Rado's "True Secret Automatic" returns to the original "flow of time" / A casual review

Rado has introduced innovative materials to the world of watchmaking. What is plasma high-tech ceramic, which has a metallic texture? What does a watch that doesn't tell you the exact time tell you? We'll find out by wearing the Rado True Secret Automatic.

Master of Materials

　This time, I'm reviewing the Rado True Secret Automatic, but before I get into the watch, I'd like to first talk about the company known as the "Master of Materials."

　Rado introduced the Diastar watch in 1962, made of hard metal (tungsten carbide), and has since pioneered the use of scratch-resistant and aesthetically pleasing materials. In 86, they introduced the Integral, which featured a ceramic bracelet, and in 90, the Ceramica, which utilized ceramic not only for the bracelet but also for the case and crown. These advancements established ceramics, previously used primarily in the medical and aviation industries, as a watchmaking material. These ceramics are made by firing zirconium oxide, but shrinkage occurs by approximately 23% during firing, requiring advanced technical expertise to design and manufacture the watch with this in mind. Initially, Rado only offered black watches, but with the introduction of white ceramics in the 91 Coupole, Rado now offers a wide range of colors. In 93, Rado further evolved ceramics, developing Ceramos, a material made from a metal alloy, and in 98, they developed plasma high-tech ceramics.

　Plasma high-tech ceramics are also used in the True Secret Automatic, so let's explain a bit more. First, zirconium oxide is molded and fired at high temperatures to form high-tech ceramics, which are then placed in a special furnace. The furnace is then evacuated and filled with methane and hydrogen gas, which are then heated to form plasma. The resulting carbon and hydrogen ions collide with the high-tech ceramics, forming zirconium carbide, which has a metallic texture, on the surface. This is the true nature of plasma high-tech ceramics, which have a metallic shine. While Ceramos contains metal, plasma high-tech ceramics contain no metal whatsoever.

　Not only are materials evolving, but manufacturing methods are also evolving. Traditionally, ceramic cases required spacers such as metal to secure the movement. This is because press molding, the mainstream method for molding ceramics, makes it difficult to mold ceramics precisely enough to fit the movement. Rado has responded by using injection molding to achieve high-precision ceramic molding and successfully eliminate the need for spacers. This is something that could only be achieved by a company that has been manipulating ceramics for many years. It is no wonder that the company is called the "Master of Materials."

Rado "True Secret Automatic"

　Now, let's move on to this new model. Let's start with the exterior. The True Secret Automatic has a unique design, as is obvious at first glance. There are no indexes on the dial, and apart from the three hands, the only features are the brand logo at 3 o'clock, the words "SWISS MADE" at 6 o'clock, and an open heart at 12 o'clock. This essentially abandons the function of accurate timekeeping, which a watch should have. The dial color is a gradient sunray-finish green. The green color extends to the inside of the case, adding even more depth. The center of the sunray is not in the center of the dial, but in the open heart at 12 o'clock.

　The case and bracelet are made of plasma high-tech ceramic. It has a slightly dark gunmetal-like hue, but its shine and feel are so similar to metal that you probably wouldn't even realize it's ceramic unless you were told. One of the characteristics of ceramics is that it's hypoallergenic. With its metallic feel, plasma high-tech ceramic will likely be a strong rival to titanium, another hypoallergenic material. The curves that connect the case to the bracelet create a sense of unity. Its smooth, light-reflecting appearance defies any inorganic sharpness.

　The unusual dial and organic form give the impression of a living thing rather than an object. As mentioned above, the sunray center is placed in the open heart, so the eye is naturally drawn to the contracting balance wheel of the hairspring and the ruby ​​in the shock-proof device. This looks just like the beating of a heart, and the dial without indexes seems to represent the idea that time is not something that is marked, but something that flows intermittently. It's a strange analogy, but if time were a living thing, surely it would have a shape similar to this.

Plasma high-tech ceramics are scratch-resistant, hypoallergenic, and have a metallic feel.

