Raymond Weil has a long history of working with musicians and music organisations, including the Brit Awards and Nordoff Robbins, the UK’s largest music therapy charity.
Through the years the brand has created watches that pay tribute to the greatest performers from Frank Sinatra to Queen, AC/DC, Bob Marley, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix. It has worked with ambassadors including Nicola Benedetti, Labrinth, Milos Karadaglic and 2Cellos and has collaborated with guitar-maker Gibson and Marshall Amps.
On the launch of one of its quartet of watches dedicated to The Beatles, the brand’s current CEO – and grandson of the company founder – Elie Bernheim said: “Raymond Weil has always been closely linked with music, our dear source of inspiration since our early days.”
Now the family-owned, Swiss watchmaker has unveiled its latest timepiece inspired by the world of music. The Freelancer Pop Bi-Compax Chronograph 7780 is a limited-edition timepiece that takes inspiration from the world of live music and represents a partnership with brand ambassadors French saxophone player and electro-house sensation Sandy Sax and singer-songwriter/pianist Victor Le Douarec (below).
The black dial of the Freelancer Pop Bi-Compax Chronograph pops with turquoise highlights to the chronograph counters, rehaut, bezel and central chronograph hand, giving the watch a fresh and contemporary feel.
The 43.5mm titanium case is ultra-lightweight and features a black ceramic tachymeter bezel. Within the case is a RW5030 automatic movement with 56 hours of power reserve and a screwed-down crown that enables 100 metres of water resistance. The watch is equipped with a five-row titanium bracelet.
The black dial with its LP-grooved outer edge is perfectly balanced by the 30-minutes and running seconds chrono counters at 3 and 9 o’clock and the pulsometer scale on the outer edge and the date window at 6 o’clock. The large, barrel-shaped, nickel-plated indexes are topped with white Super-LumiNova.
Mr Bernheim says: “This limited edition is an ode to live music. It celebrates the joy of sharing a musical moment together. With hints of vibrant colour on the dial, the design offers an added creative energy within our collection of Freelancer chronographs.
“The full titanium case and bracelet provide lightweight comfortability both on stage and in the audience. I hope this timepiece will inspire you to live your life with passion, creativity and joy.”
To celebrate the release, Raymond Weil and ambassadors Sandy Sax and Victor Le Douarec have collaborated on a song that acknowledges the relationship between horology and music.
The watch has been made in a limited run of just 400 pieces, priced at £3,495.
