Rado Captain Cook 37mm Blue
A lot to love about this. I like that the Tudor BB54 kinda legitimized 37mm as a size for men's divers. I gotta say, though, $2,000 for a Powermatic 80? Longines'll give you a 2892 for $1,250. Tissot will give you a Powermatic 80 for way less still, I think I paid $500 for my Gentleman Powermatic 80.
Is the value there for Rado? Not quite sure.
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GrapeConquest
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
New york
Member since
Last active: 4 days ago
6.30” / 16.00 cm
That’s a great looking watch! I do know that not all Powermatic movements are the same. There are several differences in materials and finishing on the P80 platform.
I would look at the secondary market...
Jomashop. Great price and a two year warranty. Brand new, box, etc. I have not had a bad experience yet with Jomashop. Started purchasing watch from them over 10 years ago.
That’s a great looking watch! I do know that not all Powermatic movements are the same. There are several differences in materials and finishing on the P80 platform.
That's true. TAG and Tudor will sell you a Sellita SW200 for more than the Rado. I guess the movement isn't everything!
Jomashop. Great price and a two year warranty. Brand new, box, etc. I have not had a bad experience yet with Jomashop. Started purchasing watch from them over 10 years ago.
That definitely makes the value proposition way stronger! Thanks for the tip
Looks great on the wrist, and agree with you that the BB54 opening door to further acceptance of smaller divers. I’d say the watch’s price isn’t entirely made up of what its components are. The Captain Cook is a nicer looking diver and far more interesting than much of Tissot’s catalogue imo. I’d definitely purchase on secondary market though. Not a huge fan of the Powermatic 80 only because I prefer the smoother sweeping seconds hand. Good luck on determining if it’s worth it to you 🍻
You don’t buy a watch for investment, you buy it because you like it and will use it. Almost all watches lose value the second you pay for it.
Rado, even though it is right in the lower tier of luxury watches, is still a luxury watch, so you are buying it based on what you like about the watch and not on specifications and features. There really isn’t any reason to a luxury watch based on perceived value. The best value for a watch is the Casio F91W. 😆
Rado are great values so is a Mido Ocean Star.
Looks good on ya!
Looks great on the wrist, and agree with you that the BB54 opening door to further acceptance of smaller divers. I’d say the watch’s price isn’t entirely made up of what its components are. The Captain Cook is a nicer looking diver and far more interesting than much of Tissot’s catalogue imo. I’d definitely purchase on secondary market though. Not a huge fan of the Powermatic 80 only because I prefer the smoother sweeping seconds hand. Good luck on determining if it’s worth it to you 🍻
That's a great point, sometimes I get a little stuck bucketing watches by movement, but you're right, the movement is only 1 part of the entire package. Thanks for chiming in!
You don’t buy a watch for investment, you buy it because you like it and will use it. Almost all watches lose value the second you pay for it.
Rado, even though it is right in the lower tier of luxury watches, is still a luxury watch, so you are buying it based on what you like about the watch and not on specifications and features. There really isn’t any reason to a luxury watch based on perceived value. The best value for a watch is the Casio F91W. 😆
Oh for sure. I don't mean value as investment. I just mean how much "watch" you're getting for your money. A miyota 8000 in a $4000 watch would be objectively bad value I think. Longines ETA 2892 in a $1200 watch feels objectively good value, etc
Most guys who buy a Rado that I know develop buyer’s remorse. I have no opinion just offering an insight.
What store is this?
Macy’s marks down Rado watches occasionally by about 25 percent. If you are patient, you could score one from an AD for a (roughly) gray market price. You may have to wait a few months.
My Rado Cap Cook (for sale for $2k USD if you're interested) uses the high end version of the Powermatic 80, but Rado is mostly hush on the details, other than stating it has the antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring.
I believe the lower end Powermatics even get plastic substituted in for some parts.
There's no getting around that it's a 21k not a 28k beat watch, but it doesn't effect the accuracy. Mine is within COSC and averages ~ +3 sec/day.
I think style wise is where Rado pushes the envelope, and what you pay for. I've tried the green and blue captain cooks on in steel with rice bracelet. Striking looking watches. As is the ceramic one I've got, it's the 'most complimented by non watch people' watch I own. (My Grand Seikos are only loved by me 😢). The little anchor logo that swings about is cool as well.