　I actually tried wearing it. This model, with its mirror-like finish, made me a little hesitant to wear it. If it were my own property, it would be one thing, but it would be a disaster if I ended up damaging a borrowed watch. However, I couldn't write a review without wearing it, so I decided to try it out, just as I normally use my watches, for desk work and outings on my days off.

　It's comfortable to wear and has an excellent weight balance. This is likely due to the slim case, sturdy bracelet, and butterfly buckle. Ceramics is lighter than stainless steel, but not as dramatically light as titanium. There are pros and cons on this point, but personally I'm not a big fan of titanium's surprising lightness. If you're going to settle for a tool watch, I think it's the perfect material, but at the same time, I want it to have a weight that doesn't detract from its sense of luxury. In that respect, ceramics is a material that strikes the right balance between lightness and luxury. Incidentally, the case back is made of titanium.

　One thing that bothered me a little was the case side. Although it has a gentle curve, it gives off a generally flat and uncluttered impression. This makes the case appear thicker than its actual 10.4mm. Many brands have tried to reduce the thickness of the middle case itself by adjusting the thickness of the bezel or case back, making the watch appear thinner, but this seems difficult to achieve with this model's bezel-less design.

　There are many things I noticed while using it for an extended period of time. First of all, I realized that the time, which I had assumed would be impossible to read at all, could be read fairly accurately, although there was a slight margin of error. However, it would be best not to rely on this when heading to the station to catch a train or to meet up with a friend. The interesting thing about this watch is that it doesn't tell you the time unless you consciously try to look at it. It's like a smartwatch that isn't always on, but this means you can look at the watch without being overly conscious of the time, and you can relax. It's perfect for days off. If you want to know the exact time, just take your smartphone out of your pocket.

　The mirror-finished case and bracelet showed no scratches (at least to the naked eye) even when used for desk work. Stainless steel watches tend to get scratched and turn white and cloudy when rubbed against the palm rest of a laptop, but this ceramic model retained its original shine. Any concerns I had about scratches before wearing it were completely dispelled.

　The movement is the ETA C07, based on the ETA2824-2. Improvements have been made primarily to the escapement and barrel, resulting in a long power reserve of approximately 80 hours and free-sprung movement while maintaining high reliability. The vibration frequency has been reduced from 8 vph (28,800 vph) to 6 vph (21,600 vph), demonstrating that durability has also been taken into consideration along with the upgraded specifications.

　The crown is not screw-in, so it can be wound manually in that position. The manual winding sensation is similar to that of the base caliber, which has a rattle-like feel. Since there is no date display function, the time can be adjusted by pulling the crown out one notch. There is no uncertainty when setting the hands, and it is possible to precisely adjust the hands to the desired position. However, since there are no indexes, it is difficult to set the time accurately unless it is just on the hour. The watch has a hacking function, so the balance wheel stops when the crown is pulled out one notch. Because it is an open-heart watch, you can see the moment the balance wheel stops, but personally, this makes me feel guilty, as if I'm strangling the watch. Perhaps I felt this even more strongly with this model because I thought it resembled a living creature.

Dreaming of hidden "secrets"

　Ceramics are highly scratch-resistant and hypoallergenic, but their appearance is typically unique. They're typically sleek and black or white. This can make them seem overly flashy or casual depending on the occasion. Rado's plasma high-tech ceramic overcomes this by retaining the benefits of ceramic while achieving a metallic finish. A good example is the mirror-finish bracelet, which has a texture that's indistinguishable from metal but is durable enough for desk work. While there are certainly many brands using advanced materials, Rado offers a truly unique offering, offering practicality born from years of experience and at an affordable price. Rado truly deserves to be called a "Master of Materials."

　Now, let's take another look at the model name. As I've mentioned several times, this watch is the "True Secret Automatic." "Secret" means secret, but what was this secret? This is merely my own speculation, but perhaps it refers to the true nature of time, something we have forgotten in our busy lives. Time is not something that mechanically ticks away, second by second, but something that flows and changes constantly. This watch gently whispers to us this secret that everyone should know, but fails to notice.