SpotlightVintage Charm: Introducing The New Raymond Weil Millesime Watches

As the countdown to Watches & Wonders 2024 begins, the horological world is abuzz with excitement over the latest releases from the industry’s most prestigious brands. Among the newcomers to this year’s event is Raymond Weil, the family-owned Swiss watchmaker known for accessible and finely crafted timepieces. The brand have chosen this momentous occasion to unveil their latest collection, Millesime, captivating watch enthusiasts all across the globe. 

Raymond Weil, founded in 1976, have long been a fixture in the Swiss watchmaking industry. The company have built a reputation for creating watches that seamlessly blend traditional craftsmanship with modern design elements, all while maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality and accessibility. This dedication to their craft has allowed Raymond Weil to carve out a unique space in the world of horology.

Now, with the launch of the Millesime collection at Watches & Wonders 2024, Raymond Weil are showcasing their expertise in creating timepieces that not only look stunning but also offer exceptional value. Helmed by Elie Bernheim, Raymond Weil’s grandson, this new line is a testament to the brand’s ability to innovate while staying true to its core values. 

Millesime Automatic Small Seconds: A Fresh Take On A Winning Design

The Millesime Automatic Small Seconds, which earned the coveted ‘Challenge’ Prize at the GPHG 2023, is now available in two captivating new dial colours: Denim Blue and British Racing Green. These contemporary hues breathe new life into the timepiece’s classic design, which features a small seconds sub-dial at six o’clock and a mesmerising textured sector dial. The 39.5mm stainless-steel case, paired with a luxurious leather strap, ensures a comfortable and stylish fit on the wrist.

Powered by the RW4251 automatic movement, this timepiece offers a power reserve of 38 hours and is water-resistant up to 50m. The obelisk-shaped hands, treated with Super-LumiNova, provide excellent legibility against the classic dial. The sapphire crystal caseback allows the wearer to admire the movement’s meticulous finishing, a hallmark of Raymond Weil’s dedication to craftsmanship.

Millesime Automatic Moon Phase 39.5mm: Celestial Elegance

Raymond Weil introduces the moon phase complication to the Millesime collection with the Millesime Automatic Moon Phase 39.5mm. This timepiece is available in two stunning versions: stainless steel with a silver dial and rose gold PVD with a midnight blue dial. The moon phase display, positioned at six o’clock, adds a touch of romance and whimsy to the collection’s signature sector dial.

Inside the 39.5mm case beats the RW4280 automatic movement, which offers a power reserve of 38 hours and drives the hours, minutes, seconds, and moon phase functions. The sapphire crystal, treated with an anti-reflective coating, protects the dial while adding visual depth. The obelisk-shaped hands, filled with Super-LumiNova, ensure readability in low-light conditions. A genuine calf leather strap with a stainless steel or rose gold PVD buckle completes the look, offering both comfort and style.

Millesime Automatic Central Seconds: Elegance In Petite Proportions

Raymond Weil caters to women with the Millesime Automatic Central Seconds, a collection of five new models housed in a smaller 35mm case. Available in three captivating dial colours—silver, denim blue, and burgundy—these timepieces feature the line’s signature sector dial and a central seconds hand for added functionality. The denim blue model is particularly striking, with 16 laboratory-grown diamonds adorning the lugs, adding a touch of sustainable luxury to the design. 

Powered by the RW4200 automatic movement, these watches offer a power reserve of 38 hours and are water-resistant up to 50m. The obelisk-shaped hands, treated with Super-LumiNova, ensure excellent legibility against the stunning dial. A genuine calf leather strap completes the look.

Millesime Automatic Moon Phase 35mm: Celestial Charm

The Millesime Automatic Moon Phase 35mm is another stunning addition to Raymond Weil’s women’s collection. Available in two versions—stainless steel with a denim blue dial and rose gold PVD with a silver dial—this timepiece features a poetic moon phase display at six o’clock. The stainless-steel model is further enhanced by 16 lab-grown diamonds on the lugs, adding a touch of brilliance to the design.

Inside the 35mm case, the RW4280 automatic movement drives the hours, minutes, seconds, and moon phase functions, while providing a power reserve of 38 hours. This is the same movement found on the larger 39.5mm Millesimme Moonphase. Protecting the dial is a glassbox sapphire crystal, a design element that adds visual interest and depth while being treated with an anti-reflective coating for enhanced clarity. The watch is accompanied by a strap made from high-quality calf leather in blue or grey, secured by a buckle in stainless-steel or rose gold PVD for a touch of refinement.

Millesime Automatic Chronograph: Sporty Elegance With A Vintage Twist

For those seeking a timepiece that combines sporty functionality with elegant design, the Millesime Automatic Chronograph is the perfect choice. This collection features two new Tri-Compax chronographs with Panda dials, available in midnight blue with silver sub-dials or a black sector dial with black counters. The 39.5mm stainless steel case houses the RW5030 automatic chronograph movement, which offers a power reserve of 56 hours and drives the hours, minutes, seconds, and chronograph functions.

The dial features a tachymeter scale on the periphery, while the Super-LumiNova-filled hands and indices ensure excellent legibility in low-light conditions. A genuine calf leather strap in black or midnight blue, with a unique W-stitched detail and a stainless steel buckle, completes the sporty look of these timepieces. The Millesime Automatic Chronograph is a testament to Raymond Weil’s ability to combine vintage-inspired design with modern functionality, creating a watch that is both stylish and practical.

What We Think

Raymond Weil have definitely turned heads at Watches & Wonders 2024 with their new Millesime collection. It’s a real treat to see a family-owned brand like this making such a strong showing on the big stage. What we love about the collection is how it manages to be both instantly recognisable as a Raymond Weil creation, yet still feels fresh and exciting.

The five lines in the collection offer something for everyone, whether you’re into dressy, sporty, or somewhere in between. The Millesime Automatic Small Seconds with its updated dial colours and the Millesime Automatic Chronograph with its vintage-inspired Panda dials are definite standouts for me. It’s clear that a lot of thought and care went into the design and craftsmanship of each piece, and the attention to detail is impressive.

Sure, the Millesime collection might not be a total game-changer, but that’s not what Raymond Weil is about. They’ve always been about creating solid, reliable, and stylish timepieces that appeal to a wide range of people, and that’s exactly what they’ve done here.