ReviewThe Resurgence Of A Guitar Icon – Raymond Weil Freelancer Gibson Les Paul

Echoing the same sentiment is the music-loving watchmaker Raymond Weil. With the dramatic Freelancer ‘Gibson Les Paul’ chronograph, the family-owned luxury watch brand celebrates the legacy of the iconic Gibson Les Paul guitar. As a merger of the most legendary of all electric guitar manufacturers – Gibson – and the pioneer of modern music – Les Paul – this Swiss-made watch is a perfect tribute to these unforgettable legends as well as a profound instrument in the history of watchmaking.

The Unmatched Legacy Of Raymond Weil And Gibson

Raymond Weil has taken a fresh look at the world of music through their timekeeping instruments and successfully intertwined watchmaking craftsmanship. For nearly half a century, the family-owned luxury watch brand has been enjoying a long list of music associations by designing unique collections to pay homage to global music legends. These include Giuseppe Verdi, violinist Nicola Benedetti (the brand’s first female music ambassador), guitarist Milos Karadaglic, Labrinth and 2Cellos along with collaborating with British artists, Emeli Sandé, Tinie Tempah, Pixie Lott and James Bay.

Pioneering watchmaker Raymond Weil, who established his own brand at the age of 50, was a life-long music lover. His daughter, Diana inherited this passion and is now a virtuoso pianist. Elie Bernheim, the grandson of the founder, had a musically-inclined childhood as well and is now preserving the exceptional heritage of the company as the current CEO. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, Raymond Weil has carved out space for themselves and burgeoned into one of the world’s finer watch brands armed with a slew of music-inspired collections, such as Amadeus, Fidelio, Traviata, Saxo, Toccata, Fantasia, Nabucco, Maestro, etc.

Talking about Gibson, the brand has been pivotal in the history of rock ‘n’ roll and the careers of legendary musicians such as Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Jimi Hendrix, and Eric Clapton. Music purists swear by the arsenal of Les Paul variants, and in fact, it is believed that anyone who’s got a Les Paul Custom has already made it. Notably, this Freelancer chronograph takes cues from The Original 1954 Les Paul Custom ‘Black Beauty’. A quick glance at the history of the Black Beauty guitar reveals that it was Les Paul himself who had insisted the ’54 original be in high-gloss black, for reasons of unabashed showmanship. This seminal instrument went on to be known as the most iconic guitar in Gibson’s history and a music connoisseur’s favourite.

Gibson Les Paul Freelancer – Defying Conventions

Embodying elegance with a hint of rebellion, the freelancer model is a symbol of free-spirited, uninhibited grandeur, and celebration of life. The 43.5mm round polished stainless steel case houses a detailed black dial that has a lot to offer. The distinctive Gibson and Les Paul logos, the circular guilloché motif featuring six chords with fret-shaped hour markers, the Les Paul signature and the Gibson logo on the sapphire crystal caseback make this a characteristically stunning watch.

Adding functionality are elements like the luminescent indexes, a 30-minute counter at three o’clock, 12-hour counter at six o’clock, a date window set between four and five o’clock and a small seconds hand at nine. Placed next to the date window is a split-diamond inlay in golden tones – a characteristic feature of the Gibson Les Paul Custom guitar.

Inspired by the lacquer on the historic Black Beauty guitar, the tachymeter bezel is enhanced with black PVD coating. Fitted with the RW5010 automatic movement, the watch offers a power reserve of 46 hours. Lending added personality to this timepiece is its ebony perforated calf leather strap, which is reminiscent of the sound hole on the body of a guitar.

Discover the entire Raymond Weil Freelancer collection here