Raymond Weil has honoured many creative musical legends who are no longer with us: Buddy Holly, Bob Marley, David Bowie and half of The Beatles in the form of special edition watches.
That connection to icons of the 20th century is being extended today with the unveiling of the Raymond Weil x Basquiat watch, which the watchmaker calls a testament to audacity and creativity.
For those under a certain age, Jean-Michel Basquiat, known simply at Basquiat, came to fame for his striking art and electrifying personality; in some circles considered New York’s heir to Andy Warhol in the 1980s and almost Madonna’s first husband.
He is described as one of the leaders of the neo-expressionism art movement.
Raymond Weil’s CEO Elie Bernheim is a passionate follower of the late Basquiet, who died aged just 27 in 1988, and delighted to be remembering his life through a special watch.
“I’m thrilled to unveil Raymond Weil’s first-ever art-inspired creation. This special edition chronograph, a fusion of neo-expressionism and Swiss craftsmanship, is a remarkable collector’s timepiece for watch enthusiasts and art aficionados alike. As we honour Basquiat’s genius, this watch is a testament to our commitment to innovation and artistic appreciation, Mr Bernheim says.
The watch is a fusion of horology and Basquiet art with a colour palette of red, yellow, and blue details against a black background.
Even if you do not know the artist, you are likely to recognize the iconic Pez Dispenser, a crown-wearing dinosaur painted by Basquiat in 1984, which sits at the centre of the chronograph’s dial.
Fans of Basquiet will see his work across the watch.
The titanium watch’s black chronograph pushers have a depiction of his Copyright icon and Dollar sign while his signature crown motif is on the crown and again at 12 o’clock on the dial.
A ceramic tachymeter bezel is marked with brush strokes in primary colours from the artist.
Chronograph counters sunk into the dial also reference his life and art.
At 9 o’clock a forever turning seconds’ disc has been covered with a concentric spiral as a metaphor for Basquiat’s personal reflections and life’s complexity.
On the opposite side of the dial, a 30-minute jumping disc depicts three of his core painting themes of life, death, and humanity.
Flip the watch over and a sapphire crystal case back is signed by the artist, but the RW5030 automatic movement is still on display.
The watch is sold in a special box with Basquiat’s iconic yellow crown on its side and his Pez dinosaur on the underside of the lid.
The watch is on sale from today for CHF 4,995.
Congratulations, Ellie and Team, very creative. One can only hope for an homage to Georgia O’Keefe, Fritz Scholder, RC Gorman and after they depart this mortal coil, Markus Pierson and Guy Buffett. All the best, much continued success.