This week’s Wednesday Watch is on the 1st of September, and what better way to start a new month than with some charity? Raymond Weil is probably a brand you have heard of, even if you aren’t a watch aficionado like us. They manufacture affordable quality watches, which are retailed worldwide thanks to a large and established dealer network.
This September, Raymond Weil unveils a Limited Edition time piece as part of their Freelancer collection, available to their Raymond Weil Club members. The collection consists of 34 exclusive pieces, and with every purchase, money will be donated to the Union for International Cancer Control – UICC. Our guess is that you probably know someone close to you – a friend, relative, or colleague – who has or had this terrible disease. In fact, according to a joined press release by Raymond Weil and UICC, each year 11 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed, resulting in close to 8 million deaths.
To support UICC, Raymond Weil will donate 25% of proceeds from the sale of these 34 time pieces to the organization. The Limited Edition Freelancer watch will be available to members of the Raymond Weil Club. Online sales will be accessible in September through raymond-weil.com, under the Club & Community section, and will be restricted to Raymond Weil Club members for the first week. After a week, should there be any watches remaining, sales will be opened to the entire “community”.
It’s easy to become a Club member. Simply register on the Raymond Weil website. The only requirement is that you need to own a Raymond Weil time piece. Registration is free of charge and new Club members receive a gift.
As for the Freelancer Limited Edition watch, it is a stainless steel chronograph using the infamous and rock solid ETA 7750. This movement was formerly known as the Valjoux 7750 – still referred to by many watch collectors – and has a power reserve of 46 hours. Its chronograph movement has three sub dials, showing the hour and minute totalizers at 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock, and a small seconds sub dial at 9 o’clock. The chronograph second hand is the center hand. Although we love the tri-compax lay-out a bit more – which is three sub dial chronograph located at 9 o’clock, 3 o’clock and 6 o’clock – this is the classic 7750 lay-out.
The Freelancer has impressive case dimensions of 42 x 13.7mm (round case) and is therefore not suitable for every wrist out there. Although it appears the diameter of 42mm is becoming the acceptable standard for sports watches, we at MotoringExposure think that a classic looking sports watch could be a tad bit smaller.
Sapphire crystals on the back and front of this watch make it possible for the owner to glance at the movement from time to time. The white dial has nice looking polished indices and Raymond Weil has lumed these indices as well as the baton hands. Being water resistant up to 100 meters is good enough for swimming purposes, but the leather strap – with folding clasp – will wear out pretty soon when doing so.
Price of this Raymond Weil Limited Edition Freelancer will soon be revealed.
Raymond Weil Limited Freelander Limited Edition
