The Fifty

Description

FIFTY YEARS. FIFTY PIECES. ONE LASTING VISION.

Since its founding in 1976, RAYMOND WEIL has embodied a sincere, independent, family-run and accessible vision of Swiss watchmaking. To celebrate its half-century milestone, the Maison places mechanical watchmaking at the heart of its story. Conceived as a true workshop piece, The Fifty highlights watchmaking in its most authentic interpretation; manual craftsmanship, precision of expression and respect for traditional savoir-faire.

To celebrate this jubilee, RAYMOND WEIL journeys to the very essence of classic Swiss chronographs.

At the heart of the watch beats an original Valjoux Calibre 23-6 from 1976, the brand’s founding year and a pivotal moment in Swiss watchmaking history. A historic column wheel chronograph movement, that helped define the standards of the genre through its legibility, reliability and rational architecture. This hand-wound mechanical movement operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers a 48-hour power reserve.

Each calibre has undergone a complete restoration and hand decoration. The chronograph bridges and balance cock are adorned in Côtes de Genève and treated in black ruthenium, creating a striking contrast with the blued screws. The anglage is executed entirely by hand, as are the mouldings surrounding the screws, whose framing is intentionally highlighted by their vivid blue finish. This interplay of volume and light enhances the depth of the movement and reveals, at every glance, the richness of its very being.

Housed in a 37 mm steel case topped with a white gold bezel, The Fifty respects the historic proportions of manual-wound chronographs. The steel crown and restrained case lines reinforce the timeless elegance of the piece.

The dial of The Fifty has been conceived as a true horological construction. Composed of four distinct parts, each element is finished separately to achieve superior levels of refinement before precision assembly. This architecture creates an immediate sense of depth, relief and visual richness characteristic of the millesime collection and inspired by neo-vintage design codes. The rehaut, which supports the tachymeter scale, structures the dial and enhances functional legibility, elevated by a diamond-cut filet that adds sophistication. The area beneath the indexes features a grained texture, bringing crystalline volumes that subtly reflect light. The central section is stamped with a “tapestry” motif composed of alternating gadroons inspired by the collection’s vertical satin finishing and central cross, capturing light while hosting Super-LumiNova®-treated indexes that affirm the contemporary character of the piece. This monobloc element is signed with a black transfer of the RAYMOND WEIL logo and “EST. 1976”, subtly raised to elegantly catch light.

The sub-dials, produced separately, each benefit from dedicated finishes, colours and decorative treatments, reinforcing legibility. On the case back, the engravings “1976” and “2026” highlight both the founding year and the anniversary celebrated by this edition.

Supplied by the brand to the GPHG for its entry.