Raymond Weil Freelancer Pink Gold Date Chronograph

The Swiss watch brand is going to start selling its new Raymond Weil Freelancer Pink Gold Date Chronograph watch. Taking into account the timepiece’s expected price of around $12,000, I have a feeling that people at RW significantly overestimate financial means of an average freelancer.

Just like all chronographs in the Freelancer line, the new watch features the same tri-compax dial layout with curved arc date-window at 3 o’clock and a rectangular day of week window on the left of it.

Giving guys at Raymond Weil their due, I must admit that the price is well justified. While not sporting fancy “high-tech” materials like Nomex or some kind of scratch-proof ceramic, this watch is made of good old 18-carat rose gold, and gold is only getting more expensive these days.

It also features a distinctive golden ring around the small seconds indicator at 9 o’clock that, too, came here directly from the other members of the family.

It is also one of the most controversial parts of the design. While looking completely in place on less expensive stainless steel versions of the watch, here it looks somewhat cheap, like those Ford control buttons that you can see inside a Jaguar.

However, the standard yellow-painted central second as well as hands on the hour and minute counters that are now made of gold, look really good here (although slightly decreasing the Freelancer’s readability but making it look a lot more expensive.)

And, yes, I love when pink gold is combined with black dial and dark brown leather strap.

Oh, and about the movement. Raymond Weil doesn’t state it in its press release, but the watch is powered by the ETA Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement, which is famous for its reliability, robustness and accuracy.

It is somewhat of a disappointment to know that the movement comes without any serious decoration besides a pretty basic circular graining on its stainless steel (!) oscillating weight.

Photo: Raymond Weil

Raymond Weil Freelancer Pink Gold Date Chronograph watch specification

Price range: Around $12,000
Movement: Automatic, ETA Valjoux 7750, 28,800 vph
Complications: Date, day of the week, chronograph
Power reserve: 42 hours
Case material: Pink gold
Case size: 42 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Black
Water resistance: 100 meters
Strap: Dark brown leather, RW folding clasp with double push-piece security, pink gold-colored PVD coating
Crystal: Sapphire, double anti-reflective coating