Rado’s relationship with tennis reaches back decades. Today, the brand is the official timekeeper for a dozen top professional tournaments played in major cities around the world. The U.S. stop is also one of the most glamorous tournaments on the ATP circuit: the Miami Open. Played at the Crandon Park Tennis Centre in beautiful Key Biscayne, Florida, the tournament attracts more than 300,000 fans each year, and this marks Rado’s third year as the official timekeeper.
During this year’s tournament, Rado launched the new HyperChrome Match Point. This new tennis-inspired timepiece features signature Rado design and materials, and some special elements to highlight its tennis heritage. Oversize chronograph subdials and the engraved tachymeter bezel give the watch a strong, sporty demeanor, but the eye-catching plasma ceramic case and bracelet steal the show. We tried the watch on, and this has to be just about the ultimate sports watch material.
Ceramic is incredibly tough and scratch resistant. We’ve heard stories of vintage Rado pieces looking like new, because they do not wear, scratch, corrode, or otherwise show the effects of time like traditional materials. Best of all, the HyperChrome finish offers a lustrous and luxurious look. The bracelet and monoblock case have a matte finish that sets off the polished center bracelet links. It’s a fantastic look only ceramic-master Rado can achieve.
Look closer, and the tennis theme shines through on the dial. The continuous seconds subdial is marked at 00, 15 and 40, while the minute counter at 30, reflecting the points of the game of tennis. The chronograph hours counter at 6 o’clock is decorated with a net-style motif.
Best of all, Rado ambassador and tennis legend Andy Murray was on hand in Miami to present the HyperChrome Match Point. Murray is one of the top players in the world, having won the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, and the men’s singles gold medal at the Beijing Olympics, among many other accomplishments.
