True Square

The 2020 launch and its case

Rado introduced the True Square Automatic in 2020 with a rounded-square case made from injection-molded high-tech ceramic. Monobloc describes the one-piece ceramic case body, not a watch without metal parts. Rado specifies a separate titanium caseback, and the Open Heart and Skeleton versions have a sapphire display window.

The case is the design's defining feature, and the ceramic construction explains most of its look and feel. For a buyer, the practical question is what the case can take in repair, and a good shop should answer that before it starts work.

The current standard reference, R27078172, measures 38.0 mm across and 9.6 mm thick. Rado lists its case as high-tech ceramic with titanium and PVD parts, and it has a flat sapphire crystal.

A shop should explain which parts it can replace and which it can't before you approve work, because the case is a single molded piece with a separate titanium caseback.

The movements: R763, R734 and R808

The standard reference uses Rado's R763 caliber, which has an 80-hour power reserve and a Nivachron hairspring, according to Rado's listing. Check the caliber against the reference rather than assuming it from the model name.

If you own the standard model, a service plan built around the R763 is the default. The Open Heart and Skeleton plans should be built around their own calibers, so ask the shop to confirm the caliber in writing before work starts.

The Open Heart uses the R734, and the Skeleton uses the R808. Both are described with 25 jewels and an 80-hour reserve, and the Skeleton's display shows more of the movement than the standard dial does.

Rado's product page for the standard model lists no frequency or accuracy tolerance, so ask for a timing result after any service and keep it with the watch.

A timing result is also the baseline for the next service, so keep it with the watch's papers rather than on a bench card that could be thrown away.

Water resistance and what 5 bar means for service

The standard True Square is rated to 5 bar. That is a splash-resistance rating, which suits daily wear and rain but not swimming with the watch or diving. Ask the seller for the rating on the papers, since it is the rating the watch was sold with.

The sapphire windows on the Open Heart and Skeleton versions are the most visible seals in the family. A window that fogs or shows moisture after a wet day is a sign of seal trouble, and the watch should be opened and tested before it is worn in rain again.

The Open Heart and Skeleton versions have sapphire display windows, which adds seals to check. Ask the shop to confirm the rating for the specific version and to check the window seal along with the caseback.

A pressure test after any case opening is the right standard, whatever the rating. Ask for it in writing on the service report.

The test should be run on the bench with the case closed, and the result should be recorded with the watch's reference and serial number. That gives the next person who opens the case a baseline to compare against.

Servicing a True Square

A warranty repair goes through a Rado Service Center, and the brand's warranty needs the stamped warranty card. Rado's five-year warranty applies to watches bought on or after May 1, 2023, so check the purchase date before you book work.

Ask the shop what it plans to do to the ceramic case and the titanium caseback, and which parts it will replace rather than polish. A clear answer is a better sign than a promise to make the watch look new.

Out of warranty, a specialist who has handled the R763 and R808 can take on most of the job. Ask whether the shop has worked on an exposed movement like the Open Heart's, since visible decoration and dial work need more care.

Rado recommends a full service every five to seven years. Ask for the estimate to name the movement, the gaskets and the case work, and ask how the titanium caseback will be handled on reassembly.

Buying a pre-owned True Square

Match the reference to the version. The standard, Open Heart and Skeleton models share a family name but use different calibers and displays, so a listing should give the reference and the caliber clearly.

Ask for photos of the caseback, the display window and the edges of the case in good light, and check that the reference on the caseback matches the listing. Photos like these show more about the watch than a description does, and a seller with nothing to hide will supply them.

Check the ceramic and the caseback. Look for scuffs and chips on the case edges, and for signs of a replaced caseback or crystal. The titanium caseback should match the rest of the watch, and a mismatched part is worth a question.

Ask for the warranty card, the purchase date and any service record. A stamped card with a recent Rado service is the easiest route to a confident purchase, and a written inspection from an independent is the fallback when the seller has neither.

Even without the card, the purchase date and receipt help. They show whether Rado's five-year warranty applies, which is worth knowing before you agree on a price.

What to check on a True Square

• Reference-by-reference knowledge of the R763, R734 and R808 versions
• Pressure testing after case or caseback work, to the rating for that version
• Clear quotes that separate movement, ceramic case and caseback work
• A purchase date check against Rado's warranty terms

Common questions