Hands-On with the Raymond Weil Freelancer RW1212

Earlier today, we published our interview with Elie Bernheim, the third-generation CEO of Raymond Weil. In our conversation with Mr. Bernheim, we discussed the development of the RW1212 caliber, a joint project Raymond Weil undertook with their manufacturing partner and movement giant, Sellita. The RW1212 was unveiled earlier this year and placed within the brand’s Freelancer range.

As Mr. Bernheim readily admitted during our conversation, the RW1212—with its two bridges anchoring the forward-facing balance—is designed to visually mimic a tourbillon, an expensive, haute complication. For some, this will surely be a non-starter. There are simply too many no-name watches being pumped out of China attempting a similar aesthetic, and that can leave a bad taste in one’s mouth. For others, they’ll see it for what it is—a new take on the open-heart concept because all marketing hype aside, that’s what we have here.

Now, I’m not typically one for open-heart dials. It’s an aesthetic that has never really pulled me in and, to be perfectly frank, most brands are lazy in their execution (why would I want to see plainly finished 2824 components through the dial of my watch?) But I’ll give it to Raymond Weil—the result here is far more visually impacting, as you really get a front-and-center view of the escapement and the components are nicely finished.

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The dial is well done, pulling more from the sportier end of things. There’s a primary hours index, with indices that are applied, oblong markers capped with luminous plots. Moving inward, there is a stamped lower level featuring a guilloché-like pattern and the logo (the logo sits on its own plane). A chapter ring with fine demarcations may be a point of contention for some given that there is no central seconds hand here, but it’s something I can look past as the detail gives it a sporty/casual vibe. That said, I could understand the rationale of those less forgiving.

At six, you’ll find the open-heart. As I wrote above, it’s well done, with the mirror-polished balance wheel swinging away. I appreciate the six o’clock placement and the overall symmetry, which prevents the opening from looking like an afterthought.

As I wrote above, the watch wears as the dimensions suggest. On someone with wrists bigger than mine, perhaps the watch would strike a better balance. That isn’t to say it’s uncomfortable. On the contrary, it sits quite well on my relatively flat wrist. I would just prefer everything be scaled down a bit; 40mm would be a sweet spot.

Whether that’s possible from an engineering standpoint, I’m not entirely sure. The movement itself is quite large, so it’s hard to gauge how many millimeters of tolerance they have to play with. But if they can bring the whole thing down, I’d love to see that.

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The jubilee-style bracelet features a butterfly closure and is comfortable when worn. The two outer links are brushed and the fine center links are finished in a high polish. This type of bracelet can be a nightmare for those of us with more hirsute wrists, but I experienced no issues here.

Overall, the Freelancer RW1212 is a solid watch from the brand, and it executes the concept quite well. At $1,895, the Freelancer RW1212 sits in a competitive price point. That said, it’s also the nicest execution of an open-heart that I’ve encountered thus far. If that’s what you’re in the market for, the Freelancer RW1212 merits consideration.

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