Over the past few years we have been accustomed to Raymond Weil presenting watches at Baselworld that bear the names of some of the world’s biggest names in music. After the Maestro Frank Sinatra model started the series, the Geneva brand created a model to appeal to any generation when it presented the first Beatles watch a couple of years ago. A second watch in tribute to the Beatles, the “Abbey Road” edition, followed, as did watches dedicated to equally iconic names in music like Buddy Holly, Bob Marley and David Bowie.
The latest model pays homage to rock legends AC/DC, so it’s fitting that it is the first model in this “musical icons” series to be fitted with the in-house movement presented by Raymond Weil at Baselworld last year, because the aperture at 6 o’clock lets you see the balance wheel “rock” back and forth. Where we saw a lightning bolt at 12 o’clock on the David Bowie edition last year, we see a… lightning bolt at 12 o’clock on the new AC/DC model, since it is an integral part of the group’s logo.
“There is very little doubt that AC/DC is and continues to be one of the most iconic rock bands of all time,” says Elie Bernheim, CEO of Raymond Weil, “and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with them. As AC/DC perfectly quotes, ‘let there be light, sound, drums and guitars – let there be rock’.”
Rest assured, however, that in accordance with the traditions of fine Swiss watchmaking no electric power (AC or DC) is required to run the watch. The Raymond Weil Freelancer AC/DC is fitted with the RW1212 in-house movement, which was developed by Sellita to Raymond Weil’s specifications and has a power reserve of 38 hours. Inside the diameter of the 42mm case in stainless steel, the “high voltage” decoration continues on the black dial, which is complemented by the use of a rock and roll staple – the stud – for the hour markers. The AC/DC look is completed by a black calfskin strap with embossed AC/DC logo. The watch is a limited edition of 3,000 and retails for 2,150 Swiss francs.
At Baselworld 2018, Raymond Weil also presents a brand-new skeletonised version of its RW1212 in-house calibre. Just a year after it was first presented, this base calibre with hours and minutes has been pared down to reveal the very essentials through an open dial. The new movement is presented in three different versions, from full black PVD with gold-plated hour markers and hands to a two-tone model in stainless steel and rose gold with a brown leather strap and, for the ultimate classic design, stainless steel with blue hour markers and hands.
