A New Chapter of Search for Rado: Actor Hrithik Roshan on Craftsmanship and Emotions

Rado's new campaign, The Search, ponders questions of sentiment. It takes a simple emotion — holding onto a feeling or a reminiscent moment — and answers it with craft. The memories at its centre are subtle: a smile, a glance, a shared moment from the past that continues to linger. Behind them is the conviction that some people don’t just deserve a gift, but something made solely for them. This desire to hold onto memories and warmth is where the campaign comes from, and alongside is the global brand ambassador Hrithik Roshan, on the same quest. A quest to give a tangible shape to the warm reminiscents of a loved one.

​For a house that calls itself the Master of Materials, the answer comes rendered in ceramic. Rado put high-tech ceramic into serial production in 1986. Zirconium oxide powder is sintered at 1,450°C until it reaches 1,250 on the Vickers scale, then finished with diamond tools. The plasma version treats white ceramic with carbon, producing a metallic sheen without any metal.

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Two statements, same pursuit

The journey begins with two timepieces. The Captain Cook High‑Tech Ceramic Chronograph, worn by Rado’s global ambassador Hrithik Roshan, embodies the appetite for discovery. Its 43 mm monobloc case in matte plasma ceramic is water‑resistant to 300 metres. The other piece, the Centrix Open Heart Diamonds, represents where the idea settles. Its 35 mm case combines plasma ceramic links with rose gold‑coloured steel, while a light silver mother‑of‑pearl dial set with 98 diamonds is cut open to reveal the R734 calibre and its 80‑hour reserve. The same material serves both a dive watch and a jewel, underscoring the brand’s commitment to design language over single products.

The campaign, parallel to Hrithik, is driven by a longing — to encase precious moments and sentiments, and to relive them through touch.

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Edited excerpts from the interview: 

The open-heart design of the Centrix Open Heart lets you see the movement beating inside the watch. What do you make of that as a metaphor, and does it change how you look at the watch itself?

I like that it doesn't try to hide what makes the watch come alive. You can see the movement working and it reminds you that beneath a very refined, almost effortless exterior, there is a lot happening. That’s one of the reasons I believe why the open-heart design works so well with the campaign’s story. The watch is about emotion and what sits beneath the surface, and here you can literally see its heart. Once you notice that, you don't really look at the watch in quite the same way.

The story is sparked by "a smile, a glance, a shared moment suspended in time”. Do you find yourself holding onto small moments like that in your own life?

Absolutely. In fact, I think those are often the moments you remember most clearly. Not necessarily the big, dramatic ones, but a look, a conversation, a particular afternoon, something someone said that stayed with you. As life gets busier, you realise how valuable those small moments are. That was something I connected with in The Search; the idea that one seemingly fleeting moment can stay with you long enough to inspire something much more lasting.

Since Rado is known for pushing material innovation, what does wearing a Rado watch feel like compared to more traditional metal timepieces you may have worn?

High-tech ceramic feels very comfortable to me, and it simultaneously feels like it has a presence of its own. Rado has managed to make it feel very contemporary without any coldness to it. For me, traditional metal watches have their own character too, but ceramic has a different relationship with the wrist. I also like that with Rado, the material isn't just a technical feature; it has become part of the brand's design language.

What's your go-to Rado piece for casual outings and special evenings, when you don't want to put too much thought behind what to pick?

I tend to gravitate towards versatile pieces. I don't necessarily want a watch that feels like it belongs to only a certain occasion. The Centrix Open Heart has that quality for me. It has enough character for the evening, but the design is clean enough that it doesn't feel gaudy for the day. And because Rado's design language is quite distinctive, you don't have to do too much around it.

Is there a specific timepiece of great sentiment that you would pass down to your kids?

I'd rather pass down a watch with a whole story. For me, the sentiment comes from the life that the watch has witnessed: when I wore it, the events that happened, and the people I was with. Eventually, the watch becomes a kind of record of a life, and when my kids wear it, they will add their own chapter to that story.

Since you believe that some people deserve something made uniquely for them, what drove you to choose watches as an expression of it, over any other option?

A watch feels right because it stays with you. You don't just look at it once and put it away, you wear it through your day, and it eventually becomes part of your memories and reflects your life.

That idea sat natural to the story we were telling with Rado. The challenge was to give a shape to an emotion. A watch has this beautiful relationship with time, so it felt like the right object to carry the story forward.

Having now been part of creating a watch on screen, has it changed how you view the craftsmanship behind the products you wear?

Definitely. When you wear something, you mostly experience the finished product. You don't think of the decisions and story behind.

Working on The Search gave me a glimpse into the story and conversations behind: the material, proportions, finish, movement and all the tiny details that have to work together. It made me appreciate Rado's craftsmanship in a much more tangible way.

Two Rado timepieces, one from the men's collection and one from women's, that you would recommend for the purpose of gifting to family?

For a men's piece, I'd probably choose the Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Chronograph, particularly because of the story behind it. It balances every aspect well and allows room for discoveries. For a women's piece, I'd look for something from the Centrix Open Heart Collection. It's elegant but not overly formal, and that can become part of someone's everyday life rather than just special occasions. Ultimately, though, the best choice depends on the person you’re giving it to. A watch becomes much more meaningful when you choose it especially for them, rather than just choosing a beautiful piece.

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