2014 began on a sad note for Raymond Weil as a company, as January proved to be the month when Mr Raymond Weil himself finally passed away at the age of 87. Having founded his eponymous brand name back in 1976, Mr Raymond Weil was instrumental in the development of the company that still bears his name, and was a leading figure when it came to negotiating the so-called ‘quartz watch’ crisis. Although Mr Raymond Weil had stepped down as the CEO of the company some years before, instead occupying a figurehead position for the latter years of his involvement, his passing was a emotional time for all in this proudly family-run business, and so it comes as no surprise to see that the memory of Mr Raymond Weil is now being honoured with a brand new wristwatch.
Given Raymond Weil’s status in the world of ocular horology, such a timepiece would always need to be something special, and we can’t think of any better place to begin than the perfectly named ‘Maestro’ collection. Having steered his company on a visionary path for nearly 40 years, Raymond Weil truly was the maestro behind the success of his watches, and today’s CEO, his grandson Elie Bernheim, is wholeheartedly behind the continuation of that trend. In a quiet tribute that seems especially fitting, this limited edition Maestro watch will be released in a single batch of 100 models, and Bernheim has shown that high-quality watchmaking will remain the company’s hallmark.
Each Maestro will be individually numbered, but, as you’d expect when the Raymond Weil family is involved, the specifications are exemplary too. Mr Raymond Weil’s enthusiasm always lay in the creation of automatically-wound mechanisms, and the movement within this Maestro is of a particular fine calibre. Equipped with a 42-hour power reserve, 61 rubies and a COSC chronometer certificate, this timepiece is also a chronograph, so it allows all of Mr Raymond Weil’s favoured complications to be manifest. The pushers for this function are situated on either side of the fluted crown, as decreed by time-honoured tradition, but the Maestro’s functions don’t conclude there.
A circular tachometric scale has been applied to the silver dial of the timepiece, and this sits well alongside the trio of chronograph dials at the centre of the face. Aesthetically, the dial isn’t short of complexities either, with gold numerals, a decidedly ‘musical’ flavour and a Raymond Weil inscription according to a hand-written style all being apparent. All due care and attention has been lavished upon the strap as well. This is fashioned from genuine brown alligator leather, and utilises a double-push button clasp to prevent the wristwatch ever breaking its moorings. Finished by a 5ATM water resistance, a heavily embellished exhibition caseback and a signed olive-tree box, you really couldn’t have asked for more in terms of a tribute to this great watchmaker.
Here at Banks Lyon Jewellers, we’re always happy to see Raymond Weil’s unique spirit being upheld in new timepieces, and although we don’t yet have access to this hugely significant Maestro, we do possess a broad array of additional Raymond Weil Maestro watches that are just as much a part of his legacy. If you’d like to find out more about our collection, or are interested in any of our other Raymond Weil watches, please be sure to contact our professional team today. Call us on 01524 38 48 58 or email [email protected] and we’ll be happy to discuss your enquiry.
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