Introducing The Raymond Weil Freelancer World-Traveller Celebrating The Founder's 100th Birthday

It seems as though Raymond Weil has been everywhere this year as the Geneva-based, family-owned independent brand celebrates its 50th anniversary. The company entered the integrated-bracelet sport watch realm in June with its A.R.T. collection, and also launched a lovely chronograph, The Fifty, which features a vintage, new old stock Valjoux movement from the year the brand was born, 1976. But RW is marking another milestone this year. On October 10th (also World Watch Day, btw), Raymond Weil himself would have turned 100 if he were still with us. A frequent and enthusiastic traveller, the brand is paying tribute to its founder with a limited-edition model, the Freelancer World-Traveller. 

The star of the show for this run of 260 pieces is, most certainly, the dial. It's a relief-rendered world map in the style of the Mercator projection, rendered in textured champagne, against a dark blue background, representing the oceans. Rather than the brand logo, Raymond Weil's signature sits at 6 o'clock and above the date window. The indexes are applied and surrounded by a 24-hour scale in blue for the evening and beige for the daytime. The outer ring of the dial features 24 world cities and their corresponding time zones. Turning the knurled bezel rotates the city ring to allow for shifting time zones or tracking. 

The local time display features tapering baton hands filled with Super-LumiNova, while the GMT hand, which can be manipulated by moving the screw-down crown to the second position, is outlined in red and also lume-filled. The 40-millimeter case features a polished bezel, giving the watch a dressy flair. The brushed knurled bezel exterior allows for easy turning to rotate the city ring. 

The case is 10.25 mm thick, giving the watch a fairly thin profile that sits well on the wrist and tucks nicely under a sleeve. Brushed case sides offset the marked, screw-down crown and the faceted lugs that give the Freelancer case a masculine demeanour. The movement, visible through the sapphire open caseback, is the Sellita-based RW 3230, which offers a caller GMT, date function, and 56 hours of power reserve. The limited-edition Freelancer World-Traveller is priced at A$6,995 and is on sale now via Raymond Weil retailers and online. 

With a functioning GMT and city time zone ring that has a gorgeous relief world map dial and is priced just below A$7,000, Raymond Weil celebrates the jet-setting, globe-trotting ways of its founder. While not a full worldtimer, the mix of the GMT and the city ring allows a passive city setting coordinated with the 24-hour hand, expanding the utility of this refined limited edition. The dial is a standout and demands a closer look as one considers where they've been and where they hope to go. 

The high-end look and feel of the watch would have been further enhanced by a matching date wheel in beige or blue, but, to be fair, the white of the date window does play off the index and city ring names in white, keeping the presentation cohesive. The World-Traveller suggests that Raymond Weil's recent ascension, which began with its handsome, superbly executed Millesime collection a few years ago, is likely to continue well beyond its half-century anniversary, not just with casual watch consumers but with enthusiasts as well. Happy travels.

Brand: Raymond Weil
Model: Freelancer World-Traveller
Reference Number: 2762-STC-02026

Diameter: 40 mm
Thickness: 10.25 mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Colour: Blue with champagne world map in relief
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Leather strap with RW folding clasp with double safety push-buttons

Calibre: RW3230, Sellita SW330-2 base
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, GMT
Power Reserve: 56 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Chronometer Certified: No

Price: A$6,995
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: Yes, 260 pieces

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