Linking hearts across the world, one wrist at a time
Whether it’s the iconic Pont des Arts in Paris, where lovers once attached engraved padlocks to the railings, or the picturesque Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge) in Amsterdam, where couples seal their love with passionate kisses, bridges have long been symbols of the enduring bond between soulmates.
Using this motif as a starting point, Swiss watchmaker Rado has introduced new versions of its Centrix Open Heart series. The five models in this collection pay tribute to the bridge as a timeless token of eternal love.
The dial features two gentle arches that form a symbolic bridge, which serves not only as a metaphor for the connection between lovers, but also as a link between past, present and future – emblematic of time itself.
Above the bridge, in the upper section of the dial, wearers get a glimpse of the open heart feature – the inner workings of the watch laid bare. Like raw emotions exposed, the unadorned movement is suggestive of the dynamic between lovers. On bridges throughout the world, couples express their innermost feelings to one another and celebrate their bond.
The new Rado Centrix Open Heart is powered by the R734 automatic movement, which boasts an impressive 80-hour power reserve – that’s more than three days of power supply – and an antimagnetic Nivachron hairspring, which ensures enhanced accuracy and reliability.
As if that weren’t enough, the movement’s plates and bridges are also decorated with an elegant circular-grained pattern, adding a touch of radiance to the already captivating design.
True to form, the materials used in the Centrix Open Heart are a testament to Rado’s innovative spirit and commitment to quality. Each of the five references in the collection sport cases and outer bracelet links fashioned from rose gold PVD-coated steel, which lend a warm and inviting hue to the timepieces.
Meanwhile, the central bracelet links are made of Rado’s signature high-tech ceramic, a material renowned for its durability and scratch-resistance, ensuring that the watch will stand the test of time, much like the love celebrated on the Most Ljubavi (Bridge of Love) in Vrnjačka Banja, Serbia, considered the original love lock bridge.
The dials are offered in three shades of mother-of-pearl: White, silver or dark brown, with matching ceramic central bracelet links. For even more shimmer and sparkle, diamond-set versions are also available. Three Jubilé models feature 12 full-cut Top Wesselton diamonds as hour markers, while two Super Jubilé versions feature a glistening stream of diamonds along the lower bridge arch and open heart aperture, framing the design in a lustrous embrace.
On a canvas just 35mm across, Rado has managed to elevate a three-hand timekeeper into a work of art that celebrates the enduring power of love. The new Centrix Open Heart series is a timeless ode to the unbreakable bond that transcends the boundaries of time and space, just as the love locks that adorn the railings of bridges around the world serve as a constant reminder of the eternal connection between soulmates.
