ReviewFrom The Top Of The World: The 2022 Rado Captain Cook Over-Pole World-Timer

Among the most tedious aspects of international travel for us Indians, arguably, is the fact that one has to keep recalculating the time difference on one’s watch, given that India falls under a 30-minute time zone. Most world-timer watches don’t account for this half-hour time difference, and we are left to calculate 30 minutes behind Dhaka or 30 minutes ahead of Karachi. The Rado Captain Cook Over-Pole Limited Edition takes this into account. With Mumbai engraved onto its bezel, this model makes it easy for one to tell the time difference between India and other important cities of the world, making it a true traveller’s watch, and very relevant to India.

Reliable, Relevant And Practical

First unveiled in 1962, the Rado Captain Cook Over-Pole was a huge success as it hinted at reliable timekeeping under the planet’s polar limits, and hence its interesting name. Water-resistant to 100m, this modern reinterpretation has the same 37mm stainless steel case—suitable for any wrist, and presenting timeless appeal. Visible through the caseback is the R862 manual-winding calibre, featuring a Nivachron anti-magnetic hairspring and offering a massive, 80-hour power reserve.

The highlight of this watch, though, is the bidirectional-rotating bezel with a black high-tech ceramic insert featuring names of major cities, representing time zones. Alongside the 12-hour markers, this model has a smaller 24-hour scale marked with white Super-LumiNova dots. To use the world-timer, one only needs to rotate the bezel to align the local zone to the correct time on the 24-hour scale, and the rest of the zones line up correctly as well. And with Mumbai among these zones, the Over-Pole becomes very relevant to us in India.

Timeless Aesthetic

Functionality aside, the watch is also aesthetically very pleasing to look at, featuring signature design codes of the Captain Cook collection. The gradient dial comes with faceted hour markers, a date aperture at three—in red like it was in the first Over-Pole. Rado’s emblem of a free-spinning anchor is at 12 o’clock. In rich brown leather, the vintage-looking strap has a contrasting white transverse stitch across it, adding more character to the watch.

The Rado Over-Pole comes in a stylish brown pouch along with a second rice-grain-style steel bracelet that can be quickly interchanged

The Over-Pole is limited to 1,962 units—a number that commemorates the anniversary of the original timepiece. It comes in a stylish brown pouch along with a second rice-grain-style steel bracelet that can be quickly interchanged. Accessible, adaptable, functional and versatile, this Over-Pole is definitely a winner—a standout among Rado’s 2022 offerings without a doubt.