Latest Review
When it comes to watches from big, corporate owned brands, it’s sometimes hard these days to find designs that feel fresh and inventive. This just the way of the watch world. Particularly in an environment where it might be difficult to sell a watch (Swiss exports are down, tariff threats loom, etc) you can forgive the biggest brands for playing it safe, putting products on the market that they know will sell to their core customers. They might not be the most creative watches ever devised, but if they exhibit a “first, do no harm” mentality, that’s probably a win in the eyes of many brands.
One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Rado is that it feels like they’ve been given a longer leash, and the opportunity to fully embrace what makes them unique among Swatch Group brands. Rado is, at their core, about materials, and they lead with design. Sure, the Captain Cook is a staple, and there are other watches in the Rado catalog that have a hint of the generic, but when I think about the brand, the watches that come to mind feature colorful ceramic and interesting shapes. The Anatom has been a favorite of mine since Rado reissued it a few years ago. It’s an 80s cult favorite, and the modern reinterpretation holds up remarkably well and offers a unique spin on the integrated bracelet sports watch trend.
Rado has just announced a trio of new Anatoms in bright colors that should appeal to enthusiasts who might be after something colorful and a bit whimsical for summer. All of the watches feature the same case with a polished back ceramic bezel over a black PVD steel case that we’ve seen in previous iterations. Importantly, they’re also mounted to excellent rubber straps that capture the aesthetic of an integrated bracelet but are light and airy on the wrist. Instead of the darker tones of earlier references, however, these straps are in colors that match the dials and transform the vibe of the Anatom entirely.
The new color options are lemon-yellow, lime-green, and grapefruit-red, and they’ve been decorated with what appears to be the same vignette effect as the watch I reviewed previously. It’s hard to describe the nature of the color on that watch, but it has an almost backlit, glowing quality that seems to shift with the angle of view in surprising ways. I was really impressed by it, and combined with a great wearing experience thanks to the ergonomic case and the impressive strap, the Anatom won me over.
The case measures 32.5mm by 46.3mm, and is 11.3mm tall. Those measurements may or may not be helpful depending on your own experience with rectangular watches, so it’s really one that you’ll want to try on if you can. I found the case to be curved just the right amount, and enjoyed not just the comfort that brings, but the aesthetic coherence of a watch that has an almost organic quality to it. It runs on the Rado R766 caliber, which is based on the old ETA 2892 architecture. It has 72 hours of power reserve on a full wind.
The new Rado Anatoms are available now with a retail price of $3,550. Rado
