Review of Raymond Weil Freelancer RW1212
Today, I am taking an in-depth look at the Raymond Weil Freelancer RW1212 watch collection. The model 2780-STC-52001 features an exclusive movement made specifically for Raymond Weil by the Swiss company Sellita. The Freelancer RW1212 is styled in the popular Freelancer design and is equipped with a unique open-heart dial, showcasing the mechanism's regulation system. The Freelancer RW1212 is just starting to gain recognition among watch enthusiasts, though many already know Raymond Weil as a legendary name in the production of upscale watches for the mass market. Despite continuing to focus on luxury in the main segment, Raymond Weil today offers several surprisingly enthusiast-focused watches, created with their solid reputation in mind.
Note that Raymond Weil has also released a skeletonized version of the RW1212 caliber movement. These versions can be approximately a third more expensive than the standard RW1212 models, indicating they are more niche and limited in production. The RW1212 movement is designed so that the balance wheel can be seen through the dial. This has been done before, but rarely as elegantly as here. Firstly, the open-heart window is symmetrically positioned at '6 o'clock' on the dial. This is significant because it means the movement was designed specifically for this purpose. In most other similar open-heart dial watches, the window is not symmetrically placed.
Additionally, there is the matter of the bridge over the regulation system. This bridge not only hints at the design of many tourbillon watches (which also typically reveal more complex regulation systems), but it also allows the escapement to be placed near the watch dial rather than at the back. This means the viewer doesn't need to look deep into the window to see the escapement. In other words, Raymond Weil worked with Sellita to create a new watch movement that was meant to look good - and the results speak for themselves.
Raymond Weil also made a wise choice by commissioning a third-party company to create the movement for them, as this aligns with an important trend that I hope will continue to develop in the watch industry. This trend involves speaking less about "in-house production" and more about "exclusive production." In 2016, I wrote an article about how many brands' efforts to produce their own movements resulted in catastrophic consequences for the luxury watch market. In that article, I described how one of the key solutions to the problem was the collaboration of specialized movement manufacturers (such as Sellita) with individual brands to produce movements specifically for them (so that their watches could have new parts not available elsewhere) and so that watchmakers wouldn't have to invest in the massive infrastructure required for movement production. Raymond Weil + Sellita RW1212 is an excellent example of this concept in action. The result is excellent watches with a new mechanical movement that can be sold at a much lower price than if the brand had to develop and manufacture the movement themselves.
The RW1212 movement itself is automatic, operating at a frequency of 4 Hz, with a power reserve of about 38 hours. It only shows the time, somewhat disappointing with the absence of a second hand. However, the clean dial looks very beautiful, and in this case, the absence of a second hand can be forgiven for style. The movement is also surprisingly well-finished on the backside, which is visible through the exhibition case back. As I said, for this money, it is an excellent package, and it's easy to see how Raymond Weil's design plus Sellita's technical know-how helped make this smooth.
The Freelancer case itself is 42 mm wide (closer to 42.5 mm, in fact) and made of steel, very well polished with matte sides. The polished bezel and lugs remind me of Breitling's polish, which is very pleasant. I must say this because polishing styles can vary greatly, and not always does a fully polished case look good. In this case, it does, and overall the Freelancer collection does an excellent job with an attractive case finish. The case is also closed with a flat sapphire crystal with AR coating and water-resistant to 100 meters. The case thickness is 10.6 mm, and the lug-to-lug distance is about 51 mm.
The Freelancer RW1212 dial is simple yet elegant. The shape of the hands and hour markers is slightly rounded, giving the dial a softer tone, contrasting with the relatively bold case. The dial features a sloped flange ring and proper proportions. The polished hands and hour markers have luminescent paint and contrast well against the textured green dial. This shade of green is very popular now in men's watches and, in my opinion, looks best on a matching green canvas-style fabric strap. Raymond Weil also offers this same case and dial on a jubilee-style steel bracelet, making the watch a bit less sporty and more business or dress-oriented.
The strap is equipped with a polished steel folding clasp, which gives the watch a higher status. A good example is the use of a neatly engraved crown with the "RW" logo, which you would expect to see on a much more expensive piece. I think that overall most people dealing with the Freelancer RW1212 watches will agree that they look and feel like expensive watches. Accordingly, their price seems very fair.
Given the bold proportions of the case, the 42 mm wide Freelancer watches look elegant yet wear large, so consider the lug-to-lug distance of approximately 51 mm. The polished case, fairly symmetrical dial, and sporty style seemed to me an attractive combination.
Consider the trendy green dial, and the Raymond Weil Freelancer RW1212 model will meet the expectations of many enthusiasts. The price for model 2780-STC-52001 is $2,050 USD. Learn more or place an order on the Raymond Weil website.