Raymond Weil Nabucco Rivoluzione Chronograph

Black is the new black, you know, and the new Raymond Weil Nabucco Rivoluzione chronograph watch is just another way to prove it.

The original Raymond Weil Nabucco collection of self-winding mechanical watches was first unveiled more than two years ago.

Although the word “Nabucco” is currently mostly known for the ambitious project of building a major pipeline that will allow transporting natural gas Turkey to Austria in order to weaken Gazprom’s stranglehold over its European customers, the name of the collection is possibly inspired by the famous opera by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi.

While definitely handsome and well-executed, the Nabucco watches always missed that secret ingredient that transforms a nice watch into an object of desire. I just can’t imagine myself or any other guy saving breakfast money to get one of them for the next Christmas.

The new Nabucco Rivoluzione has a good chance to eventually change the fate of the collection for the better.

Its 46 mm case is made of titanium and steel and is coated with black PVD, while its sides are decorated with ultra-light carbon-fiber material, which is a breath of fresh air in the world obsessed with ceramics of different colors.

Of course, the watch is coming with a matte black dial and black hour and minute hands that are covered with some unidentified black substance, which is supposed to glow in the dark. So do the hour indices.

The only hint of color provided with the central second hand and hour and minute hands of the chronograph. As you can see on the photos, the small seconds hand at 9 o’clock is also completely black.

To my taste, the white (or light gray) marks on the bezel and all three chronograph totalizers somehow subtract from the watch’s beauty without adding too much legibility, but that’s something I am ready to live with.

As to the internal workings of the watch, there is nothing sensational at all. The Raymond Weil Nabucco Rivoluzione watch is powered by a new ETA Valjoux 7753 native chronograph movement, which is both reliable and accurate and features power reserve of 46 hours.

The only real problem of this beautiful timepiece is its somewhat high price tag of around €5,000.

Photos: Raymond Weil

Raymond Weil Nabucco Rivoluzione Chronograph watch specification:

Price range: €5,000
Movement: ETA Valjoux 7753, automatic, 28,800 vph, 27 jewels
Complications: Chronograph, date
Power reserve: 46 hours
Case material: Stainless steel, titanium, solid case back
Case size: 46 mm
Case height: 15.5 mm
Dial: Black, with three chronograph totalizers
Water resistance: 200 m
Strap: Saddle-stitched black crocodylus niloticus strap, RW folding clasp in black titanium, with double push-piece security
Crystal: Sapphire, 2.5mm thick, anti-reflective on both sides