What We Know
Raymond Weil has been on a roll as of late, gaining plenty of credibility with the enthusiast crowd with models like its classic sector dial Millesime, the elegantly shaped Toccata, and the watch-nerdy and sold-out limited edition chronograph The Fifty, marking its half-century anniversary. For its next trick, the Geneva-based family-owned brand is jumping into a crowded and competitive category, the integrated bracelet sport watch. Meet the A.R.T. collection, Raymond Weil’s take on a stylish yet practical, take-you-just-about-anywhere, Swiss-made watch.
With a steel case, the A.R.T. is 38 millimeters in diameter and 9.95mm thick. The case, bracelet design, and finishing represent a step up for the accessible brand, with polished bevels, an elegantly curved shape, and chamfered center links on the H-link integrated bracelet, which Raymond Weil says is a first for the brand.
The round, smooth brushed bezel achieves a distinct design and shape from the faceted, polished cutout features at 3, 6, 9, and 12, while eschewing bolts or screws. The case is gently curved with bevels emphasizing angles at the sides and integrated lugs. With a push/pull-stamped and fluted crown, the watch offers 100 meters (330 feet) of water resistance, adding to its practical appeal.
The 38mm A.R.T. comes in three sunray-finished dial colors: metallic blue, a black dial the brand calls ‘graphite,’ as well as a ‘sage grey’ dial. There are two bicolor versions with a gold bezel and two-tone bracelets, available with blue or black dials. The dials feature a sunray finish at the center with azuré finishing on the minute track to add texture and depth.
There’s a chamfered date window at 3 o’clock and a white date wheel across each of the models. The baton-style hands and indexes feature white Super-LumiNova that glows green in the dark. The caseback is closed and conceals a Sellita SW-200-1, beating at 4hz and offering a 41-hour power reserve.
As for the price, the steel models are listed at $1,995 while the two-tone models with matching gold colored hands and indexes cost $2,095. The thin H-link integrated bracelet features a butterfly-style folding stainless steel clasp without micro-adjustment or quick removal capabilities.
In addition to the 5 models in 38mm, there’s also a 30mm version with a quartz movement that’s just 7.5mm thick. The 30mm models come in nine different versions with steel, PVD rose gold, bi-color, and diamond-set bezel and index variations. Most feature a mother-of-pearl dial unique to the 30mm size, but the blue and sage grey dials are also available in this size. Prices range from $1,525 for the steel version in 30mm to $2,975 for the mother-of-pearl dial with a diamond-set bezel and indexes in rose-gold-colored PVD.
What We Think
Raymond Weil has definitely stepped up its finishing and design with the A.R.T. models and, with an integrated-bracelet sport watch, has rounded out its product collection in a logical and style-forward fashion. The case and bracelet are impressive in person and lean into the sophisticated rather than sporty side of the category. Not surprisingly, given the inspiration and lineage of the recent Millesime and the Tocatta, the approachable-priced A.R.T. collection aims to suggest more Nautilus than Royal Oak, which jibes with RW’s design sensibilities.
While the case, dial, and bracelets are well-constructed and finished, the lack of micro-adjust, a matching date window, and a choice of Sellita’s capable but ubiquitousSW-200 is slightly disappointing at a price point of around $2,000. Still, the watch’s thin profile and fetching design make it eminently wearable, as long as you can dial in the fit by removing links.
As for the competition, Raymond Weil’s new A.R.T. collection has plenty of it at both lower and higher price points. The Tissot PRX is a sharper, larger case in full-size at 40mm and perhaps a bit diminutive at 35mm, but is now available in titanium at 38mm. All are priced at less than $1,000 with an automatic movement. There are also Nivada Grenchen’s F77 models, priced at around $1,300, with a thicker case over 12mm.
Christopher Ward’s The Twelve in steel is about $500 cheaper than the Raymond Weil at 38mm and features the same movement and case thickness, and a bracelet with micro-adjustment. The Frederique Constant Highlife models start at about $2,500 and feature a COSC-certified movement.
But there’s little else in the category at a similar price point that’s Swiss-made from an established, proven brand. Louis Erard’s Swiss-made integrated bracelet model, the 2340, is priced at about $1,700 above the RW, and Switzerland’s Formex just released the handsome, very thin Aria integrated-bracelet sport watch, priced at about $7,900. I suppose you could consider the Cartier Santos at around this price level as well.
Moving up, we’re soon in IWC Ingenieur territory (above $11,000) and Jaeger-LeCoultre’s return to the category with the Master Control Chronometre at about $14,000. So while the integrated bracelet sport watch category is certainly crowded, it’s not particularly well represented by Swiss brands at the $2,000 price point. With the new A.R.T. collection, Raymond Weil is staking out its territory with an elegant and refined offering that’s definitely worth checking out if you’re in the market for this kind of timepiece.
The Basics
Brand: Raymond Weil
Model: A.R.T.
Reference Number: 1000-STP-20001, 50001, 1000-ST-20001, 50001, 52001
Diameter: 38mm
Thickness: 9.95mm
Case Material: Stainless steel,
Dial Color: Sunray finish graphite, metallic blue, sage grey
Indexes: Applied
Lume: Super-LumiNova hands and indexes
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Stainless steel folding clasp
The Movement
Caliber: SW-200-1
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
Diameter: 25.6mm
Thickness: 4.6mm
Power Reserve: 41 hours
Winding: Self-winding
Frequency: 28,800 VpH (4 Hz)
Jewels: 26
Chronometer Certified: No
Pricing & Availability
Price: $1,995 (steel) $2,095 (bi-color)
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No
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