Rado’s Master of Materials, Seen Through Tan Jianci’s Eyes

The Defining Elements

• Rado’s high-tech ceramic laboratory in the canton of Jura is where Chinese global brand ambassador Tan Jianci completed a three-day immersion in July 2026, witnessing how pure zirconium oxide powder is transformed into a material up to five times harder than steel and central to every watch Rado makes.
• Two references take centre stage: the Anatom (R10261712) in plasma high-tech ceramic with rose gold-coloured PVD accents, and the True Square Open Heart (R27073722) in white high-tech ceramic with an open-heart calibre R734 delivering an 80-hour power reserve.
• The plasma process heats ceramic components to 20,000°C to produce a metallic appearance without any metal content.
• Both references are water-resistant to 5 bar and carry antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairsprings adjusted in five positions.

Design & Identity

The Anatom (R10261712) reads, in the metal, as a study in controlled contrast. A polished plasma high-tech ceramic bezel sits against a sandblasted stainless steel middle part, while rose gold-coloured PVD-coated end pieces and connecting links introduce warmth without interrupting the case’s architectural line. At 27.5 × 40.0 × 10.2 mm, the proportions are precise rather than diminutive, and the grey lacquered dial carries eleven diamonds across three sizes, all set in rose gold-coloured trapezoidal mounts under the Jubilé designation.

The True Square Open Heart (R27073722) operates on entirely different visual logic. At 38.0 × 44.2 mm, the white high-tech ceramic monobloc case is broader and more assertive, with a rhodium-coloured sparkling dial that uses diamond-powder decoration as background texture. Twelve full-cut diamonds totalling 0.096 carat ring the dial perimeter. The open-heart aperture, positioned to expose the calibre R734’s circular grain decoration and Côtes de Genève-finished movement holder, makes the mechanical content part of the visual composition rather than an afterthought.

Movement & Materials

Rado’s ceramics division introduced high-tech ceramic to serial watch production in 1986. The material starts as ultra-pure zirconium oxide powder, shaped through injection moulding, then sintered at 1,450°C until particles fuse into a structure rated at 1,250 on the Vickers hardness scale. Diamond tools handle the final polishing. The resulting bracelet and case components are lighter than steel, scratch-resistant in daily use, and quick to match body temperature — the last quality Tan Jianci tested directly against a steel-cased equivalent during the interactive laboratory session.

The plasma variant, used on the Anatom’s bezel and bracelet, goes further: ceramic components enter a specialised oven operating at 20,000°C, where carbon integration produces a metallic surface finish. No metal is added. The calibre R592 inside the Anatom provides 50 hours of power reserve. The True Square Open Heart’s calibre R734 extends that to 80 hours, with the open-heart display framing the decorated rotor above the exposed gear train. Both movements use Nivachron™ hairsprings, antimagnetic by design, adjusted across five positions.

“I’ve always felt Rado’s watch designs were iconic, but this visit took things to a new level,” said Tan Jianci, adding that the laboratory tour helped him “understand exactly why it’s known as the Master of Materials — there’s nothing like seeing the process behind high-tech ceramic with your own eyes.” Tan, who has worked with Rado since January 2025, also wore the Anatom during the scratch-resistance demonstrations.

Who These Watches Are For

For GCC collectors already familiar with Rado’s ceramic proposition — readers who follow the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph or the True Square Skeleton — both new references offer a logical next step. The Anatom addresses collectors who want a dress-adjacent piece: compact enough for formal occasions, with a diamond-set dial and rose gold accents, while its 5-bar water resistance and scratch-proof bracelet make it practical for daily rotation.

The True Square Open Heart targets a different buyer entirely. The visible movement, the monobloc white ceramic construction, and the 38 × 44 mm footprint suggest someone who treats mechanical transparency as an aesthetic preference rather than a technical footnote. For the Gulf market, where appreciation for architectural dial design is acute, the combination of sparkling diamond-powder background and exposed calibre R734 is an unusually direct proposition.

The Collection in Context

Tan Jianci’s Swiss itinerary extended well beyond the laboratory. Rado hosted him at Lake Maggiore in Ascona, through Lauterbrunnen’s waterfall landscapes and into Lungern, before a photoshoot at the Bürgenstock hotel above Lucerne. That last location, one of the world’s most concentrated retail markets for serious watch collectors, was chosen deliberately for campaign imagery that will carry Tan’s ambassador role into its next phase.

The visit crystallises what Rado has spent decades building: a materials identity rigorous enough to anchor a global brand conversation and specific enough to generate genuine editorial content, from the 1,450°C sintering temperature to the 20,000°C plasma oven. For collectors assessing the Captain Cook Hong Kong or any ceramic-cased reference, understanding where that material originates is now a first-hand account, filtered through one of China’s most visible cultural figures.

Specifications: Rado Anatom R10261712

Specifications: Rado True Square Open Heart R27073722

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