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Rado Captain Cook Chronograph 43mm Mens Watch
Ref. R32145158
Sits in Rado’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Rado watches we list, which start at £950.
Price range £950 to £3,113 across 10 Rado watches in stock.The Captain Cook name traces back to a 1962 diver that established Rado's ambitions underwater long before the brand was known for ceramics. This chronograph is its contemporary evolution — the original's proportions and rotating bezel carried forward, with a complication added that the 1962 version never had. The anchor at twelve o'clock rotates with the bezel, a detail that reads as a deliberate thread back to the source. At 43mm the case is substantial, but 49.5mm lug-to-lug with curved lugs means it follows the wrist rather than bridging it, and 14.8mm is a reasonable height for a 300m-rated chronograph — most watches built to that depth sit considerably taller. The smoked dial, graduating from silver to black, means the watch reads differently in direct sun than it does under artificial light, which gives it a range most black dials do not have. The R801 is built on ETA architecture but regulated in five positions and fitted with a Nivachron hairspring — non-magnetic and dimensionally stable across temperature changes in a way a standard alloy spring is not. The EasyClip system lets the bracelet come off without tools, which matters more once an owner actually uses it.
- Reference
- R32145158
- Brand
- Rado
- Collection
- Captain Cook
- Case size
- 43mm
- Case thickness
- 14.8mm
- Lug width
- 21mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- R801
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date
- Water resistance
- 300m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Condition
- Ex-display
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 49.5mm
- Power reserve
- 59 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.
Also in 7 collections
This watch appears in the Rado Captain Cook range (17), Stainless Steel Watches (3,197), Automatic Watches (1,736), Chronograph Watches (1,234), Sports Watches (784), Dive Watches (554) and Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (344).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 300m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- 49.5mm lug-to-lug keeps the 43mm case wearable
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- One of Rado's more premium watches
Worth knowing
- 43mm sits at the larger end
- 14.8mm thick, so it will not disappear under a cuff
Price history
The price has risen £0 since 14 October. It's ranged between £1,950 and £2,600. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Rado Captain Cook alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification |  R32145158 | 01 400 7763 4157 | L37744602 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,150 | £2,050 | £2,050 |
| Case size | 43mm | 43.5mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 300m | 300m | 300m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 59 hours | 120 hours | 72 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 300m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes 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 comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 59 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
21mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 49.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb at £2,150 is the cheapest of 4 UK retailers, against £3,045 at the dearest — a difference of £895.
Has the price changed recently?
It's changed recently, it's higher than its previous recorded price. It's ranged between £1,950 and £2,600, today it's £2,150.
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