The Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds Denim brings a pinch of the ’30s to the jeans and t-shirt crowd
Buffy Acacia- The Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds Denim follows up its GPHG-winning format in a washed-out blue colour.
- The case dimensions are set out to please watch enthusiasts, with a 39.5mm diameter and 46.2mm lug-to-lug.
- It’s powered by a Sellita movement with a 38-hour power reserve and 4Hz beat rate.
With so many archetypes in the watch world, it’s easy to forget that there are some brands and watches that don’t necessarily fit into them. Raymond Weil is an independent company, but it’s not a microbrand nor a master of haute horlogerie. It’s been around for just under 50 years – not quite long enough to be considered heritage, but enough to build up an appreciated reputation. All of that makes it extra special that the Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds won the Challenge Prize at last year’s GPHG awards, and now it’s been given a casual twist.
Sector dials have been hitting a stride in recent years, now that the Art Deco designs of the ‘20s and ‘30s are hitting their centenaries. The bold yet refined structure they create in a watch dial is highly versatile, but retains a level of dressiness no matter how dressed-down it gets. That’s the exact exercise which the new Millesime Small Seconds Denim performs, scrubbing down its previously polished façade with a washed-out blue colour and matte texture. It’s not as on-the-nose as some other denim-dialled watches, but you can see how it might feel more appropriate with jeans and a t-shirt than the silver or black dial references.
A curious aspect of the Millesime Automatic Small Seconds is that it plays into the current trends among watch enthusiasts, rather than fashion as a whole. Raymond Weil’s usual output is tailored towards those who “just want a nice watch”, or watches based on art and music themes, so it’s a little bit of an odd one out. In any case, the dimensions are just as important as the looks for enthusiasts, and Raymond Weil doesn’t disappoint there. A 39.5mm diameter hits a pleasing mid-size stride with short lugs measuring 46.3mm tip-to-tip. It definitely carries more of a masculine presence because of the stoic dial and the vertically brushed steel bezel, but it will still be comfortable on smaller wrists. The 10.25mm thickness is quite slim for an automatic watch, especially with its domed sapphire crystal. Considering its sophisticated style, the 50-metre water resistance rating makes sense, as it’s not the kind of watch most people would want to risk swimming with.
Powering the Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds Denim is the RW4251, based on either the Sellita calibre SW260-1 or SW261-1. There’s no difference in performance between them however, with a smooth 4Hz beat rate provided for the small seconds hand, and a power reserve of 38 hours. The automatic winding and hacking seconds make it convenient for daily wear, and the prevalence of Sellita ensures that it will be serviceable and reliable for a long time yet. There is a sapphire display caseback which shows off the customised winding rotor, slightly skeletonised to reveal a W. The supplied strap is navy blue calf leather with stitched ends and a nice embossed line running parallel to the edges, backing up the rigidity of the dial’s sectors and crosshairs. Should you wish to change the strap, the 20mm drilled lugs makes it a simple task.
Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds Denim pricing and availability
The Raymond Weil Millesime Automatic Small Seconds Denim is available now. Price: US$1,995
| Brand | Raymond Weil |
| Model | Millesime Automatic Small Seconds Denim |
| Reference Number | 2930-STC-50011 |
| Case Dimensions | 39.5mm (D) x 10.25mm (T) x 46.3mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 50 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Denim blue |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Bracelet | Blue calf leather with steel pin-buckle |
| Movement | RW4251, Sellita SW26X-1 base, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 38 hours |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, small seconds |
| Availability | Available now |
| Price | US$1,995 |