illesime: Independent watchmaking, creative and contemporary, high-quality and affordable – in every way the expression of Raymond Weil’s ethos.

After winning the Challenge Prize at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2023 – the brand’s most important award in its nearly fifty-year history – Raymond Weil is positioning the ‘millesime’ collection as its flagship in reaching out to new generations.

Marking its debut at Watches & Wonders with a strong signal, the Geneva-based watch brand will be unveiling no fewer than 11 new references to firmly establish this elegant and distinctly contemporary neo-vintage collection in the Raymond Weil universe.

The family brand’s 2024 vintage, meticulously crafted under the banner of understated luxury, weaves together character, elegance, watchmaking tradition, contemporary design, exquisite finishes, and Swiss quality. Remarkably accessible, its price range is set between 1,575 CHF and 3,500 CHF.

"As the name might suggest, ‘millesime’ marks the beginning of a new era for Raymond Weil. It is about engaging in a dialogue with a new clientele in search of timeless elegance. These are enthusiasts who are looking not only for a high-quality, well-crafted watch with a classic yet contemporary design, but also a timepiece with refined finishes – at an accessible price point. This is the exceptional opportunity that we embrace wholeheartedly”, says Elie Bernheim, the brand’s dynamic and visionary CEO, who represents the third generation in the Raymond Weil family business.

So far, the millesime collection had consisted of just two creations: reference 2925 with a central second hand available in 4 dial colours (silver, midnight blue, anthracite and salmon); and reference 2930 featuring a small seconds counter at 6 o’clock, available with a silver or a anthracite dial.

Denim Blue and British Racing Green: two new dial colours, freshly contemporary but also classically timeless, are being added to the millesime collection – a fitting follow-up to the inaugural model that won the watch industry’s coveted Challenge Prize at the last Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

These two new references come in the same elegant 39.5 mm case in highest-quality stainless steel. The dial on each watch in the collection captures the attention with delicate, textured finishes, and the glassbox sapphire crystal makes the vintage vibe resonate even stronger. The award-winning model, with its small seconds display at 6 o’clock echoes a compass.

The silvered hour and minute hands are coated with Super-LumiNova for perfect readability in low light. The same goes for the sector dial, which visually presents the hours, minutes and seconds on discreet markers, again providing optimum legibility.

While the collection establishes an immediately recognisable aesthetic, it also demonstrates the brand’s exceptional expertise in its segment, from the reliability and precision of the mechanical self-winding movement featuring Raymond Weil’s exclusive meticulous finishing, to the carefully crafted grey leather strap with its W-shaped stitching. Every aspect and brand’s signature reveals the attention to detail that goes into each watch. It also shows in the contrasts between the smooth hour circle and sector dial, in the transitions from minute track to hour track, and the straight-grained dial centre. Everything is designed to appeal to lovers of fine timepieces, while making sure they are affordable and eminently wearable.

While the moon phase is often associated with classic watches of a past age, Raymond Weil gives it a millesime twist, breathing new life into this emblematic watchmaking function. This model, reference 2945, combines a visually sectorised, highly graphic dial – the collection’s hallmarks – with the poetic horological complication and offers a reading of the moon phases that is both dynamic and intuitive.

This new millesime moon phase is equipped with the RW4280 automatic movement, providing a comfortable 38-hour power reserve. The moon phase pops in its own way on two distinctive dial versions. The first is a sober, contemporary take with the tone-on-tone of a silver dial encased in stainless steel. The second embraces more traditional watchmaking codes, marked by the bi-colour effect of its rose gold PVD steel case and deep midnight blue dial.

In 2024, the brand’s millesime creations for women are flying to the moon. With an elegant, more restrained diameter of 35 mm, five new models are built around the two flagship references, 2125 and 2145. The first is equipped with a central second hand, while the second features a moon phase. Both models are presented in a thin stainless steel cases.

Reference 2125 combines a contemporary sensibility with a neo-vintage aesthetic. This central seconds comes in 3 very distinctive dial colours – silver, denim blue and burgundy – with geometric lines and a sector dial.

More whimsical, reference 2145 echoes the primordial relationship between the measurement of time and the great ballet of the stars. The watch’s design is distinguished by the contrast of two colours: rose gold PVD steel/silver dial or steel/denim blue dial.

These creations not only reflect Raymond Weil’s absolute mastery of watchmaking but also embody the brand’s spirit of innovation. The lugs of the denim blue dial millesime timepieces are adorned with 16 laboratory-grown diamonds (0.24 cts), providing a discreet sparkle that blends quintessential femininity with modern sensuality.

Already known for its highest standards of excellence in movements, casing, technology, aesthetics, function and precision, Raymond Weil underscores its reputation with the two new Tri-Compax chronographs.

In a respectful homage to the famous Panda dials, with that classic elegance and a sporty touch, the neo-vintage 7765 Tri-Compax chronograph is presented in a 39.5mm diameter stainless steel case, every detail contributing to mechanical brilliance.

The dial evokes elegant sportswear with three silvered subdials on the midnight blue version, reference 7765-STC-50651, accented by light blue Arabic numerals. The white tachymeter scale on the midnight-blue dial injects a dynamic element. For a finishing touch of racy elegance, it is paired with a premium blue calfskin leather strap, ensuring both comfort and style for all wearers. The second version, reference 7765-STC-20001, sports a black dial with white hour-markers and Arabic numerals, creating a strikingly bold and assertive look.