Rado's New True Round Open Heart Is the Watch That Changes with the Light

Some watches tell the time. Others tell a story. The new Rado True Round Open Heart Limited Edition manages to do both while pulling off a clever trick that never gets old. At first glance, its dial glows in a soft pale rose. Step into the sun, however, and it transforms into a vivid magenta, thanks to a striking photochromic effect that reacts to ultraviolet light.

It's the kind of detail that turns a quick glance into a second look, making this one of Rado's most intriguing releases yet.

The centrepiece of the watch is Rado's signature Open Heart display, reimagined with symbolism woven into every detail. The cutaway forms the number eight, a figure often associated with luck and prosperity, making it a fitting motif for a watch limited to just 888 pieces worldwide. Viewed from another angle, the opening also resembles the infinity symbol, offering a subtle reminder that while time constantly moves forward, memorable moments have a way of feeling endless.

The result is a timepiece that blends thoughtful design with mechanical artistry, without trying too hard to make a statement.

Matching the ever-changing dial is a polished pale rose case and bracelet crafted from Rado's signature high-tech ceramic. The warm, contemporary colour gives the watch an elegant presence, while the material itself showcases what Rado has become famous for.

Introduced by the brand in 1986 after years of research and development, high-tech ceramic has become one of Rado's defining innovations. It's exceptionally lightweight, highly scratch resistant and silky smooth against the skin. Better still, it quickly adjusts to the wearer's body temperature, creating a level of comfort that feels almost effortless. It's little wonder Rado describes the experience simply as: "Feel it!"

Creating the material is no simple feat. Ultra-pure zirconium oxide mineral powders are blended with a specially developed plastic carrier before being injected into precision moulds under pressures of around 1,000 bar. After several heating, cooling and chemical treatment stages, the ceramic is sintered at temperatures reaching 1,450°C, allowing the particles to fuse into an exceptionally dense material. The finished ceramic reaches 1,250 on the Vickers hardness scale before being machined using diamond tools and assembled into a finished Rado watch.

Powering the True Round Open Heart Limited Edition is Rado's R734 automatic movement, offering an impressive 80-hour power reserve. Equipped with an antimagnetic Nivachron™ hairspring, the movement exceeds standard testing requirements by being regulated across three to five positions for improved accuracy, ensuring the performance matches the watch's distinctive appearance.

Practicality hasn't been overlooked either. The watch features a curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides, a titanium case back fitted with sapphire crystal, and water resistance of 5 bar (50 metres). Each piece is individually engraved with "LIMITED EDITION, ONE OUT OF 888," highlighting its exclusivity.

Finishing touches include rose gold-coloured applied indices filled with white Super-LumiNova®, matching hands, a moving anchor symbol set against a silver background, and a printed grey minute track. A polished rose high-tech ceramic bracelet, secured with a titanium three-fold clasp, completes the refined design.

Presented in a special limited-edition box with its own certificate, the Rado True Round Open Heart Limited Edition (Ref. R27183012) is proof that innovation doesn't always have to shout. Sometimes, all it takes is a little sunlight.