RAYMOND WEIL, the Geneva-based watchmaker, unveils its latest timepiece, the Freelancer GMT Worldtimer. It can simultaneously display the prevailing hour in 24 time zones; this new watch is ideal for wearers who juggle life in different regions of the world.
The timepiece remains thin despite its complexity, courtesy of a self-winding movement, the Calibre RW3230. At 40.5mm in diameter, the Freelancer is not large by modern trends and its thickness of 9.7mm, is modest.
The Freelancer GMT Worldtimer is for intrepid explorers, business travellers and individuals who skillfully balance their life in different parts of the world; this model allows the wearer to view 24 time zones simultaneously. The dial has a rotating track, marked with one prominent city for each time zone. The city disc sits adjacent to a 24-hour scale, indicating the relevant hour in the location shown and whether it is day/night. Barrel-shaped hour and minute hands indicate the ‘local time’.
To display the local time for the current location, the wearer rotates the crown at 4 o’clock, positioning the name of the local city adjacent to the prevailing hour. In addition to displaying the local time for the current location, the city disc simultaneously shows the relevant hour for each of the remaining 23 time zones. A black GMT hand featuring a prominent triangular red and white tip indicates the prevailing hour at home. A highly legible lollipop hand completes the set of hands.
The Freelancer GMT Worldtimer is available in two versions, one with a black dial and the other with a green dial. The black dial is paired with a stainless steel case coated with black DLC, a shade that exhibits an understated character while appearing eminently sophisticated.
The green dial option features a stainless steel case with a bronze bezel and two bronze crowns. Bronze is an interesting alloy that acquires an attractive patina with time. A stylish example of military fashion with its khaki tones and bronze accents, making it the perfect timepiece for adventurous types.
While the two watches exhibit different characters but incorporate gradient dial tones, the progression from dark to light heightens the visual allure of each dial option and indicates the transition from day to night. In terms of wearing the watch at night, readability is assured. The hands and indexes are treated with Super-LumiNova®, emitting either a blue or green glow depending on their functional role. In isolation, these refinements may seem subtle, but they enrich the ownership experience when viewed collectively.
Located at the heart of the Freelancer GMT Worldtimer is the new Calibre RW3230, a Swiss automatic movement with a power reserve of 50 hours. Measuring just 4.1mm in height, the modest thickness of the movement has led to the new model’s elegant, slender profile.
Consistent with RAYMOND WEIL’s esteemed reputation for quality, the lower part of the bridges is adorned with perlage, the barrel cover is snailed, and the top part of the bridges and oscillating mass is embellished with Côtes de Genève motif. Purists will be pleased to learn that the movement can be admired at close quarters, courtesy of the model’s exhibition case back.
Each timepiece comes supplied on a colour-coordinated calf leather strap with tone-on-tone stitching and a folding clasp featuring a double push-security system.
$3400 from Raymond Weil online.
