Rado HyperChrome Captain Cook watch review: discovering new territory

The celebration of Australia Day has become fraught with difficulty in recent years. For some the day simply marks the founding of a country, but for others it commemorates the dispossession of Australia’s indigenous people.

It’s a controversial topic, but one thing that can be agreed on is that the day is also intimately linked with two renowned seafarers: Captain Arthur Philip, the commander of the First Fleet of 11 British ships that landed in Australia in 1788; and the legendary explorer Captain James Cook, who became the first European to chart Australia.

Cook’s cartographic skills and his achievements have been commemorated with statues, exhibitions and countless biographies since he first set sail on the high seas in the 18th century.

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Now, Swiss timepiece manufacturer Rado has given that tradition an update, with a new dive-style watch inspired by the great navigator.

For all its historical connections, the Rado HyperChrome Captain Cook feels truly original. Dive watch aesthetics often tend to ape the all-conquering Rolex Submariner, but the Captain Cook feels like its own beast.

Most notable is its bezel, which functions as you might expect, twisting unidirectionally with a satisfying click, but which slants inwards rather than outward. The high-quality scratchproof ceramic insert lends the whole apparatus a surprising glimmer, catching the light as the wearer moves about.

Luxury watches sit somewhere between tool and jewel – and it is notable that with a water resistance of 100 metres, the HyperChrome Captain Cook is not for serious divers. On the other hand, that kind of depth is perfectly acceptable for snorkelling, swimming, and getting caught in heavy downpours.

The watch’s caseback features three seahorses, as well as text around the circumference of the watch that reads: “One out of 1962” - advertising the limited-edition status of the HyperChrome Captain Cook, and the year that Rado launched its first and only other watch inspired by the famous sea captain.

On the wrist, the HyperChrome Captain Cook looks great. One of the most pleasing details is the small anchor that sits just below 12 o’clock on the dial. As with other Rados, the logo is dynamic, flipping about as you move your wrist.

The model The Week Portfolio reviewed was the 45mm version of the watch, which is definitely on the large side. A more dainty 37.3mm version is also available, and has also been reviewed positively. For us, however, the larger version is the one to go for - a watch that looms as large as Cook himself.

Rado HyperChrome Captain Cook Limited Edition, £1,830, store.uk.rado.com