RaymondWeil

Raymond Weil Watches Revamps US Distribution

Different watch companies are doing different things to address their less-than-stellar sales performance these days. A large area of focus is the confusing US market. Even in good times, most foreign watch companies are confused by American watch buying trends. That combined with the fact that they rely on third parties much of the time to oversee and manage US operations and distribution has got them thinking about how to improve things. One approach being enacted by a few companies is what Raymond Weil watches just did - that is take over US operations themselves.

The recently incorporated Raymond Weil (RW) USA Corp. is a new company, but is related to the parent brand. This allows the company to have more control, and a better understanding of what is going on in the States, and how best to conduct business here. Raymond Weil is fortunate to have a history of good sales and a strong market presence in the US. The new RW USA Corp. will hire many of the existing employees from the previous distributor and focus on strengthening relations with its best retailers - mostly department and jewelry stores around the US. There is also dedication to assisting with marketing support (very important as brand tend to not help wit expensive marketing costs), and to giving US retailers the best products for the holiday season - which is also important as for some reason US stores get shafted when it comes to getting the newest and best watch products compared to the rest of the world. As a reasonably attractive, and well priced luxury brand, Raymond Weil should come out ahead in the future if they play their cards right in the US.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: corp, distribution, raymond weil, RaymondWeil, USA, watches

Raymond Weil Don Giovanni Jump Hour Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The case, in 18kt rose gold, or stainless steel, measures 38mm x 50mm x 13mm. It has an AR-coated sapphire crystal and is water resistant to 30 meters. The movement is the automatic RW caliber 1400 (base ETA 2892) with 21 jewels, beating at 28,800 bph and with a power reserve of 42 hours. It features a jumping hour complication.

Popular Swiss watch maker Raymond Weil releases a new jumping hour watch that will likely be reasonably priced given the type of complication it features. Jumping hour watches comes in different styles and are often difficult to pull off from a design standpoint. The challenge comes in keeping enough of the watch dial sufficiently occupied, while at the same time allowing the display of the time to look natural. The hardest part of any jumping hour watch in my opinion surrounds the placement and style of the digital hour window. It is necessary to ensure that it is properly "framed" (meaning it is not just a hole cut in the dial), as well as done in the right size and positioned in a comfortable manner. This is all limited by the fact that there must be a disc underneath the dial with all 12 numbers on it.

This Don Giovanni Jump Hour Watch works pretty well. In a nice curved rectangular case, the dial is filled with round shapes and a tapered hour window that has a hint of a frame on it. As is common to jumping hour watches, the seconds are placed in a subsidiary dial. The case is offered here in 18k rose gold or stainless steel and is 38mm by 50mm in size and 13mm thick (due to the curvature of the case). Powering the movement is the automatic RW Caliber 1400, which is a modified version of the ETA 2892. An item to notice in jumping hour watches is whether the hours truly "jump." On many such watches, the hour indicator is between two different hours at the end and beginning of each hour. The best quality jumping hour complications have what are known as "instant" jumps. I am not totally sure how this watch functions in regards to that. Something to ask of course. You can also see that the watch is available with a leather strap or a highly polished metal bracelet. The Raymond Weil Don Giovanni Jump Hour should be available now.

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: don giovanni, DonGiovanni, hours, jump hour, JumpHour, jumping, raymond weil, RaymondWeil, watch

Raymond Weil Lady Freelancer Chronograph Watch

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

Whether purposefully or coincidentally, I find it amusing that this new very feminine Lady Freelancer watch by Raymond Weil shares an almost identical dial and function layout to the very masculine IWC Top Gun Pilot Double Chronograph watch. Perhaps the similarity is no accident as Raymond Weil bills this new watch as a form of urban luxury offering a very large for a lady's watch width size of 42mm in a stainless steel diamond set case. Diamonds are a major element of the Lady Freelancer Chronograph watch's theme with 169 stones on the case and another 66 lining the bezel. Still, the watch seems to be confused, with such formal attire, the large dial still bears an exposed screw, and the baton hands and sharp edged hour markers are more aggressive in tone than you'd expect from a magenta colored watch. Perhaps this watch is for the lady packin' a concealed Beretta under her evening wear?

The Lady Freelancer Chronograph comes in two colors, fuchsia pink and off white, with matching alligator straps. Inside the watch is an automatic Valjoux 7750 mechanical movement providing the time, 12 hour chronograph, and day and date complications. Price will likely exceed $4,000 given the amount of stones and might go higher is Raymond Weil is feeling particularly optimistic.

Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Gallery: Raymond Weil Lady Freelancer Chronograph Watch

Tags: 7730 PAV 46001, 7730 PAV 97431, 7730Pav46001, 7730Pav97431, chronograph, freelancer, ladies, lady, raymond weil, RaymondWeil, timepiece, watch

RW Sport Watches

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

The Raymond Weil watches I have checked out before have been more on the refined side but now the Swiss watchmaker is going sporty. Their RWSport watches are being launched with a multi-million dollar ad campaign featuring ESPN sportscasters (a far cry from their ads for the Shine Collection which featured Charlize Theron looking very luxe and languid). The quartz watches are done in stainless steel with black and red dials and a black rubber strap. Cute but just a touch generic given the proliferation of red and black man watches on the market recently.

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Tags: collection, raymond weil, RaymondWeil, sports, timepieces, watches