04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Watch review: Rado's new Anatom is just in time for summer
When you think of Rado, you don't just think of watches; you think of a brand that reimagined what a watch could be made of. Decades ago, while most of the industry obsessed over shapes and complications, Rado practised the alchemy of materials. After pioneering ceramic on the wrist, the brand pushed boundaries again, mastering sapphire crystal, perfecting high-tech ceramic, and creating plasma-treated ceramic, a breakthrough that gave ceramic the lustre of metal without compromising its lightweight, scratch-resistant properties. With these innovations, Rado wasn't just building watches; it was shaping the future of how time should feel on the wrist.
The Anatom is one of the most significant chapters in that story. First launched in 1983, it was revolutionary in its design — bold, ergonomic, and unapologetically different. Its curved form followed the wrist's natural line, promising comfort that felt almost personal. Now, Rado brings that same spirit back, dressed in bright, lively colours for a new season.
This summer, the Anatom returns in three vibrant new versions, each hue capturing a fragment of the season. The lemon-yellow model radiates like midday sun, its black-to-yellow gradient dial glowing with warmth and energy. Paired with a matching rubber strap, it's a shot of summer that feels at home from beach to boardroom. The lime-green version channels the freshness of sunlit grass and new leaves, its dial and strap alive with a spirit that's subtle, spirited, and uplifting. And then there's the grapefruit red — bold and juicy, like the first slice of fruit on a summer morning. Its rich dial and matching strap strike the perfect balance between playfulness and drama.
At a glance, they're unmistakably Anatom, with those smooth, flowing lines and sharp geometry that stand out across a room. But up close, there's a depth to them that comes from Rado's mastery of materials. The case is sculpted from the brand's newest high-tech ceramic, making it sleek, strong, and surprisingly light. A polished black ceramic bezel frames the curved sapphire crystal, bevelled and treated to reduce glare, yet blending seamlessly into the design with a fluid, almost liquid grace.
Inside, the R766 automatic movement ticks with the calm assurance of something finely tuned. Its antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring keeps it steady through daily wear. With 72 hours of power reserve and fine adjustments in five positions, it's the kind of mechanical workhorse you can trust to be refined enough to admire through the sapphire crystal caseback, yet reliable enough to disappear into daily use.
Each dial fades from black at the edges to a vivid centre hue, drawing the eye inward. The effect is dramatic, especially when paired with rhodium-coated hands that glow softly with Super-LumiNova. A date window at six o'clock sits discreetly, never breaking the balance.
All about character
Then there's the strap, made from durable fluorine rubber and designed to hug the wrist with a flexibility that quickly becomes second nature. And yet, whether in yellow, green, or red, it holds its own with bold, unmistakable character.
Rado's legacy of material innovation is undisputed, but with the new Anatom models, that expertise is channelled into something more immediate — watches that feel as good as they look, with comfort, colour, and craftsmanship coming together. More than just seasonal designs, these new versions are reminders that a watch can still resonate beyond function.
The Anatom is made to stay with you – versatile, expressive, and ready to go wherever the season takes you.
