After the launch of the Millésime collection in 2023, Raymond Weil has been steadily building on its success. The brand has followed it up with a string of compelling releases, each offering a contemporary take on classic watchmaking codes. Expanding its horizons, the brand has now launched a new collection—the A.R.T.—featuring its first integrated-bracelet design while retaining the strong value proposition for which Raymond Weil is known.
The Raymond Weil A.R.T. debuts with several variations across two sizes. Pictured here are the 38mm automatic models (ref. 1000) we got to briefly check out ahead of the release, but there are also a range of feminine-oriented 30mm models (ref. 1250) with quartz movements, diamond options and mother-of-pearl. Presented as an acronym, what does A.R.T. stand for? The brand hasn’t clarified — and it thus kind of invites you to come up with your own. Let us know what you come up with.
Another brand entering the “integrated-bracelet”/“sports-chic” arena is hardly a shock. It might be more surprising if any brand hasn’t yet done so. Raymond Weil isn’t aiming to be wildly original or to break new ground in watchmaking. Rather, they’re doing what they’re good at: offering traditional, refined products with their own subtle character, and doing so at an aggressively competitive quality level for the price. It’s largely elements like the details and sense of restraint, as exemplified by the Millésime, that often make a Raymond Weil watch feel like one that's significantly more expensive.
And, like other recent collections, they got a lot of things right. There are the moderate dimensions at 38mm wide by a reasonably thin 9.9mm for the automatic versions. They also put in the extra effort for case design and finishing — these being among defining elements of the (ill-defined) genre. Mostly brushed surfaces are accented by polished chamfers throughout, from the case through the bracelet and you'll be hard pressed to find better examples for the price.
Another characteristic of the category is versatility. That means stylistically, aiming to pull both casual and relatively formal duty, as well as practical — here, with 100m of water resistance. Again, Raymond Weil gets some recognition for that as the promise of water resistance and durability isn’t necessarily something every new watch of this type offers.
The rest of the specs and details check out, too, from sapphire crystal to applied indices with plenty of lume. The origin of the Swiss automatic movement inside is undisclosed, and the solid caseback doesn’t offer a clue, but a stated 41-hour power reserve suggests something like a Sellita SW200 or similar. Antireflective and anti-fingerprint coating for the crystal underscore the evident focus on legibility — which, again, isn’t a given in the industry.
At launch, the A.R.T. collection comes in no fewer than 14 references across the two sizes. The automatic models have three dial color options of sage gray, metallic blue or graphite, all with a brushed sunray finish and there are two-tone (steel and gold-toned steel) options for the latter two.
Prices for the full collection range from Rs. 1,44,000 (approx.) for basic quartz models to Rs. 2,83,000 (approx.) for those with the likes of diamond bezels. Automatic models are Rs. 1,90,000 (approx.).
This article first published in WatchTime.com
Images: Courtesy brand
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