Attention cricket fans! Luxury Swiss watch brand Rado becomes England cricket’s first timing sponsor.

It’s official. The Swiss luxury watchmaker has announced a multi-year partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board, set to support the England men’s and women’s national teams across international cricket fixtures. The collaboration sees Rado take the first-ever title of Official Timing Sponsor of the ECB and marks the start of a longstanding partnership between the competitive worlds of luxury and cricket, distinct yet similar in their commitment to innovation, perseverance and excellence.

From big screens to shiny LED boards circling the world’s cricket venues, the name Rado is bound to make waves among cricket enthusiasts, and with an exciting Ashes series ahead of us (a Test cricket series confronting England against Australia), the opportunity to collaborate could not have come at a better time.

For a traditional yet ever-changing sport such as cricket, striking a partnership with a luxury watch brand rooted in innovation was, it seems, a good bet. A pioneer at heart, Rado has always been at the forefront of research, experimenting with new materials and technologies the same way cricket has with new formats. Rado’s work with high-tech ceramic, culminating in its signature Ceramos mixture, reveals its ability to push the boundaries of creativity and design — and rightfully owns its reputation as the “Master of Materials” within the luxury watch market. 

Beyond mastering challenging materials, Rado’s desire to create futuristic and durable watch designs enhanced by cutting-edge technology also lies at the heart of the luxury brand’s DNA, resulting in world-class watches ranging from the popular Rado Centrix model to the modern Captain Cook. Those who’ve experienced the quality of Rado craftsmanship will know and love these classic luxury timepieces, while first-time shoppers may need help choosing the best Rado watch, for an upcoming cricket game or any other occasion.

Here are five classic Rado watches first-time shoppers should consider. 

1. Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton

As the official cricket watch of the ECB, the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Skeleton is set to be the star of the Rado family, both for its innovative design and enduring allure.

Whether you plan on playing cricket with friends or watching your favourite games from the comfort of your home, this durable Captain Cook model is meant to accompany you wherever you go. Beyond its sleek matt-finish monobloc case and rose-gold accents, the watch stands out for its ingenious R808 movement, anti-magnetic Nivachron™, and distinct hands treated with illuminating Super-LumiNova for improved readability day and night. 

2. Centrix Automatic Diamonds

The England women’s cricket team is one of the leading teams in the world, so ladies deserve to find a distinctive watch that reflects this level of excellence. The Centrix remains a popular option thanks to its various colour combinations, size options and automatic movements, and the all-brown combination is one that isn’t going unnoticed with Rado connoisseurs.

Beyond its fabulous looks, the Centrix watch is scratch-resistant, water-resistant and irreproachably accurate thanks to its antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring. 

https://www.watchpilot.com/products/rado-classic-centrix-automatic-diamonds

3. True Square Automatic Open Heart

If there’s one watch that embodies the elegance of Rado’s signature high-tech ceramic, it is the True Square Automatic Open Heart watch. Scratch-resistant and made to feel comfortable on the wrist thanks to its square injected monobloc high-tech ceramic case, the True Square is a trailblazer by nature and the perfect watch to wear in every scenario.  

https://www.watchpilot.com/products/rado-true-square-automatic-open-heart-unisex-white-watch-r27073012

4. Captain Cook Automatic Chronograph Men’s Blue

Since the ’60s, Rado has successfully modernised its enduring classics, including the Captain Cook Automatic Chronograph model. Over time, the watch’s vintage feel has been preserved, and so has the emblematic pivoting anchor located at the top of the dial, designed to let the wearer know when the watch needs to be serviced.

When it comes to the overall look of the watch, the silver-to-blue gradient dial allows the wearer to boast a soft hint of colour at the wrist, and the two-tone grey stainless steel bracelet confers a contemporary attitude to the watch, now and for the years to come. 

https://www.watchpilot.com/products/rado-captain-cook-automatic-chronograph-mens-blue-watch-r32145208

5. Integral Diamonds

In 1986, one special watch showcased Rado’s revolutionary scratch-resistant high-tech ceramic for the first time. This watch was the Integral.

Since the late ’80s, this iconic piece has changed and evolved, staying true to its original design while elevating its square dial with stunning white diamonds. The bracelet combines a mixture of high-tech ceramic, stainless steel and titanium, and the bracelet’s size can be edited according to the wearer’s needs. 

https://www.watchpilot.com/products/rado-integral-diamonds-unisex-black-watch-r20206712