Raymond Weil was founded in 1976 shortly after the watchmaking curve. The company was carried along by Weil’s passion for creating traditional Swiss watches with a difference, not to mention his experience as a general manager of the Camy Watch Company which he was part of for 27 years. During a time when companies had conformed to the manufacture of the more affordable quartz watch, Raymond Weil remained faithful to its values in crafting luxury mechanical wristwatches.
In 1982 Raymond Weil’s son in law joined the company and helped to restructure the company by modernizing it and branching out to overseas markets. To promote the company, Raymond Weil put emphasis on its independence as a family run development. Inspired by music, many collections from the brand’s catalogue have taken their name from this industry, including the 1983 range, Amadeus, named after the work of Mozart, the Austrian classical composer. Other lines include the Fidelio, named after Beethoven’s opera, the Traviata, the Saxo, the Toccata and the Fantasia lines. In 1986 the Othello was created to mark the brand’s ten year anniversary.
In the 90s Raymond Weil innovated the Parsifal collection, which combined a blend of noble materials with expertly developed complications. Round and rectangular timepieces then launched in the form of the Tango watch, while the style of the Raymond Weil Tradition watches were pared down in comparison, with simple designs that primarily focused on the essentials of timekeeping. Towards the end of the 90s, Raymond Weil integrated a research and development department into its facilities, enabling it to focus on taking over many watchmaking processes in house. Its patented interchangeable bracelet for the lady’s Shine collection and a two time zone complication were just two complications among many to be invented as a result of the company’s growth during this time.
In 2005 Raymond Weil celebrated its 30th anniversary by welcoming the family’s third generation into management. The masculine Nabucco model was released with its confident 46mm case width crafted from carbon fibre. This collection was also home to the brand’s first split second chronograph mechanism in a 500 piece limited edition release. By the time the Raymond Weil Freelancer watch landed, the company had chosen to create its own selection of mechanical wristwatches for ladies as well as a visible balance wheel. The Noemia collection launched in 2009, identified by flowing curves and an unmistakably elegant dial.
2010 marked the year of the Raymond Weil Maestro line with complications boasting moon phases, the date, the week number, day and month feature. Partnerships were also created within the music industry including the company’s role as an official partner for the Brit Awards. The tagline “precision is my inspiration” coincided with Raymond Weil’s alluring lady’s range of Jasmine watches in 2011. Soon to follow would be the brand’s limited edition pieces that paid tribute to some of the world’s most famous icons of the music world. Examples of these include a Buddy Holly, The Beatles and David Bowie edition. To add leverage to its company motto “Precision Movements”, Raymond Weil released its first in-house movement, the RW1212. Since then the watchmaker has continued to extend on its prestigious reputation within the Swiss watch industry, growing its lines and equipping wrists all over the world with traditionally manufactured mechanical timepieces with strong musical influences and high end materials.
