By John Galt
Rado’s sports line is named HyperChrome and this new version in the collection is one of their most sporty looking pieces, it’s called the HyperChrome Automatic Tachymeter and is made of plasma High-Tec ceramic thus ensuring the piece will stand the pace on the field or tennis courts but is also equally at home in the office.
Rado have added a tachymetric scale to this sporty piece aiding the wearer to measure speed and distance. The scale has been engraved into the ceramic bezel and filled with super-luminova making the markings highly visible even at low light. The 45mm ceramic case gives a very light feel while on the wrist and is also very scratch resistant at the same time.
The dark grey chronograph dial is laid out in the conventional way with three sub dials for hour and minutes arranged in a V shape, Rado have added a touch of elegance to the piece by making the sub-dial rings, hands and hour applied indices in rose gold plated stainless steel adding a touch of warmth to the dark grey dial. Date window has been placed at between 4 & 5 O’clock so as not to obscure the sub-dials with black on white numbers. Both sides of the case have been coated in rose gold coloured PVD and so have both the pushers for the chronograph and the crown. The special shine of the plasma High-Tec ceramic maintains its sporty feel but also gives it an elegant look especially as over time the colour will never fade.
Turning the piece over you are greeted with an exhibition case back showing off a decorated ETA 2894-2 chronograph movement with 37 jewels and a black oscillating weight that really seems to jump out at you from the movement, the power reserve is a good 42 hours. Rado have continued the polished theme with the highly polished plasma High-Tec ceramic bracelet with three rows of links, the outer links are polished but the centre links are made from matte titanium giving a good contrast for the wearer. The watch is also water resistant to 100m/330ft.
Conclusion
Rado have made a perfect match with a superb mix of cool dark ceramic with the warm feel of the rose gold. This piece will look equally at home on the courts of Wimbledon or in the board room with a suit.
For more info, please visit rado.com
Ref. 650.0118.3.010
Movement 12 1/2 ETA 2894-2, automatic chronograph, 37 jewels, 6 hands, date 4.30 o‘clock, 42 hour power reserve, black oscillating rotor, decorated movement
Case polished plasma high-tech ceramic case, monobloc construction polished plasma high-tech ceramic bezel with engraved tachymeter filled with white Super-LumiNova® rose gold coloured PVD coated stainless steel inserts polished plasma high-tech ceramic case back with sapphire crystal curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides rose gold coloured PVD coated stainless steel crown
Water-resistance 10 bar (100m)
Dial grey, rose gold coloured applied indexes with white Super-LumiNova®
grey flange
moving anchor symbol
silver printed Rado and Automatic logos
Hands rose gold coloured with black veneer and white Super-LumiNova®,
rose gold coloured second hand
rose gold coloured small second with black veneer
rose gold coloured hour and minute counters
Bracelet 3-row polished plasma high-tech ceramic outer links matt plasma high-tech ceramic middle links titanium 3-fold clasp with Ceramos™ openers
Dimensions 45.0 x 51.0 x 13.0 (WxLxH in mm)
John Galt – Contributing Editor
John Galt caught the horology bug back in 2010 on his first visit to a London watch show and has snowballed since; John has become an avid writer and blogger of timepieces of all kinds, from everyday timepieces to modern Luxury Haute Horology, his favorite brands being HYT and Greubel Forsey that push the bounders of modern watch-making. John keeps a keen interest in the UK watch scene with their many emerging brands and timepiece’s. John Galt currently contributes watch related articles for online publications in the UK and USA. You can follow John on Twitter @johng73 Read his articles here.
