Meet the Raymond Weil Maestro Let It Be Limited Edition

There are few watch manufacturers better positioned to pay tribute to a legendary music band than Raymond Weil. The release last year of its Maestro Let It Be watch is, after all, the fourth and final edition to be released by the Swiss manufacturer in honour of the “Fab Four” – The Beatles – a band that significantly influenced the rock and pop culture of the 1960s. Other editions of the quartet include timepieces inspired by the band’s “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, their “Help” album and the “Abbey Road” album. Although not the last to be recorded, the last album to be released by the Beatles in 1970 was the “Let It Be” album of which the Raymond Weil Maestro watch cleverly celebrates in this elegant dress watch design. In doing so, it offers several discreet and subtle tributes to the pop group through its 40mm stainless steel design, equipped with a partially skeletonised display to showcase elements of its automatic movement from within.

Almost 53 years ago, Paul, John, George and Ringo performed for the last time on the rooftop of Apple Corps, London. It would leave an indelible mark on the history of British rock and pop culture forever. Even after five entire decades, the popular British musicians are still four of the most famous in history. Their immense popularity influenced a cult-like status amongst young and old generations, and at the height of Beatlemania, very little focus was on anything else within the music industry during this time. The limelight shone on the four faces of this teenage craze-driven band and so it seems that perhaps no other watchmaker could do justice to a timepiece like the Maestro Let It Be watch better than Raymond Weil, who has spent decades working closely with the watch industry.

The Raymond Weil Maestro Let It Be Watch is the last of the four Beatles-inspired wristwatches. This model measures slightly towards the broader end of dress watches, with a 40mm diameter and has been crafted from stainless steel. Having said that, its height stands at a mere 9.2mm thickness on the wrist, making it a suitable companion for wearing under the cuff of a suit shirt or a jacket if you so wish. Come nighttime, this Maestro Let It Be watch from Raymond Weil can take on a wholly elegant aesthetic.

The focal piece of the watch is undoubtedly the exposed circular cutouts on the dial, which grant a glimpse of the movement performing effortlessly inside the case. This Maestro watch is distinguishable for its striking two-step bezel that frames the dial and its exposed ticking heart beautifully. It creates a layered look and feel to the watch, enabling light to bounce off its steel surfaces from a multitude of angles as the wrist moves. The straight lugs that attach the case to its classic strap are narrow, whilst the rest of the case is elemental, creating a refined and disciplined look on the wrist. Interestingly, the back of the case, featuring a lens crafted from sapphire crystal glass, has been smoked to give a mysterious and darker finish to the underside of the watch. It suggests exclusivity – a chance for only the wearer to appreciate the complexity of the watch’s internal mechanical layer.

The Raymond Weil Maestro Let It Be Limited Edition watch is exclusive to just 3000 pieces worldwide and is the first to feature a skeletonised dial on a Maestro Limited Edition watch. Some hallmarks pay tribute to The Beatles and their last studio album release throughout this design. Take, for example, the very special-looking skeletonised dial. It is not just an openworked dial. It exposes the complexity of the movement through a keyhole, yes, but its shape takes the form of Britain and here, where the central hands meet, marks the spot of the band’s hometown of Liverpool – the habitat of one of the group’s most iconic places to perform – the Cavern Club. Through this clever cut out shows the movement’s balance wheel, gear train and balance spring. Other simplified elements of the dial and case serve as a reminder to fans of the band’s simple and modest approach to recording the Let It Be album.

At 4 o’clock, three stick markers stand side-by-side, symbolising the four famous band members. They stand out from the remainder of the hour track characterised by single stick markers. These indexes, together with the central hour, minute and second hands have all been finished in an indulgent rose gold hue. The anthracite sunray dial, providing a backdrop to the hour markers and hands, also features the Raymond Weil lettering at 4 o’clock balanced by The Beatles logo, emblazoned onto the western hemisphere of the dial.

Upon the caseback of the Raymond Weil Maestro Let It Be watch-two very special things indeed. One – a chance to watch the self-winding RW 4215 movement performing through said smoked sapphire crystal glass, and two – a beautiful depiction of The Beatles in white. The movement, based on a Sellita engine is capable of providing a 38-hour power reserve and performs at a rate of 28,80p vibrations per hour. An FSC certified vegan nubuck strap imitates the presence of a leather band upon the wrist – its rich brown colour a tasteful contrast against the stainless steel buckle. The woolly brown textured finish of the vegan leather strap imitates John Lennon’s famous coat worn on the rooftop of The Beatles’ last ever performance together.

Technical specifications of the Raymond Weil Maestro Let It Be Limited Edition watch

• Case: Stainless steel - 40mm – height: 9.2mm – double-stepped bezel – anti-reflective sapphire crystal glass front – smoked sapphire exhibition caseback adorned with a white image of all four of The Beatles members  – 50-meter water resistance – knurled crown bearing the RW logo – straight narrow strap lugs
• Dial: Anthracite – sunray effect – rose gold coloured stick hour markers – 4 sticks featured at 4 o’clock – rose gold-coloured central hands meeting at the point marking Liverpool on a cut-out of a United Kingdom silhouette   – skeletonised dial exposing gear train and balance wheel – Raymond Weil lettering at 3 o’clock – The Beatles lettering at 9 o’clock
• Movement: RW 4215 – based on the Sellita SW200 – 38-hour power reserve – 28,800 vph
• Strap: FSC certified vegan leather strap – brown – woolly textured effect imitating John Lennon’s coat – stainless steel fastening engraved with the RW lettering 
• Reference: 2215-STC-BEAT4
• Price: £1,750
• Availability: 3000 pieces worldwide