Can you tell me about the movement you’ve
developed for the RW1212 Freelancer?
We are delighted to have been able to launch our first ever, fully in-
house designed movement, which has been manufactured in collabora-
tion with one of our movement partners – Sellita. The freelance Caliber
RW1212 movement represents the first time that we have designed a
movement from scratch, created by our in-house R&D team, specific to
Raymond Weil’s requirements.
This is a significant advancement for our company and is an indica-
tion of where the company is moving. It is essential that Raymond Weil
continue to demonstrate its horology and watchmaking know-how,
which has been handed down from generation to generation.
We are extremely proud of our history and Swiss-Made credentials
and as one of the last remaining family-owned and operated Geneva-
based watchmakers. The Freelancer Caliber RW1212 (at right) certainly
puts a marker in the sand in terms of our future ambitions and intentions.
Will we see an increasing number of mechanical
pieces from Raymond Weil?
Our current sell-through on mechanical versus quartz is approximately
60% mechanical. As customers become more sophisticated and under-
stand mechanical movements, the importance of our advancements in
the mechanical movement market become more and more important.
Over the past years, Raymond Weil has quietly launched many ‘market
exclusive’ movements on behalf of Sellita.
We do not make too much noise about this, however mechanical
movements are very important to the future success of the brand. Our
key objective is to offer the latest advancements in movement manu-
facturing as reasonable prices through close collaboration between our
R&D team and our long-term partners.
Can you offer any teaser, or a short preview, of what
we can expect from Raymond Weil in 2018?
More musical special edition partnerships, with some of the biggest
music acts on the planet. We are also focusing on our mechanical
offering as well as our product for the female market. Raymond Weil
remains one of very few brands that have an equal split between male
and female customers.
Will you be making any changes to Raymond Weil in the US?
We have just moved our team in the U.S. to new offices in New York.
We are excited by the opportunities that the U.S. offers to Raymond
Weil. Our new office has been designed to showcase our watchmaking
know-how by positioning our watchmakers right next to our reception
desk so that any visitors to the office can see the intricate workings of
our products. The U.S. remains our biggest market and I am pleased to
be able to be part of the day-to-day workings of the team and
the office.
What’s your own very first fine watch?
A Raymond Weil of course… My grandfather gave me my first
Raymond Weil watch – a W1. They had been produced to attract a
young and trendy generation. It was the first Raymond Weil watch
featuring carbon fiber. For as long as I remember, I visited my grandfa-
ther and father at our offices in Geneva. As they say, Swiss watchmak-
ing is in my DNA.
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