Rado True Square Skeleton
Key Highlights
- Signature square monobloc case and bracelet in polished black high-tech ceramic for lightness, comfort and scratch resistance.
- Openworked Rado calibre R808 automatic movement with 80-hour power reserve and Nivachron™ antimagnetic hairspring.
- Black-lacquered jubilé dial with 12 Top Wesselton VVS baguette diamonds as trapezoidal indices.
- Dual-view architecture with anthracite dial side and nickel-coloured reverse visible through a sapphire case back.
- Refined 38.0 x 44.2 x 9.7 mm dimensions with 5 bar water resistance for daily, dress-leaning wear.
Design & Aesthetic
The Rado True Square Skeleton brings together the brand’s hallmark high-tech ceramic and its approach to skeletonisation in a soft-cornered square case with integrated bracelet. Executed in smooth polished black high-tech ceramic, the monobloc construction creates a unified presence on the wrist while providing a restrained frame for the openworked dial and diamonds.
The black-lacquered jubilé dial is edged by 12 trapezoidal baguette diamonds that outline the view into the skeletonised movement. Four stones mark 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock, with eight more tracing the remaining hours for a total of 0.376 carat of Top Wesselton, VVS diamonds. Their elongated geometry catches the light beneath the flat sapphire crystal, antireflective on both faces, leading the eye through the dial’s cut-outs to the R808 calibre.
Parallel horizontal lines divide the dial into three sections and emphasise the geometric True Square silhouette. The dial side of the R808 carries a horizontal brushed finish with an anthracite coating that echoes the black lacquer and ceramic, while the reverse is nickel-toned and visible through the black PVD-sandblasted titanium case back with sapphire crystal. Black-lacquered hour and minute hands sweep over this layered structure, joined by a rhodium-coloured seconds hand for clear reading of the time.
The R808 Skeleton Movement
Inside the Rado True Square Skeleton is the Rado calibre R808, an automatic, 25-jewel movement designed to be both visually open and technically reassuring. Skeletonisation reveals the motion of the gear train and balance, encouraging a closer interaction with the watch and allowing the wearer to see the calibre at work from both sides.
The R808 delivers an 80-hour power reserve for extended autonomy off the wrist. An antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring improves resistance to magnetic fields, shocks and temperature changes, supporting stable long-term performance. Rado also tests the calibre in five positions, rather than the more common three, to reinforce accuracy and reliability in daily wear.
High-Tech Ceramic as Daily Luxury
High-tech ceramic is central to Rado’s identity and defines the True Square Skeleton’s feel on the wrist. The brand first introduced the material in 1986 after extensive research, using exceptionally pure zirconium oxide powders injected at high pressure into precise moulds before firing and sintering at around 1,450°C to create dense, stable components.
The resulting case and bracelet reach 1,250 on the Vickers hardness scale, giving notable scratch resistance while staying light and smooth. High-tech ceramic quickly picks up the wearer’s body temperature, creating a sense of continuity between wrist and watch that Rado summarises in its “Feel it!” message. A titanium three-fold clasp completes the ceramic bracelet and supports day-long comfort, including in warmer GCC climates.
Why it matters
The Rado True Square Skeleton brings together high-tech ceramic, geometric design and a skeletonised R808 movement in a single reference, the R27124702. By pairing an expressive openworked calibre with practical dimensions and materials, it offers a square skeleton watch that balances technical transparency with everyday refinement.
For collectors who prioritise comfort, material innovation and a distinctive wrist presence, it is a focused expression of Rado’s long-running work with ceramic watchmaking and open dials.
