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January 31st, 2014

A Tribute to Raymond Weil

This week, the horological world was greeted with the sad news that Raymond Weil, the founder and honorary president of the watchmaking brand of the same name, has passed away aged 87. Raymond Weil, the figurehead of one of the last independent watchmakers, died peacefully in the city of Calvin on Monday 27th January 2014.  Weil was an exemplary ambassador for the Swiss luxury watch industry, and was also an incredibly successful entrepreneur who led his brand from strength to strength since its foundation in 1976. At this time, the luxury watch industry was at something of a crisis point due to fierce competition from cheap low-quality quartz watches, but Raymond Weil’s creations received universal and instantaneous acclaim from all parties, and have continued to do so ever since.

Weil’s success was intrinsically linked to both the quality and design of his timepieces, and also the unprecedented accessibility of these undeniably luxury items. He is hailed as the pioneering figure to view watches as an opulent accessory, and this trait has become widely embraced in subsequent years. Furthermore, Raymond Weil was a master when it came to letting his other passions inspire his watch designs; and to great effect. A lifelong connoisseur of classical and lyrical music, Raymond Weil Parsifal watches and Raymond Weil Maestro watches drew heavily upon this enthusiasm in their creation, and the brand name has always enjoyed a wealth of celebrated partnerships with major music events, notably the BRIT Awards, as a result. It is a fitting testament to the genius of Weil’s vision that his watches are now sold in almost 100 countries across the globe.

The son-in-law of Raymond Weil, Olivier Bernheim, has held the position of brand CEO since 1996, and Weil’s two sons, Elie and Pierre, similarly function as the marketing and sales directors respectively. Raymond Weil himself retired from the board of his eponymous brand only last September. A statement from the family and their brand announced Weil’s death with ‘great sadness and emotion’, and declared that his ‘independent mind and kindness will continue to inspire us every day’. The company, widely considered to number among the jewels in the Swiss watchmaking industry, has always adhered closely to the ethos that was treasured by its founder, and will doubtless continue to uphold this family tradition for many decades to come.

Raymond Weil was a trend-setter and, when the dream that became his company first took shape, he was a man ahead of his time in many respects. Weil’s success within the Swiss watchmaking industry is rendered all the more remarkable by his decision to independently enter this arena at a particularly challenging time, and the fact he then went on to serve as president of the exhibitors committee at Baselworld shows the veneration in which he was held. The popularity of Raymond Weil watches have already endured the test of time, and this, coupled with the universal respect he commanded, is a fitting tribute to the man himself. He will unquestionably be remembered as a giant among innovative ocular horology.

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