Rado Introduces Their First Watch With an Olive Green Ceramic Case – the True Thinline Anima

Rado is a fun brand. Part of the Swatch Group, as a brand they’re quite a bit more design and materials focused than most of their group siblings. While others are just now getting their feet wet with ceramic, Rado has been using the material for years, often in avant garde designs that are a challenging sell to a mass audience, but find their niche with folks who are after something different or unusual. Their latest release, the True Thinline Anima, is Rado to the core. A ceramic case with an unusual shape in an uncommon color paired with a skeletonized dial might be off the rails for most brands, but it’s right in Rado’s wheelhouse. Let’s take a look.

Rado True Thinline Anima

• Case Material: Ceramic
• Dial: Open
• Dimensions: 40.0 x 44.8 x 10.8mm
• Crystal: Sapphire        
• Water Resistance: 30 meters
• Crown: Push/pull                        
• Movement: ETA A31.L02
• Strap/bracelet: Ceramic bracelet
• Price: $3,000
• Reference Number: 766.6112.3.031
• Expected Release: Available now 

The True Thinline Anima’s case is olive green ceramic, a first for the brand. Ceramic is a great alternative material to stainless steel and titanium, as it offers near total scratch resistance. We see quite a few watches in black ceramic, but more colorful cases are a bit rare, so credit to Rado here for being willing to experiment, and also for the technical know how to produce this color. The case is monobloc in its design, and has an unusual barrel-like shape that looks straight out of the 1970s and common to other watches in the Thinline series. From the top, it looks like a case that might have a chunky quality, but it measures just 10.8mm in height. With a 40mm diameter, short lugs, and a naturally lightweight material, this watch should wear quite comfortably. 

A watch like this, with a case that is so far out of step with the norm, really deserves a dial to match, and Rado doesn’t disappoint. The dial is an open design, with architecture floating above the movement supporting the hands and markers, and providing a visual contrast to aid in legibility. In photos, it reminds me a bit of the Zenith Defy in black ceramic that I reviewed here, but the Rado has an almost organic quality to it (perhaps an effect of the case and dial color) that is in contrast to the Zenith’s highly techy and machine-like look. It’s a similar approach that has produced a very different end result, but I’m drawn to the Rado in much the same way as the Zenith. 

The watch is powered by the ETA A31.L02 automatic movement with a date display and 64 hour power reserve. The bridges and plates are made from black anodized aluminum, which adds visual interest to the watch from the dial side, while also reducing its weight. The True Thinline Anima is a limited edition of 2,020 pieces, and is available now through Rado dealers. Rado