Hands-On with the Raymond Weil Freelancer Caliber RW1212 Skeleton
The Freelancer is Raymond Weil's collection of robust sports watches with an elegant touch. Those familiar with the brand will know that this means that they offer not only 'golden design oldies,' but that they also like to experiment a bit. The cushion-shaped versions of the Freelancer are a good example of this, but so are the skeleton watches. Originally introduced in 42mm, these watches made quite an impression, showcasing all the qualities of Raymond Weil's caliber RW1212. But what if you shrink all that down quite a bit?
The result of that downsizing is the Freelancer Calibre RW1212 Skeleton (reference 2783-ST-50000). The case is 4mm smaller, measuring 38mm in diameter. Raymond Weil also left behind for this watch the bronze bezel and the black PVD coating, in which the 42mm models are available, but opted for polished and brushed stainless steel. The dark finishing of the bridges is combined with a blue chapter ring, making for an enticing color combination. As the bezel is polished, the skeletonized movement is naturally highlighted. While this version of the Freelancer Skeleton is smaller, it also feels as if its character is more concentrated.
Caliber RW1212 was developed by Raymond Weil in collaboration with Sellita and inspired by caliber RW1842, launched in 2015 in the Raymond Weil Nabucco Cello Tourbillon. Its main characteristic is the balance wheel at six o'clock with the open-worked bridge. This is a signature feature of this movement ever since it was first introduced in 2017. While cool by itself, the skeletonized versions, like this Freelancer add even more to the appeal. While done in an industrial way, it really shows an incredible level of refinement. Not only is the architecture of the movement pleasing to see, also the finishing is very well done. While you can manually wind the movement, it is automatic, although Raymond Weil skeletonized the oscillating weight to such an extent that it takes a second glance to notice.
Some might miss a seconds hand on the Freelancer, which is another characteristic of caliber RW1212, but I feel that an additional form of motion would only distract from the balance wheel. I would be more in favor of an increased power reserve, as 38 hours is a bit on the low side for such a modern movement. Here, we do discover the practical side of a skeleton watch, as caliber RW1212 normally isn't fitted with a power reserve indicator, but as Raymond Weil also fitted this Freelancer with an open-worked mainspring barrel, the spring is visible. This way you can easily see how far the mainspring is wound and get an indication of the remaining power reserve.
The bracelet is one part of this Freelancer that I find it hard to form an opinion on. It is well made and follows the shape of the wrist perfectly, providing superb wearing comfort. At the same time, it has enough heft to balance the weight of the watch head, which makes this Raymond Weil very pleasant to wear. However, its design screams Rolex Jubilee to the point that when someone sees only the side of the bracelet when wearing this Raymond Weil, they might even mistake it for a watch with the crown. While the Freelancer looks particularly good with it, I would prefer to wear it with a leather strap. Anything blue would highlight the chapter ring and bring out the full character of this Freelancer, as it doesn't need to be confused with anything else but itself.
The Freelancer Caliber RW1212 Skeleton is part of the regular collection of Raymond Weil, and priced at $3,325.
For more info, visit Raymond Weil, here.
