Perhaps the Essence of the Brand, Hands-On with the Rado True Square Thinline

It is often quite difficult to select one watch that represents all that a brand stands for. This is no different with Rado, whose universe also varies from capable dive watches to elegant skeleton watches. However, the True Square Thinline might be one of the watches that come rather close to representing the essence of Rado.

This starts with black ceramic, the material both the case and the bracelet are made of. While now adopted by a wider range of brands, Rado is not only a pioneer in this field but also the brand that placed this material at the core of its DNA. Two elements play an important role in this. The first is that ceramic is a very hard and robust material and, therefore, very scratch-resistant. This allows Rado's to maintain their original luster over time, as wear and tear get little grip on ceramic. Another benefit is that it is hypoallergenic and heats up to body temperature rapidly, with as added advantage that it is also quite light. This all has a positive impact on the wearing comfort, as well as the performance of the watch.

All these aspects come together in the True Square Thinline, but in a typical Rado way. The brand is hard to compare to others, and in a way that is also due to the choices it makes in regards to design. As the name already indicates is this Rado square-shaped, yet with well-rounded corners so that it is soft to the touch. With a diameter of 37mm it is neither large nor small, cleverly holding the middle ground, which makes it a great size watch for a wide variety of people. The bracelet is integrated, and its polished links feel soft to the touch. As the whole watch weighs just under 87 grams, it doesn't take long to forget that you are wearing a watch at all until you want to check the time.

Here, Rado cleverly plays with tones and color as the sun-brushed black dial matches the ceramic case and bracelet. The hour markers are simple black stripes, that are surprisingly legible against the sun-brushed background. The hands and Rado's name in vivid orange lacquer form a focal point and give the True Square Thinline a contemporary edge. With wearing comfort in mind, Rado made the watch as thin as possible, hence the caliber R420 quartz movement. It turns the True Square Thinline also into a stylish grab-and-go watch, as you don't have to worry about winding and setting it. While the lack of weight and the comfort of the ceramic makes you sometimes forget that you are wearing a watch at all, the True Square Thinline still has plenty of character to draw your eye to it, and remind you that you are enjoying the essence of the brand.

The Rado True Square Thinline is available for $1,900.

For more info, visit Rado, here.