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Rado Captain Cook 39mm Unisex Watch
Ref. R32223203
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Stepping up in Rado's range
The original Captain Cook launched in 1962, when Rado was among the first Swiss houses to take dive watches seriously as objects of design rather than pure utility. This reference revives that spirit at 39mm — a size that was standard for the sixties original and now reads as considered rather than retro, sitting well on a broad range of wrists without the bulk that crept into later reissues. At 12.1mm thin, the case slides under a cuff more readily than most 300-metre-rated watches have any right to, and the light blue to silver gradient dial shifts noticeably as the light changes angle — cooler and more uniform in shade, warmer and more differentiated in direct sun. The rotating anchor on its ruby backplate is a period detail carried faithfully from the original, and the ceramic insert on the unidirectional bezel keeps it looking unmarked long after a steel one would show wear. The Nivachron hairspring in the R763 — resistant to magnetic fields without needing a soft-iron cage around the movement — and an 80-hour power reserve mean the watch runs through a long weekend off the wrist without needing to be wound before Monday. The EasyClip system is a practical addition: switching to a rubber strap for the water takes seconds, no tools needed.
- Reference
- R32223203
- Brand
- Rado
- Collection
- Captain Cook
- Case size
- 39mm
- Case thickness
- 12.1mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA C07.611
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 300m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 80 hours
- 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 7 collections
This watch appears in the Rado Captain Cook range (17), Back in Stock (3,460), Stainless Steel Watches (2,531), Automatic Watches (1,573), Blue Dial Watches (701), Sports Watches (696) and Dive Watches (499).
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What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch built to be worn hard and got wet.
Strengths
- 300m water resistance, rated for actual diving
- 39mm suits most wrists
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- 80-hour reserve survives a weekend off the wrist
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Price history
This watch is currently at its highest recorded price. It was £1,760 on 14 August. 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 | R32223203 | L37794906 | YA136362 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £2,200 | £2,050 | £1,980 |
| Case size | 39mm | 39mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 300m | 300m | 300m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Mesh bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 80 hours | 72 hours | 56 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 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 unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £2,200, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its highest recorded price. It's ranged between £1,760 and £2,200, today it's £2,200.
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