Key Highlights
- Strictly limited to 888 pieces, each engraved “LIMITED EDITION, ONE OUT OF 888” on the titanium case back
- Photochromic dial shifts from pale rose to vibrant magenta under UV light exposure
- Case, crown, and bracelet in polished rose high-tech ceramic with monobloc construction
- Powered by Rado calibre R734 automatic movement with 80-hour power reserve and antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring
- Open heart cutaway reveals the movement through an infinity symbol at 6 o’clock
- Water-resistant to 5 bar (50 metres); 40.0 x 47.3 x 10.4 mm
The Story Behind the Release
Rado’s True Round Open Heart Limited Edition arrives in July 2026 from Lengnau, Switzerland, combining two ideas that rarely occupy the same dial: numerological symbolism and reactive colour technology. The edition count of 888 is no accident. In several Asian cultures, 8 carries strong associations with good fortune, and stacking three of them gives the number an almost talismatic weight.
The open heart cutaway, positioned to frame the numeral 8 on the dial, also doubles as an infinity symbol when viewed at an angle. Time passing and time standing still, contained in a single aperture.
Design & Mechanics
The Photochromic Dial
The dial is the defining element here. Under indoor or diffused light, it reads as a considered pale rose with a sunray finish, rose gold-coloured applied indices, and a matching rose-coloured flange. Under direct UV exposure, the photochromatic treatment activates and the colour shifts to a full magenta. It is a transformation that happens in real time, on the wrist.
Rose gold-coloured bevels border the subdial cutout, and a moving anchor symbol in rose gold sits on a silver background. Super-LumiNova® is applied to both the hands and the indices, keeping legibility intact after dark.
Movement: Calibre R734
Beneath the open heart aperture, the R734 automatic calibre operates with 25 jewels and an 80-hour power reserve. The antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring exceeds standard positional accuracy requirements across three to five positions. For a watch that leads with colour and character, the movement is a serious piece of engineering.
Material & Construction
High-Tech Ceramic in Rose
The case, crown, and bracelet are all produced in Rado’s polished rose high-tech ceramic. Rado first introduced high-tech ceramic in 1986, and the manufacturing process remains complex. Zirconium oxide powders are injected into precision moulds at around 1,000 bar, then sintered at 1,450°C. The result registers 1,250 on the Vickers hardness scale — far beyond conventional ceramic. Diamond tools are required to finish it.
The material is light, scratch-resistant, and warms quickly to body temperature. The Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph demonstrated the same material logic in a dive context; here, it is given a softer, more expressive palette.
Case Architecture
Monobloc construction defines the case. The titanium case back carries a sapphire crystal porthole and the individual edition engraving. A curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both faces completes the front. Water resistance is rated to 5 bar (50 metres). Dimensions sit at 40.0 mm wide, 47.3 mm lug-to-lug, and 10.4 mm thick. The bracelet fastens with a titanium three-fold clasp.
Why Collectors Should Take Note
Limited editions of 888 pieces rarely coincide with genuine technical differentiation. The photochromic dial is not a decorative afterthought — it is the central innovation of the piece, and one that creates a watch that behaves differently depending on where you are. The True Round Open Heart sits alongside the True Square Skeleton as evidence that Rado’s True collection has become the brand’s most technically adventurous line.
The piece ships with special packaging and a limited-edition certificate. Reference R27183012.
For collectors who follow new developments across Watches and Wonders and beyond, the True Round Open Heart Limited Edition offers a coherent argument: that material innovation and visual drama can share the same 40 mm case without compromise.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the photochromic effect on the Rado True Round Open Heart Limited Edition dial?
The dial is treated with a photochromatic finish that responds to ultra-violet light. In low or indoor light it reads as pale rose; direct UV exposure transforms the colour into a vibrant magenta.
How many pieces of the Rado True Round Open Heart Limited Edition will be produced?
Rado is producing exactly 888 pieces. The number 888 was chosen deliberately, as 8 is widely associated with good fortune. Each piece is individually identified on the titanium case back with the engraving 'LIMITED EDITION, ONE OUT OF 888'.
What movement powers the Rado True Round Open Heart Limited Edition?
The watch runs on the Rado calibre R734, an automatic movement with 25 jewels, an 80-hour power reserve, and an antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring. It exceeds standard test requirements from 3 to 5 positions for higher positional accuracy.
What is the case material and size of the Rado True Round Open Heart Limited Edition?
The case and bracelet are crafted in polished rose high-tech ceramic using Rado's monobloc construction. Dimensions are 40.0 mm wide, 47.3 mm lug-to-lug, and 10.4 mm thick. The watch is water-resistant to 5 bar (50 metres).
What is Rado's high-tech ceramic, and when did the brand first use it?
Rado's high-tech ceramic is produced from zirconium oxide mineral powders sintered at 1,450°C, reaching a hardness of 1,250 on the Vickers scale. The brand first introduced the material in 1986 and has since made it the cornerstone of its material identity.
