I remember seeing Rado Anatom ads on billboards during the 1990s, and how futuristic it looked at the time. Maybe it’s been so many decades since, with the Anatom looking mostly the same, that it does not seem as far away into the future as it once was—but that was until Rado released its latest Rado Anatom Skeleton, which has once again returned this watch to its rightful place in my mind’s eye, and that is the category of ‘the future’ once again.

To borrow Rado’s own cheeky description on this release, Anatom is now anatomical. And that is a rather apt way of putting it, because the skeletonised build now does away with the traditional Anatom dial, allowing one to peer directly into the Rado R808 calibre automatic movement below. 

The movement is not new, having previously been fitted into the Captain Cook, Diastar, and True Square Models. And just as before, this movement still features its 80-hour power reserve and anti-magnetic hairspring. It’s just that you get to view it in a different light now (quite literally), every time you look at the time.

Interestingly enough, when black used to mean the future in the 1990s, I feel that these days, what constitutes modern has taken a different path, which the new grey-and-gold colourway does indeed portray. In some ways, the watch reminds me of the spaceships from *War Of The Worlds*, and with watch models like the Diastar in Rado’s roster (which also look like sci-fi creations of the 1960s, when it was created), one would hardly find that surprising.

In fact, it is through these aesthetics that Rado leans into its title of ‘Master of Materials’. For the Anatom Skeleton, this motto is upheld, thanks to its matte plasma high-tech ceramic bezel. It is no Ceramos, but it still employs the brand’s focus on technical knowledge. Plus, if you look beyond the case, you’ll get anthracite-coated and yellow-gold cogs and wheels, alongside ruthenium-coloured plates, drawing you further down the material rabbit hole.

Take a step back and look at the watch for what it really is, and you’ll have a 32.5mm by 46.3mm rectangular watch. In other words, it’s easy to wear. And you know what makes it even more unique? This model comes with a rubber strap, adding to the comfort factor. Tack on the 11.5mm thickness, and there is hardly any situation where the watch wouldn’t belong. 

Okay, maybe you won’t take this watch deep-water diving, thanks to its 50-metre water resistance. But watchmakers have been known to underestimate their water ratings, so I suspect this watch would do just fine in a swimming pool or a quick bath.

What I like about Rado is that it has never been a brand to share similarities across its collections. Every line has a very distinct look, and the Anatom is one of the watches that have always embraced a sci-fi aesthetic. I’ve been a fan of this design for so many decades that it’s starting to look familiar, and familiar things often lose their mystical qualities. But my hope is that a younger person might look at this watch and find it a striking take on the future, just like how my younger self looked up at those billboards so many years ago.