The new Raymond Weil Freelancer Basquiat Special Edition watch
Tuesday - 14 November 2023
Concentric spirals that serve as metaphors for Basquiat’s views on the complexity of life, flank the famous T-Rex motif and the iconic yellow crown on the dial of this new watch. This Freelancer Special Edition watch by Raymond Weil, inspired by the famous artist, is one of the Maison’s quirkiest to date.
The new Raymond Weil Freelancer Basquiat Special Edition watch is a timepiece that carries great artistic depth. This playful nod to the Swiss brand’s approach to watchmaking fuses the contemporary with the classic. Artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat’s neo-expressionist views are perfectly captured in this design. It follows other artistic interpretations like the Bob Marley Tango GMT and The Beatles special edition, bringing the seminal artist’s view of the world into the practical Freelancer Chronograph.
If you like to stand out from the crowd, you’ll naturally be drawn to this new Basquiat Special Edition watch from the Freelancer collection by Raymond Weil. The watch comes complete with several motifs and references from Basquiat’s previous work, including the playful-looking T-Rex symbol and his philosophical references to Life, Death and Humanity.
Conspicuous and influential
Since the birth of the Freelancer watch, Raymond Weil has continually drawn from its connections with art and music. Bob Marley and David Bowie are a couple of other examples of musicians that have been referenced in the company’s horological inventions. This latest muse is bold and eye-catching – perfect for drawing attention to your wrist.
Artistic references of the new Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Basquiat Special Edition watch
The new Special Edition Freelancer Basquiat watch from Raymond Weil toes the line between playfulness and subtlety. A bold colour palette of blue, yellow and red primary hues set the scene for the chronograph complications and an added pulsometer function around the flange. From the moment you first cast your eyes over the Basquiat Special Edition watch, you can instantly see the first reference to the artist’s influential work. The crown icon sits at 12 o’clock and has been treated with yellow Super-LumiNova material to glow richly in the dark. This decorative element stands out against the white luminous material chosen for the hands and hour markers. The crown depiction was Basquiat’s favourite way of elevating his artistic subjects to a royal-like status. This symbol of power is just as visible at night, making it a perfect talking point with other fellow enthusiasts.
At the centre of the black dial of this special edition Freelancer watch is the T-Rex symbol from the iconic “Pez Dispenser” piece from 1984. The symbol sits below the central hands. The Chronograph pushers and the crown of the watch also bear important nods to Basquiat’s work. Further strengthening the links between art and timekeeping, the 2 o’clock pusher features the Copyright symbol, whilst the 4 o’clock pusher features the $ symbol. Of course, what better way to honour the artist’s distinctive yellow crown than on the watch’s winding crown itself?
The chronograph sub-dials of the new Freelancer Basquiat Special Edition watch don’t go without their own form of symbolism either. Once the pusher is pressed and the minute timer is engaged, the chronograph counter at 3 o’clock rotates. The animated function celebrates the themes of Life, Death and Humanity alongside an endlessly turning small seconds disc at 9 o’clock. This visual display is both alluring and intriguing, signifying the artist’s concern for the complexity of life. Lastly, Basquiat’s signature is emblazoned upon the caseback, which exposes the performance of the moment through its transparent sapphire crystal surface.
The other features
The new Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Basquiat Special Edition watch is a 43.5mm size and has been crafted from lightweight titanium. The pushers and the crown at 3 o’clock are all black-coated in PVD to add some contrast to the design. The tachymeter bezel has been struck with primary colours in blue, red and yellow, as well as orange. It creates the frame around the dial, which acts as a complete artistic canvas for displaying Basquiat’s references. It also seals to a flat piece of anti-reflective and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass. The dial features a script date wheel at 6 o’clock, allowing you to keep track of the passing days of each month in a quirky way.
Basquiat’s signature sits above the automatic Calibre RW5030. This self-winding movement provides a power reserve of 56 hours and performs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The chronograph complication omits the Flyback function but features a column wheel mechanism instead.
If you’re a student of art or just see art as your true passion in life, this special Edition Freelancer watch by Raymond Weil is sure to hit all the right spots. The playful and bold design is considerably sporty and looks different to many of the brand’s other models from the collection. The watch encloses against the wrist with a black leather strap and a double push security clasp made from matching titanium.
The watch also comes displayed inside a special edition watch that celebrates the spirit of creativity through art. If you’d like more information on the watch, you can check it out here within our e-commerce store at Jura Watches, or call and speak to a member of our sales team today on 01335 453453
