Raymond Weil Freelancer

Raymond Weil first introduced the Freelancer collection for men in 2007, followed by the Freelancer Ladies in 2009. These watches are geared toward free-thinking, budget-conscious individuals who prefer straightforward designs. While automatic movements power the men's versions, most of the women's models feature quartz calibers.

Some of the men's watches, including the ref. 2780, feature an exposed balance wheel. Versions with a skeletonized dial use the in-house caliber RW1212, a movement developed in partnership with Swiss movement manufacturer Sellita. Raymond Weil equips Freelancer chronographs with a modified version of the proven ETA caliber 7750. Known as the RW5200, this movement appears in the Freelancer Jimi Hendrix. Weil released this watch in 2019 to mark 50 years since Hendrix's legendary Woodstock performance. Fittingly, much of the watch's design is based on his beloved 1968 Fender Stratocaster.

If you're familiar with Raymond Weil watches, you'll know about the company founder's passion for music. Like the other collections, the Freelancer series contains many tributes to iconic artists, including AC/DC (ref. 2780-STC-ACDC1) and David Bowie (ref. 2731-STC-BOW01). American guitar manufacturer Gibson also has a watch in its honor: the Freelancer Les Paul (ref. 7740-STC-LPAUL).

Raymond Weil crafts their cases out of stainless steel. There are also models with a black or gray PVD coating, as well as more exclusive timepieces with yellow or rose gold plating. Fans of diving watches will also find several interesting models in the Freelancer collection. One example is the ref. 2760-ST3-50001 , which is available in a number of variations.

Raymond Weil outfits a small number of watches with their in-house caliber RW1212. Each model has an exposed balance wheel at 6 o'clock. The case of the ref. 2785-BC5-20001 is made of stainless steel with a black PVD coating, measures 42 mm in diameter, and has a depth rating of 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft). Rose gold line indices and hands add beautiful contrast. Perhaps the most notable feature of this watch is its skeletonized dial, which offers a view of the entire movement at work. A sapphire crystal case back means you can also observe the movement from below. The caliber RW1212 has a power reserve of 38 hours. Raymond Weil mounts this version on a black leather strap with a folding clasp in a carbon motif. You can purchase a mint-condition timepiece on Chrono24 for around 2,100 USD. The same watch has a list price of 2,750 euros (approx. 3,100 USD).

Other variants of this model include the refs. 2785-SC5-20001 and 2785-ST-65001. The former features a rose gold plated bezel and crown in addition to its rose gold indices and hands. A brown calf leather strap holds this timepiece securely on the wrist. This version has an official list price of 2,650 euros (approx. 3,000 USD), while never-worn pieces sell for about 2,100 USD on Chrono24. The 2785-ST-65001 stands out from its sister models with its exclusively stainless steel components. It comes with both polished and brushed finishes. Blue indices and hands sit atop its silver dial. Raymond Weil lists this watch for 2,590 euros (approx. 2,900 USD) on their website. On Chrono24, this timepiece changes hands for between 2,000 and 2,400 USD.

Dedicated to the iconic Australian band AC/DC, the ref. 2780-STC-ACDC1 is truly striking. The in-house caliber RW1212 also powers this Freelancer model. An opening in the dial at 6 o'clock lends a view of the balance wheel. The rest of the dial is black and features stud-shaped hour indices. The highlight of this timepiece is the use of the AC/DC logo, which appears on the dial at 12 o'clock and is embossed on the black leather strap. The final watch measures 42 mm in diameter and is water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft). Prices for this rock-n-roll watch begin around 1,900 USD on Chrono24. If you'd rather purchase directly from the manufacturer, be prepared to spend 2,050 euros (approx. 2,300 USD). For those who prefer more subtle designs, Raymond Weil also offers a selection of similarly priced timepieces in different materials paired with different bands. You can find these watches listed under the reference 2780.

The Raymond Weil Freelancer ref. 2760-ST1-20001 is a classic diving watch with an appealing design. Its 42-mm stainless steel case is water-resistant to 300 m (30 bar, 984 ft). The black dial features 12 line indices filled with white SuperLuminova, guaranteeing optimal readability under all lighting conditions. There's also a date display at 4 o'clock. The unidirectional diving bezel comes with a black inlay made of scratch-resistant ceramic.

This watch gets it power from an automatic Swiss caliber with a 38-hour power reserve. Weil pairs this particular Freelancer diving watch with a five-piece link stainless steel bracelet. The bracelet has polished middle links and a folding clasp with a dual push-piece security system. This watch demands around 1,800 USD new and 1,200 USD pre-owned. The ref. 2760-TR1-20001 is technologically identical to the ST1 but comes with a gray PVD-coated case and a black rubber strap. This version has an official list price of 2,190 euros (approx. 2,400 USD). At around 1,600 USD, this timepiece costs significantly less on Chrono24.

If you prefer lighter dials and blue accents, you may enjoy the ref. 2760-ST4-65001. This watch sells for about 1,300 USD new. It has a list price of 2,150 euros (approx. 2,400 USD) on Raymond Weil's website. For something even more nautical, there's the ref. 2760-SR3-50001 with a blue dial, bezel, and rubber strap. Its list price sits at 1,950 euros (approx. 2,200 USD). The same watch demands between 1,600 and 1,800 USD on Chrono24.

The sleek Black Diamond is the highlight of the Freelancer Ladies collection. A black PVD coating completely envelops the 38-mm stainless steel case. Its bezel is set with 66 diamonds with a total weight of 0.44 carats. A guilloché Cloud de Paris pattern covers the center of the black dial, while SuperLuminova indices mark the hours. Inside this timepiece, you'll find the automatic caliber RW4250. This movement has a 38-hour power reserve and provides the Black Diamond with its central hour and minute hands. There's also a small seconds at 6 o'clock. The centerpiece of this watch is its large, half-moon opening for the date display. Raymond Weil pairs this stunning women's watch with a black calf leather strap with a folding clasp. The final watch is water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft) and has a list price of 2,750 euros (approx. 3,100 USD).

Raymond Weil released a new range of chronographs in 2017. Each model is 42 mm in diameter and water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft). The chronograph caliber RW500 powers these timepieces. This movement is based on the reliable ETA 7750. The version with the reference number 7731-ST2-65655 features a silver dial with rose gold accents. It also has contrasting dark gray subdials at 6, 9, and 12 o'clock. A day-date display at 3 o'clock rounds off the dial. Unlike the collection's other chronographs, which have a tachymeter scale on their bezels, this model's tachymeter sits on the outer edge of its dial. Paired with a ribbed bezel, this timepiece looks especially elegant. The manufacturer mounts this chronograph on a stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp. While its official list price is 2,790 euros (approx. 3,100 USD), prices for this watch begin around 2,200 USD on Chrono24.