I am indulging myself here, this isn't for anyone but me - a review for the first Swiss watch I bought. But as always, It's not fancy or particularly well-regarded, but it is special - to me. I guess not many people will be that interested in an old clunky watch like this but I'm going to share anyway. It's a watch I will likely never sell, and not just because it's not worth much in the pre-owned market, it's got that thing, you know that value, the thing watch fans need in order to buy and keep watches. Sentimental value, the only kind of value that is really worth anything...maybe.
Amongst the many, the wily old Freelancer holds it ground.
Background
It was in June 2017, I'd been working in the upper echelons of finance for a year or so, though I had only been making decent money in London for a few months. Bare in mind I worked in the gambling industry for many years prior, so while I was in my early thirties, I was pretty much starting again and had no savings as had to move house to follow a few contract roles and get established, it was tough, but exciting, and also tough.
I had a few watches already, Casio G Shock and the like, and I was working out a fair bit. I'd just moved to London from Bournemouth, which is a seaside/coastal town in the South of England. In Bournemouth I was making gains at being swole, running on the esplanade and I loving living by the sea, it was awesome. I will again one day. In London, it was all work.
I didn't know what a lug was...
I didn't have a clue about watch brands, styles and technical aspects. I just looked at mainstream jewellers and bought what I liked. I didn't know what a lug was, I'm not sure if I knew that Hodinkee existed, I was green. Super green. But the same rule applies today, the design of a watch is the primary reason for buying. A friend had a Raymond Weil so I guess that also made them a safe bet. So, I've had this watch for 7 years, but it feels like forever, not in a bad way. I guess it's just a big part of my watch journey.
Brand
Well then, Raymond Weil was a Swiss horologist. He founded his eponymous watch company in 1976, so it's a young brand and still family owned I believe - this is always cool. At a time when the Swiss watch industry was facing a crisis due to the advent of quartz technology, Raymond Weil’s decision to start a new watch brand was bold and visionary. The company began in Geneva, the heart of Switzerland's watchmaking heritage, and quickly established itself as a brand synonymous with quality and sophistication. After Raymond Weil retired, his son-in-law Olivier Bernheim took over the reins of the company. Under Bernheim’s leadership, the brand continued to grow and innovate, staying true to its founder’s vision. Today, the third generation of the Weil-Bernheim family, Elie and Pierre Bernheim, are involved in the business, ensuring that the family’s passion for watchmaking continues to thrive.
In 1983, Raymond Weil introduced the Amadeus collection, inspired by the classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, obviously. This collection was not only a tribute to the great musician but also a testament to the brand’s dedication to blending artistry with watchmaking.
Imgs: Raymond-weil.co.uk
The Amadeus collection featured timeless designs and became an instant classic, helping to solidify Raymond Weil’s reputation in the luxury watch market. They do a lot of collabs in the art and music space, it's part of their DNA, check it;
The Tango, Toccata and Maestro collections.
The Nabucco collection, named after Giuseppe Verdi’s famous opera.
Maestro Beatles Limited Edition, released in 2016.
Maestro AC/DC Limited Edition
Freelancer David Bowie Limited Edition
Freelancer Jimi Hendrix Limited Edition
Tango GMT Bob Marley
The Freelancer Gibson Les Paul
Tango Marshall Amplification Edition
And there are more, it's crazy to dive into, they have an unapologetic approach and vision. They cater to proper fans, probably happily turning audiophiles into horolophiles.
Purchase / Post / Packaging
I just searched my emails and found one from Beaverbrooks on June 2017, I got next day delivery free, sweet. I recall the box being chunky and serious, which was reflected in the watch. I paid £1,495, which was a good deal back then, RRP was £2500 I think. These days you can pick up a pre-owned one for £1000, a great deal for what you get. And new versions of this 7730, like the 7732 are still for sale new, at around £1750 for slightly face-lifted models.
