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Rado Captain Cook 39mm Unisex Watch
Ref. R32223213
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Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Captain Cook first appeared in 1962, when Rado built it as a serious tool diver rather than a dress watch that happened to be waterproof. This version revisits that founding brief and adds a detail the original never had: a dial that shifts from black at the periphery to turquoise at the centre, so the colour changes depending on how the light reaches it. The anchor symbol on the caseback, set against a synthetic ruby, is the kind of finish that appears where most manufacturers would leave bare metal. At 39mm it sits closer to the original proportions than the larger variants in the current lineup, and 12.0mm thick is genuinely flat for a watch rated to 300 metres — it will disappear under a cuff in a way that few divers manage. The rice-grain bracelet runs polished and brushed links in alternation, which keeps it from reading as purely sporty, and the quick-release system means swapping to a strap requires no tools and about four seconds. The R763 runs on an ETA C07.611 base with a Nivachron hairspring — an alloy that holds its rate through magnetic fields that would unsettle a standard steel spring — and is adjusted in five positions before leaving the factory. The 80-hour reserve means a watch left on the nightstand Friday evening is still running Monday morning.
- Reference
- R32223213
- Brand
- Rado
- Collection
- Captain Cook
- Case size
- 39mm
- Case thickness
- 12mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA C07.
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 300m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 80 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
- Strap
- Interchangeable
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 6 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), 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
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 | R32223213 | 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.
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