Reviewing the Raymond Weil Freelancer Pilot Flyback Chronograph Limited Edition
Thursday - 29 June 2023
The new Raymond Weil Freelancer Pilot Flyback Chronograph watch is an ode to the company founder’s passion for flying and captures the spirit of 20th-century aviation. It also features a flyback function that starts and stops a chronograph timing with just one simple push of a button.
The Raymond Weil Freelancer watch collection has been a much-loved part of the brand’s catalogue since it launched back in 2007. The watches vary from three-handed models, chronographs, GMTs and more – all, however, carry a very minimalist design as well as great value for money. There are also several models from the line with skeletonized dials, as well as special edition watches and models adorned with yellow gold and rose gold accents. Geared towards those who prefer straightforward designs, even the more complex models from this range have a timeless simplicity about them. The ladies’ range of Raymond Weil Freelancer watches followed the men’s just two years later in 2009, with quartz calibres promising uncompromised reliability. Free-thinking and free-spirited individuals are the designated audience for the Freelancer from Raymond Weil’s point of view, especially this new flyback chronograph version, for those who like to take to the skies.
The new Raymond Weil Freelancer Pilot Flyback Chronograph watch has a stunning green dial that is hard to resist and is a limited edition that holds a special place in the heart of the brand’s CEO, Elie Bernheim. It was designed in collaboration with his grandfather, the founder of Raymond Weil and captures the passion and emotion behind watchmaking, as well as his love for aviation instruments and flying. The watch promises clear legibility and a set of indicators that are easy to read. As a collector’s piece, there will be just 400 limited edition pieces of this special model. It also marks a first for the brand in the fact that it holds a complication never been incorporated into a Raymond Weil watch before – the flyback chronograph. The flyback mechanism is used frequently by pilots since it allows for the precise calculation of distances during air navigation and requires just one single push of a button to reset the timing and start a new one. Here’s a little more about this special limited edition chronograph for pilots.
The new Raymond Weil Freelancer Pilot’s Flyback Chronograph Limited Edition watch
The new Pilot’s Flyback Chronograph watch from Raymond Weil’s Freelancer collection captures a love of adventure and has a look that is ready for airbound duties. The case measures a diameter of 43mm and is crafted from stainless steel with a fully brushed, grey PVD coating that gives it a slightly contemporary look. The crown at 3 o’clock is conical shaped and has been screwed down to assist with a dry internal environment for the movement to work within. The crown has also been adorned with the famous RW logo on its surface. As well as a screw-down crown, the new Pilot’s Flyback Chronograph watch has a water resistance of 100 meters. It also features a sapphire crystal glass front with scratch-resistant and anti-reflective properties that promise a clear view into the dial whether under direct sunlight or artificial light. Flip the watch over and you get a screwed caseback with a central section in the middle dedicated to observing the performance of the movement behind a sapphire crystal glass exhibition feature.
Behind the sapphire-backed case of this new Raymond Weil Freelancer Pilot Flyback Chronograph watch is the beating heart of the design – the Calibre RW5530. It has an impressive 56-hour power reserve and can be started and reset with the single activation of a pusher. The movement also performs at a rhythm of 28,800 vibrations per hour. From the back of the watch, you can also admire the movement’s W-shaped oscillating weight and blue column wheel that becomes visible through the propeller-engraved caseback of the watch.
The new Raymond Weil Freelancer Pilot Flyback Chronograph Limited Edition watch features a stunning green dial with straight luminous coated central hour and minute hands and a luminous hour track represented by crisp white Arabic numerals. The chronograph counters sit in a bicompax position at 3 and 9 o’clock offering a 30-minute timer and a small seconds sub-dial. The hand of the 30-minute counter and the central chronograph seconds hand on the dial are displayed in yellow, enabling them to pop against the rich green nuances of their backdrop. Matching this same yellow hue is the “Flyback” lettering at 6 o’clock. With a colour palette that is an ode to aviation of the 20th century, the watch is a direct reflection of a period where Raymond Weil himself would have spent much of his time enjoying flying. The tarmac-like outer ring of the dial and concentric circles on the sub-counters are a nice touch, adding a sense of depth to the design.
Lastly, to complete its traditional aesthetic, this Raymond Weil pilots watch is completed on a dark brown leather strap that has four rivets and a stainless steel double push security folding clasp to enclose comfortably against the wrist.
If you require further information about the new Raymond Weil Freelancer Pilot’s Flyback Chronograph Limited Edition watch or would like to own one of the 400 pieces of this design, you can call and speak to a member of our Jura Watches sales team on 01335 453453 today.