Case, Dial & Hands
It's a big ol' chunky ol' boy this one, but we like a bit of wrist presence and it is a well presented package. As is often done with big cases, there are alternate finishes, polished and brushed steel, around the case to break up the heft. The bezel is polished and crown is signed, which I feel is important, it's a classy finishing touch.
We have 3 sub dials (small seconds, chronograph minutes and hours), the central chrono hand and day date function, it's busy but well-balanced. The date window has a surround, the applied indices are well considered with small ones at 12, 3, 6, and 9, the lume is present at each hour and on the hands. The finishing is done to a high standard and is clean. The date surround and hour markers match the small seconds surround which is a nice addition to the dial, a small detail but it adds depth and a flourish. While there is a lot going on, it's not too much, it's a considered dial design. It's a classic sports chronograph and it doesn't look or feel outdated in terms of design.
The Freelancer has a sapphire caseback window which adds to the reasons for thickness. You know I'm a fan of the display back so I'm happy with that, it's not special but it's nice enough, the rotor is guilloched and engraved as is the glass surround, what would you call it, the ass-bezel, yea that works.
Strap and Fit
At 42mm, with a thickness of 15mm and a lug-to-lug touching 50mm, this doesn't sound like it's one for the skinny wrists, but somehow it sits reasonably well on mine. Part of the reason it does is that though I have skinny wrists I am not skinny overall, let's be kind and say I'm medium build, mildly approaching athletic. The other part comes down to the strap, it's padded towards the lugs and thins and tapers to the buckle. The thick top-end makes the big case look not so big and helps it blend into the wrist in a gentle transition. This is a watch is an anti-strap monster in the best way. Maybe this watch is the reason I like watches that are touch too big, my skinny hand-ankles are not fussed.
Movement & Accuracy
The movement is the RW5200, a modified Sellita movement made especially for RW. It's a solid workhorse of a movement, I haven't had mine serviced yet but I probably should as the rotor is a bit noisy. It's running well and I haven't had any notable issues with accuracy, a few seconds here and there are fine which I'm sure is where it is. The chronograph still works well, no issues. It used to be my daily wear for a good few months, and though it doesn't get loads of wear the solid condition and function is testament to the build quality.
Competition / Value for money
If we say you can grab a pre-owned one for £1000, it's great value and there are few competitors for the price. Hamilton are great value new, old Tag Aquaracers and Longines Conquests are decent watches, they don't look as good and don't have the same finish. The Freelancer looks like a proper sport chronograph that will suit any occassion. As the bezel is polished with the tachymeter on the chapter ring, it would work with a suit too, just don't count on it fitting under the cuff. If you got this watch in great condition for £1000, you would be laughing. The negatives would be the size and the three subdials at 6,9,12 - it's a slightly dated layout, but I think that depends on the whole package, and the Freelance doesn't feel dated like, say, that configuration on an old Speedmaster, Aquaracer or Oris Artix.
Conclusion
The point of this post was to be self-indulgent, defiant, and to enjoy a good look at my good old Freelancer, but turns out it's a great watch that punches above its weight as a heavyweight. I still wear this watch and it sits proudly in the collection, granted I have a wide variety of watches, and don't stick with one style or price point or brand, I love them all. While I made this purchase with limited knowledge, and foresight, I am glad I bought it and that it's in the collection. It's nice to know that old me agrees with this/now me in saying that this Raymond Weil Freelancer is a great watch, fancy but not too fancy, designed and built well, it's stands the test of time and we are glad we bought it.
Yours Freelancingly,
Alvin
P.S. I forgot to say that the chrono hands in red are cool if a bit cluncky in design finish.
Particulars
MODEL NUMBER
7730
CASE DIAMETER / THICKNESS / MATERIAL
42mm / 15mm / 316L Stainless Steel
LUG WIDTH / LUG TO LUG
22mm / 49.5 mm
MOVEMENT
RW5200
Frequency: 28800Hz/Hr
Energy storage: 40 hours
Travel time error: ±10 seconds/day
WATER RESISTANCE
5Bar /50M/5ATM
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