Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Bi-Compax Limited Edition Watch Review
The Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Bi-Compax Limited Edition is housed in a 43.5 mm bronze case and is endowed with a plethora of details, enriching the ownership experience. However, with just 300 pieces available, and a keen price of £3,495, chances are these watches will disappear quicker than snow in summer.
First bronze watch
The first bronze timepiece, the Gerald Genta Gefica Bi-Retro Safari was released in 1998. It was originally intended as a hunter’s watch because its matte case did not reflect sunlight, making it ideal for covert manoeuvres. However, as often happens, its esoteric remit went on to attract a much broader following.
Panerai Submersible Bronzo (PAM 382)
Fast forward to 2011 when Panerai unveiled its now-legendary Submersible Bronzo (PAM 382), a bronze watch that seduced legions of horophiles with its capacity to acquire a distinctive green patina. At the time of its launch, the Bronzo was priced at €7,300, placing it beyond the grasp of many brand devotees. Nevertheless, it proved a commercial success leading to the luxury marque releasing further iterations of its iconic divers’ watch.
Raymond Weil bronze watch
After Panerai made bronze chic in its own distinctive, utilitarian style, several other brands tried to get in on the act. In the main, most rival offerings have tended to be a tad pricey, no doubt leaving many disciples of fashion feeling somewhat frustrated. However, Raymond Weil has just unveiled the new Freelancer Chronograph Bi-Compax Limited Edition, housed in a 43.5 mm bronze case.
The Genevan marque has gained a reputation for delivering much watchmaking virtue for comparatively little. Making both quartz and mechanical watches, serving both male and female audiences, the family firm operates within the affordable luxury segment. It’s a crowded arena with numerous rival firms vying for market share. Quite simply, only the fittest and most competitive can expect to succeed. This latest model is priced at a very egalitarian £3,495 including VAT (RRP as of 31.7.2023).
The design of the chronograph was inspired by a bespoke motorbike. Apparently, it was made for promotional purposes and its various features have influenced the design of numerous details on this latest watch.
Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Bi-Compax Limited Edition- an eye for detail
While its bronze case is eminently desirable, the watch has additional merits which contribute to its notable charm. For example, the new bi-compax dial design features a luxurious degradé finish, with light hues centre stage that become progressively darker nearer the edge of the display.
The central chronograph seconds hand, along with its counterpart gracing the 30-minute counter, are presented in an ebullient shade of red. A date display is positioned at 6 o’clock and has numerals that resemble handwritten characters. A pulsometer scale adorns the flange, while the ceramic bezel is marked with a tachymeter scale.
To the rear of the watch, a sapphire caseback provides views of the self-winding movement, the Calibre RW5030. The oscillating weight is W-shaped, no doubt a reference to the surname of the eponymous company’s founder. Additional refinements include both Côtes de Genève motif and perlage on the bridges.
Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Bi-Compax Limited Edition – bronze and titanium case
The Maison also offers a second version housed in a bronze and titanium case which is enlivened with blue dial accents. Irrespective of the version selected, the Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Bi-Compax Limited Edition embraces interesting materials. Moreover, with its keen pricing, Raymond Weil has democratised bronze watch ownership.
The brand’s press release
Inspired by the open road and a customised motorbike crafted by the artisans of Meister Engineering, RAYMOND WEIL unveils the new freelancer bronze chronograph 7780. This new model is an eye-catching vintage-inspired watch. And, just in case your heart is racing at the thought of it, the timepiece comes with a highly useful pulsometer scale.
Creativity is at the heart of everything that RAYMOND WEIL does. Likewise, it is a quality the company recognises in others. A few months ago, the company wanted to procure a customised motorbike for promotional purposes. As a result, it turned to the specialist firm, Meister Engineering, visiting its showroom in the centre of Geneva. The company, comprising artisans and engineers, reimagines standard motorbikes, imbuing them with its own distinctive blend of creativity, style and mechanical virtue.
Ultimately, the two-wheeled work of art inspired the Genevan watch brand to create a bronze timepiece equipped with a chronograph, the freelancer 7780.
On the brand’s customised motorbike, the name RAYMOND WEIL adorns the fuel tank and is depicted in rose gold foil. This provided the inspiration for the texture of the 43.5 mm bronze case and the two counters gracing the dial. Likewise, the motorbike’s gradient-effect paint influenced the watch’s black smoked dial. This latter detail confers an interesting display with light tones at the centre of the dial that assumes a darker shade near the edge.
The tachymeter and pulsometer scales engraved on the motorcycle tank cap are replicated on the watch’s satin-finished ceramic bezel insert and flange, respectively. Even the freelancer’s rich brown calf leather strap has been inspired by the motorbike’s leather-clad seat. Clearly, the specification of the bespoke motorbike has provided a wealth of ideas for the brand’s new vintage-inspired watch.
The symmetrical bi-compax layout features a 30-minute chronograph counter and a small seconds display. The golden hour and minute hands are generously proportioned and, in conjunction with the applied indexes, prove highly legible. The hour track is snailed, while the hands and indexes feature luminescent treatment, augmenting readability in restricted light. The colour of the central chronograph seconds hand, the hand on the 30-minute register and the numerals on the pulsometer scale are presented in orange shades.
A date display is positioned at 6 o’clock, once again contributing to the overall symmetry of the dial. The date disc is presented in black, matching the colour of the dial, a detail much appreciated by purists.
This model encompasses a number of exquisite refinements. The tachymeter scale, presented on the bezel, provides the means to determine the speed of a motorbike, or vehicle of your choice, over a known distance. Residing on a bronze-toned flange, a pulsometer scale allows the wearer to determine the heart rate of an individual. A notable characteristic of this dial is that it wonderfully plays with shades, depths and textures, contributing to the watch’s sophisticated appearance.
With time, the bronze will mature and form a patina, heightening the overall sense of elegance. To the rear of the watch, the case back is presented in stainless steel. The movement, the Calibre RW5030, is visible via the exhibition caseback. Once again, the attention to detail is clear to see. For example, the watch is fitted with a W-shaped skeleton oscillating weight, a reference to the founder’s surname. A further attribute of this automatic movement is that, assuming the mainspring is fully wound, the watch will run autonomously for 56 hours.
As stated earlier, the watch comes on a brown calf leather strap. It is enlivened with contrasting stitching and paired with a bronze folding clasp equipped with a double push-security system.
The RAYMOND WEIL freelancer chronograph bi-compax is available in two variants: one in a bronze case, limited to just 300 pieces and with red and orange accents, and the other in a bronze and titanium case, with blue accents. This new chronograph is perfectly suited to free thinkers and creative individuals. Take it on the road and make it your own.
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Bi-Compax Limited Edition
- Reference: 7780-B1-20422
- Case: bronze, diameter 43.5 mm, height 13.7 mm, water resistance 10 ATM (100 m), sapphire crystal to the front, exhibition case back.
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds, date, chronograph
- Movement: Calibre RW5030, self-winding movement, power reserve 56 hours
- Strap: brown calf leather with bronze folding clasp with double push-security system
- Price: £3,495 (RRP as of 31.7.2023)
- Limited Edition 300 pieces