euros. A pre-owned HyperChrome Automatic Chronograph with a mechanical movement and ceramic case demands around 1,800 euros. Expect to have to pay about 2,800 euros for a never-worn model. The Chronograph Match Point, which had a limited run of 999 pieces, demonstrates Rado's longstanding relationship with tennis and costs a good 650 euros more. As a nod to the scoring of a game of tennis, the numbers 00, 15, and 40 are found on the small seconds dial while a 30 appears on the 30-minute counter. The 12-hour counter also resembles a tennis net.

In early 2018, Rado introduced a new member of the family: the HyperChrome Chronograph Bronze. Like its sister models, it has a 45-mm monobloc case made of matte black high-tech ceramic and a polished black ceramic bezel. However, unlike the other models, this watch includes CuSn8 bronze side inserts, which will develop their own unique patina over time. In keeping with the theme of rustic materials, this watch comes with a dark distressed leather strap. Expect prices of around 5,000 USD upon its release in June 2018.

Rado has revived a classic with the HyperChrome 1616. This watch is a modern version of the Rado Cape Horn from the 1960s and 70s. True to the original watch, the 1616 has a 46-mm pillow-shaped case. It has also inherited the Cape Horn's large crown protector. That being said, Rado constructs the 1616 using black or dark gray ceramic and has equipped it with a state-of-the-art automatic ETA C07.621 movement that has an 80-hour power reserve. However, none of this interferes with the retro aesthetic since Rado has remained true to the original for the dial's design, which comes in white, blue, or black. Be prepared to spend around 2,100 euros for a new HyperChrome 1616.

Like the 1616, the HyperChrome Captain Cook is also a remake of a Rado watch originally from the 1960s. It has a unidirectional diver's bezel, is water resistant to 200 m (20 bar), and has hands and indices coated in luminous material. An ETA C07.611 ticks away inside the 45-mm hardened titanium case. This movement provides the three-hand watch with a date display at 3 o'clock and an 80-hour power reserve. You can purchase a Captain Cook with a dark blue dial and matching textile strap for around 1,800 euros. If you would prefer a titanium bracelet, be ready to spend over 2,100 euros.

In 2017, Rado launched a limited edition Captain Cook with a run of only 1,962 pieces . Its much smaller, 37.3-mm diameter and stainless steel construction set it apart from its sister models. Additionally, it is only water resistant to 100 m (10 bar). With a stainless steel bracelet, this watch goes for about 1,500 euros. Rado utilizes the same case for the women's white Captain Cook model with diamond indices. You'll need over 1,800 euros for this watch.

Rado watches have two particularly distinguishing features: their scratch resistance and their light weight. When it comes to the latter, the watch manufacturer outdid even themselves with the HyperChrome Ultra Light from 2016. The watch's case is made of an extremely light silicon nitride, and it is powered by the automatic ETA caliber A31.L01, which is also very light thanks to its use of anodized aluminum. In total, the watch weighs only 56 g. The HyperChrome Ultra Light comes in two versions: One is a minimalist three-hand timepiece without indices and a dial that resembles a zen garden. The other has an intricately designed dial on two levels, which gives the watch an industrial feel. Regardless of which model you choose, expect prices of around 2,200 euros.

Though they are no longer in Rado's catalog, the HyperChrome Small Second, Dual Timer Touch, and UTC models are worth mentioning. Rado chose a 42-mm monobloc case for all three models. The same case is still used in the current three-hand models. As is fitting, these watches are made of black high-tech ceramic and metallic plasma high-tech ceramic. An automatic ETA 2895-2 movement ticks away inside the HyperChrome Small Second and provides the watch with a date display at 3 o'clock and a small seconds dial at 6. Plan to spend about 2,200 euros for a never-worn model with a leather strap. Prices for models with high-tech ceramic bracelets reach up to almost 2,400 euros.

The HyperChrome UTC also features an automatic movement: the ETA 2893-2, to be precise. This lends the watch its date display at 3 o'clock and a 24-hour display for a second time zone, which is indicated using an additional central hand. With a leather strap, this watch costs just under 2,300 euros, while variants with a ceramic bracelet go for around 2,300 euros.

The HyperChrome Dual Timer Touch completes the trio. It also offers a display for a second time zone, accomplished via a subdial at 6 o'clock. Unlike the two previous models, the Dual Timer Touch is powered by a quartz ETA movement, namely the F11.001. Any search for a date display or crown would be in vain since Rado outfitted this watch with touch technology. Sensors on the side of the case register touches, which is how you set the watch. The price for a black high-tech ceramic Dual Timer Touch with a black leather strap sits around 1,700 euros. Be prepared to spend just under 2,200 euros for the version with a snow white case and ceramic bracelet.