It's a full case and bracelet in high tech ceramic with Ti clasp and caseback. So it's an expensive build, but Rado and Swatch group just don't do much to market it.
My Rado Cap Cook (for sale for $2k USD if you're interested) uses the high end version of the Powermatic 80, but Rado is mostly hush on the details, other than stating it has the antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring.
I believe the lower end Powermatics even get plastic substituted in for some parts.
There's no getting around that it's a 21k not a 28k beat watch, but it doesn't effect the accuracy. Mine is within COSC and averages ~ +3 sec/day.
I think style wise is where Rado pushes the envelope, and what you pay for. I've tried the green and blue captain cooks on in steel with rice bracelet. Striking looking watches. As is the ceramic one I've got, it's the 'most complimented by non watch people' watch I own. (My Grand Seikos are only loved by me 😢). The little anchor logo that swings about is cool as well.
It's a full case and bracelet in high tech ceramic with Ti clasp and caseback. So it's an expensive build, but Rado and Swatch group just don't do much to market it.
Wow that is incredible! The pearlage is nice too. I like that they're doing stuff with materials. Good luck with sale!
What store is this?
Bloomingdale's Manhattan
Macy’s marks down Rado watches occasionally by about 25 percent. If you are patient, you could score one from an AD for a (roughly) gray market price. You may have to wait a few months.
That's a great point. Bloomingdale's offered me 15% off, 25% is quite a serious discount, dang. I'll keep an eye on Macy's, thanks for the tip!
To be fair the movment in the Rado is an upgraded powermatic 80. It’s not the same one that comes in watches like Hamiltons or the PRX. The hairspring is an upgraded material and it does not have the plastic escapment like the other powermatic 80’s.
The movement in this model is the C07.611, the mid tier Powermatic 80 movement. Its still a lot of money for this watch especially with this Powermatic variant but from my recent knowledge checking out Rados, I found out you do get hefty discounts on the steel Captain cook models. Definitely not worth it at retail price. The Ceramic ones are much nicer.
I feel like Rado and, to some extent, Mido are the odd men out at the Swatch group. I personally look at Hamilton, Tissot and Longines in the price range but not for their divers.
$2000 is a great budget with plenty of options outside of Swatch Corp - Christopher Ward, Marathon and Oris are some of my favs in your size range (give or take a mm). Best of luck.
I feel like Rado and, to some extent, Mido are the odd men out at the Swatch group. I personally look at Hamilton, Tissot and Longines in the price range but not for their divers.
$2000 is a great budget with plenty of options outside of Swatch Corp - Christopher Ward, Marathon and Oris are some of my favs in your size range (give or take a mm). Best of luck.
agreed. i have 2 tissot, a longines, a CW. i think certina also falls in that group. zero marketing in the usa, but they have some great pieces. its either this captaincook 37mm or the certina ds action 38mm i think. but im going to wait for a refresh so it gets the ceramic bezel that the bigger one just got
I get what you are saying about the movement. Does Rado make any changes to it to make it unique? I think that watch fits your wrist perfectly though! And style wise, Rado is so unique and completely stand alone design wise, that might be worth it if you enjoy the design more than that of a Longines Hydroconquest for example.
I’ve been happy with my Rado’s. Unusual but well done watches. This one looks great.
I get what you are saying about the movement. Does Rado make any changes to it to make it unique? I think that watch fits your wrist perfectly though! And style wise, Rado is so unique and completely stand alone design wise, that might be worth it if you enjoy the design more than that of a Longines Hydroconquest for example.
Longines HC blue 39mm is definitely on my short-list too! That and Certina DS Action blue 38mm, lots of choices!
I’m sure not all powermatic 80 movements are constructed the same. There is a good chance there is more value in the time pieces that have a higher price point value. Or maybe you can find a better deal somewhere else for a Rado that will justify the value on the piece you mentioned. Definitely worth looking into.
Yep pricy #rado
I have the first version brown 37mm CC and a 41mm ceramic HC. On specs (especially movement) and ruggedness the HC wins hands down, but the quality of finishing and all the little details on the CC are truly remarkable. It's a very unique design, and to me what you're paying for here is absolutely the design and the fit/finishing. I love both of them, but the CC just brings that little extra spark of joy every time I wear it.