SWISS watchmaker Rado takes a contemporary look at a legendary collection from the firm's early days. The Rado HyperChrome Golden Horse, a limited and numbered edition of 1,957 pieces, looks back to the year the brand was founded—1957—and the historic Rado Horse Collection, whose inaugural models were released that year. The use of stainless steel made possible a rugged case and bracelet and set an important precedent: The Rado Golden Horse collection unveiled a philosophy that would earn the Swiss watchmaker an unrivalled reputation for intense research and continuous innovation in materials, processes and contemporary design. Like its predecessors of more than 50 years ago, the Rado HyperChrome Golden Horse Limited Edition presents a stainless steel case with integrated lugs and a dial with facetted applied indexes. The look of the watch is enhanced by lateral case inserts in the form of elongated parentheses, a distinctive feature of the Rado HyperChrome collection. On the dial are the unmistakable rotating red anchor logo and a double seahorse logo, a symbol of water-sealed watches, an impressive feature when the original collection was inaugurated. These elements are complemented by a perfectly round bezel, side inserts, bracelet links and the case back, all in Ceramos, a lightweight, yet aesthetically pleasing material that remains ultra-hard and scratch-resistant while lifting wearer comfort to new levels. The stainless steel case has also been polished using the most advanced of Rado's surface treatments. Engraved on the case back is each piece's edition number: The case back is fitted with a sapphire crystal offering a clear view of the steel-colored oscillating rotor and decorated automatic movement. The Rado HyperChrome Golden Horse Limited Edition presents a compelling design that combines traditional stainless steel with elements fashioned of Ceramos. Featuring the same qualities and benefits as the high-tech ceramic pioneered by Rado in the 1980s, Ceramos is the product of a revolutionary injection moulding process that shapes the material to precise specifications under high pressure (1000 bar); it is then sintered under vacuum at 1500°C. A unique platinum finish is achieved through final polishing with diamond wheels. It takes full advantage of aesthetic qualities and functional comfort of the new material, combining the highly-polished surfaces of the bezel, bracelet links and case inserts with the comfort of a case back sensitive to changes in the wearer's body temperature. – SGAt the heart of the Rado HyperChrome Golden Horse Limited Edition is the 11 1⁄2 ETA 2824-2, a 25-jewel automatic movement certified as a chronometer by COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres), the independent Swiss agency that tests mechanical watch movements for accuracy and precision and certifies only those that meet its stringent standards for performance over time. – SG
