Home » Baselworld - World Watch and Jewellery Show » Baselworld 2017 Preview – Raymond Weil Freelancer Gibson Les Paul Watch
At the Baselworld 2017 watch show, the independent Swiss manufacturer, Raymond Weil, will present its new Freelancer Chronograph which pays homage to the fabled guitar, named for its inventor, Lester William Polsfuss, also known as Les Paul. This novelty embodies the legendary guitar’s free spirit, rock attitude and unparalleled power of music.
Raymond Weil Freelancer Gibson Les Paul also honors some of the most brilliant musicians who have turned to this exceptional instrument to make Rock ‘n’ Roll history, such as Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Keith Richards.
The new Raymond Weil Freelancer boasts several visual elements inspired by the Les Paul guitar. The watch is housed in a round, stainless steel case measuring 43.50mm in diameter, with a black PVD-coated tachymeter bezel inspired by the lacquer on the “Black Beauty” guitar.
The dial is designed like a guitar board and features a circular guilloché motif representing the guitar’s six chords which are surrounded by fret-shaped hour markers. The top of the dial is reserved for the names of the famous guitar manufacturer and Les Paul’s signature. They are set just above the Raymond Weil brand logo. A distinctive feature of the Les Paul Custom guitars, the split-diamond inlay, is set next to the date display between 4 and 5 o’clock positions. As you can see on these images, golden highlights are used at the chronograph sub-dial, date aperture, and central chrono hand.
The Freelancer Gibson Les Paul is mounted on the golden-top-stitched calf leather strap that evokes the sound holes on the body of the famous guitar.
The beating heart of the watch is the impeccable caliber RW5010 mechanical movement which is based on the ETA 7753. The self-winding mechanism operates at the rapid frequency of 28,800 alternations per hour (4 Hz) and provides approximately 46 hours of power reserve. From the rear, there is the emblematic Raymond Weil signed rotor which can be admired through the smoked sapphire case back, encrusted with the Gibson insignia.
Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Gibson Les Paul is available in a special collector’s edition consisting of 300 individually numbered specimens. Each piece is delivered in an exclusive presentation box, inspired by the fabled Gibson guitar cases.
