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Rado Centrix 40mm Stainless Steel and Ceramic
Ref. R30134162
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Centrix sits within Rado's longer project of pairing hard, technical materials with the proportions and finish of a dress watch — a line that has always been more interested in longevity and surface quality than conventional watchmaking orthodoxy. Here that plays out in an unusual combination: a midcase and frame in yellow gold PVD-plated steel wrapped around a bracelet built from polished black high-tech ceramic, a material that resists scratching in a way no steel bracelet can match. At 10.5mm thick across a 40mm footprint, it sits notably flat — slim enough to disappear under a cuff while the chronograph and date still make it genuinely functional. The black dial keeps things restrained, with baton markers and the date set at four o'clock rather than the standard three, giving the sub-seconds register room to breathe. The ETA 251.272 at the centre uses Precidrive technology, which brings the accuracy of quartz chronograph measurement considerably closer to the mechanical feel without the weight or depth that movement would demand. At 132 grams, the watch has real presence on the wrist — the ceramic bracelet contributes density without the warmth of metal, and the titanium triple-fold clasp keeps the fit secure without adding bulk at the underside.
- Reference
- R30134162
- Brand
- Rado
- Collection
- Centrix
- Case size
- 40mm
- Case thickness
- 10.5mm
- Case material
- Two-tone
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- ETA 251
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Two-tone
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Origin
- Swiss made
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.
Also in 4 collections
This watch appears in Chronograph Watches (1,287), Two-Tone Watches (464), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (211) and Ceramic Watches (107).
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 40mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 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
Compare alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | R30134162 | YA1264239 | FC-270N4P6B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,450 | £1,310 | £995 |
| Case size | 40mm | 38mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 50m | 60m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| This watch |
|
|
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.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
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 at £1,450, pre-owned. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.
Is this available new?
Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as pre-owned only, at £1,450 from Mappin & Webb. A pre-owned watch has been worn, and is normally sold under the retailer’s own warranty rather than the manufacturer’s.
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