Kensington Watches
Rado True Round 40mm Ceramic

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Rado

Rado True Round 40mm Ceramic

Ref. R27056732

Among our 10 Rado watchesThis watch£1,150
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape

Price range £950 to £3,113 across 10 Rado watches in stock.

Rado has spent decades building in ceramic at a time when most of the industry considered it too difficult to work with at scale, and the True Round is where that expertise is most plainly expressed. The case, bracelet and clasp form a single continuous object — the monobloc construction means there are no transitions between materials, no joins to catch the light differently. Set into that unbroken black surface, twelve diamond indices and hands with rose-gold tone accents provide the only interruption, a restrained contrast that reads clearly without disturbing the overall calm. At 10.4mm the case is genuinely slim for an automatic, and at 121 grams the ceramic bracelet sits noticeably lighter on the wrist than a steel equivalent of the same size would. Beneath that, the R763 — Rado's modification of the ETA Powermatic 80 architecture — carries a Nivachron hairspring, which resists magnetic fields well enough that most everyday environments will not trouble it, and winds enough reserve over a weekend to return Monday morning still running.

Reference
R27056732
Brand
Rado
Collection
True
Case size
40mm
Case thickness
10.4mm
Case material
Ceramic
Case shape
Round
Dial
Black
Crystal
Sapphire
Movement
Automatic
Calibre
ETA C07.611
Functions
Date
Water resistance
50m
Bracelet / strap
Ceramic bracelet
Strap colour
Black
Clasp
Butterfly clasp
Lume
Luminous
Condition
Pre-owned
Retailer
Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
Power reserve
80 hours
Learn more about Rado

Rado began as Schlup & Co, a movement manufacturer founded by the Schlup brothers in Lengnau in 1917. It became one of the largest movement producers in the world before releasing watches under the Rado name in 1957.

The brand's entire identity rests on a single question: how do you stop a watch from looking worn? The DiaStar of 1962 was marketed as the world's first scratchproof watch, using hardmetal — tungsten carbide — and a sapphire crystal at a time when both were exotic in watchmaking.

Rado then spent decades pushing further into materials most watchmakers avoided because they are difficult to machine and impossible to correct. High-tech ceramic arrived in 1986 with the Integral, and the Ceramica of 1990 was made almost entirely from it. The company developed plasma high-tech ceramic, which is heated to 20,000 degrees to acquire a metallic sheen without any metal content, and Ceramos, a ceramic-metal composite.

The V10K of 2002 used high-tech diamond and reached 10,000 on the Vickers scale — the hardness of diamond itself, and a Guinness record.

Rado's design language is correspondingly clean and monolithic, with the True and Captain Cook lines carrying the modern collection. The company has been part of the Swatch Group since 1983.

1917
Founded as Schlup & Co in Lengnau.
1957
The first watches carry the Rado name.
1962
The DiaStar introduces a scratchproof hardmetal case.
1986
High-tech ceramic enters production.
2002
The V10K reaches diamond-level surface hardness.

All Rado watches

Also in 6 collections

This watch appears in the Rado True range (9), Back in Stock (4,847), Automatic Watches (1,736), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344), All Black Watches (319) and Ceramic Watches (105).

What the specifications mean

A mechanical watch for everyday wear.

Strengths

  • 40mm suits most wrists
  • Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
  • 80-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
  • Luminous hands and markers for low light
  • Sits in the lower half of Rado's range as we list it

Worth knowing

  • 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Best forEveryday wear
Less suited toSwimming

Rado True Round alternatives

Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.

True Round 40mm Ceramic compared with 2 alternatives from other brands
SpecificationThis watchTrue Round 40mm CeramicR27056732Raymond WeilMaestro Beatles 2017 Limited Edition 39.5mm Stainless Steel2237-ST-BEAT2BallFireman Storm Chaser Pro 42mm Stainless SteelCM3090C-L1J-BK
Price£1,150£950£1,755
Case size40mm39.5mm42mm
Water resistance50m50m100m
MovementAutomaticAutomaticAutomatic
StrapCeramic braceletStainless steel braceletLeather strap
Power reserve80 hours38 hours38 hours
This watch
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Your new watch

Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch

Can I swim with it?

Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.

Water resistance explained

Will the glass scratch?

Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.

Sapphire, mineral and acrylic compared

Does it need a battery?

No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.

Quartz, automatic and solar compared

How long does it run for when it's not worn?

About 80 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.

Is it a men's or women's watch?

Listed as men's, though at 40mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.

Cheapest place to buy

Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.

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