Tap the image to enlarge
Rado Florence 38mm Ladies Watch
Ref. R48912163
See more premium optionsHide
Stepping up in the same colour and case shape
The Florence line traces back to 1980s Rado, drawing its name from the Italian city and the Renaissance culture surrounding it. The collection moved through rectangular and barrel-shaped cases before settling into its current round form in the mid-1990s, and it has stayed there — a slow evolution toward something that has evidently found its shape. What distinguishes this particular variant is its finish: case, bezel, crown, and caseback are all polished steel, and the bracelet follows suit, so the watch reads as a single uninterrupted surface. Against that, the black dial carries rhodium glitter decoration — not a simple flat lacquer but something that shifts under different light. At 38mm the Florence sits between the smaller S-size sibling and a larger dress watch; Rado markets the two as a couples' pairing, which suggests the 38mm reads comfortably on a range of wrists.
- Reference
- R48912163
- Brand
- Rado
- Collection
- Florence
- Case size
- 38mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- R073
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
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 the Rado Florence range (8), Stainless Steel Watches (2,833), Women's Watches (1,465) and Watch Price Drops (293).
Temporarily out of stock
Mappin & Webb is not currently taking orders for this reference. Last listed as available on 26 September 2026. Stock is checked nightly and this page updates when it returns.
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 38mm 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
Price history
This watch is currently at its lowest recorded price. It reached £1,050 on 13 August. Prices are checked every day, and we record any changes.
Rado Florence alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | R48912163 | H24211130 | YA1264233 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £840 | £865 | £899 |
| Case size | 38mm | 38mm | 38mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 50m | 50m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| 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?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
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?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's, though at 38mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Has the price changed recently?
It's currently at its lowest recorded price since we began tracking it. It's ranged between £840 and £1,050, today it's £840.
More Rado watches like the Florence
In stock, and close on style and price
