Raymond Weil has expanded its Freelancer Skeleton collection with a 40mm anthracite-grey model, positioned between existing 38mm and 42mm versions. The new watch measures 10.6mm thick and omits polished finishes. Its openworked design continues the brand’s skeletonisation offerings, which began in 2016.
Daily Digest
The Day in Watchmaking
Range expansion and a new entrant lead today’s developments. Raymond Weil is extending its Freelancer collection in two directions: a 40mm anthracite-grey Skeleton fills the gap between existing sizes, while a 260-piece World-Traveller marks its founder’s centenary with a caller-GMT movement and rotating 24-city ring. Luxembourg-based PANOM, meanwhile, makes its watchmaking debut with TheHive, pairing a honeycomb dial with a Swiss movement in a 150-piece edition. Orient’s latest Bambino takes a different approach to renewal, removing the date display and introducing the automatic F6524 calibre in a 38.4mm case. Its dial selection includes a 3,300-piece grey edition. Among the other notable releases, Seiko and TiCTAC revisit their field/explorer collaboration with an off-white dial. Arsène Lippens’ Artigiano “Sashiko Denim,” created with artist Pey van der Wel, offers a more craft-led contrast: just 10 watches with hand-stitched denim dials, with sales already ended.
Top Stories
Luxembourg-based PANOM has made its watchmaking debut with TheHive, a limited edition of 150 watches. The model features a honeycomb dial and a Swiss movement.
Arsène Lippens released 10 Artigiano “Sashiko Denim” watches, reference 0599-SD, with artist Pey van der Wel. Priced at ¥368,300 including tax, each features a hand-stitched denim dial, 37.5mm 316L stainless steel case, hand-wound Sellita SW210-1b with 48-hour power reserve, and 50m water resistance. Sales have ended.
Raymond Weil’s Freelancer World-Traveller 2762-STC-02026 honors its founder’s centenary with 260 pieces priced at ¥891,000 including tax. Its 40mm stainless-steel case houses the Sellita-based automatic RW3230 caller-GMT calibre, offering 56 hours at 28,800vph. A blue dial carries a champagne relief world map and rotating 24-city ring; water resistance is 50m.
Orient’s no-date Bambino models feature 38.4mm steel cases and the automatic F6524 calibre with approximately 40 hours of power reserve. References shown include RA-BB0002S30B, RA-BB0001E30B, RA-BB0004Y30B and limited-edition A-BB0006N30B. White, ivory, green and brown dials join a 3,300-piece grey edition, with Roman numerals, applied indices and domed mineral crystals.
New Releases
Seiko has renewed its collaboration with Japanese watch retailer TiCTAC for the HZB002J, an off-white-dial version of their earlier field/explorer watch. It retains a stainless steel case measuring 40 mm across and 11 mm thick, with a 48 mm lug-to-lug length and 20 mm lug width.
Worth Reading
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