HANDS-ON: The Raymond Weil Freelancer ‘Gibson Les Paul’ strikes a chord

Felix Scholz

If you’re familiar with Raymond Weil it should come as no surprise that music is a recurring theme in their collections. From homages to iconic performers such as The Beatles and the late, great David Bowie, through to watches made to honour particular instruments – such as their Nabucco Cello Tourbillon – Raymond Weil definitely has a soft spot for this most harmonious of the liberal arts.

Which brings us to the Gibson Les Paul. Just as horology has its holy grails, the world of guitars also has its undisputed icons. One such legend is the Gibson Les Paul. Since its conception in 1952, this solid-body electric guitar has had an important role in defining the sound of many of the most important musicians of the 20th century. And the shape, with its single cutaway, is an integral part of the visual language of rock’n’roll.

While it’s difficult for a watch to capture the spirit of a sound, Raymond Weil has certainly done a solid job evoking the look of the Les Paul. The hour track is recessed, with a circular motif resembling strings and fret-like applied indices. The Gibson logo at 12 resembles the headstock, and the chronograph details are accented in a gold tone commonly seen on Les Paul hardware.

Underneath the unique visuals, this limited edition is a regular Freelancer, well-sized at 43.5mm, rated to 100m and powered by the RW5010 (what Raymond Weil call the ETA 7753). But for me what really sets this watch apart is – believe it or not – the case. It comes in a tiny, plush version of a Gibson guitar case in aged brown leather and complete with red velvet lining and road case latch.

The Freelancer ‘Gibson Les Paul’ is limited to 300 pieces, of which Australia will be receiving a very limited allocation.

Raymond Weil Freelancer ‘Gibson Les Paul’ Australian pricing

Raymond Weil Freelancer ‘Gibson Les Paul’, $5200