ReviewRaymond Weil Maestro Skeleton: Poetry in Motion
The Raymond Weil Maestro Skeleton is an open-worked watch meant for those who’d like to flaunt their love of mechanical watches on their wrists. Catering to watch enthusiasts who are avid followers of the art of watchmaking, the Maestro Skeleton wins with its superior design and luxurious appeal
May We Recommend
Skeleton watches have always been coveted by watch connoisseurs and admirers alike. There is just something about watching the intricate movement inside that gets everyone really excited. Perhaps it’s the awe that comes along with observing mankind’s ingenuity ticking away in real time. Or perhaps it’s something as simple as human curiosity working its strange magic. It’s ironic that something as stunning as open-worked watches came about partly due to a crisis—the quartz crisis, to be specific.
The Bare-Boned History
As its name suggests, the quartz crisis came about in the 1970s due to the emergence of quartz watches. The Swiss watchmaking industry suffered greatly at the hands of this electronic movement because, suddenly, many companies started preferring quartz over mechanical movements, which were more expensive to produce. The world’s watch production began shifting to Asian countries, which used the new technology readily in their watches. However, as the famous saying goes, ‘necessity is the mother of invention’, and so, the talented watchmakers of Switzerland came up with a plan. Out of the need to revive the Swiss watchmaking industry, companies began re-investing in skeleton watches as a way to signify their superiority over quartz watches. And the rest, as they say, is history. Raymond Weil’s Maestro Skeleton is a brilliant testament to this nuanced and often overlooked chapter in watchmaking. So let’s dive into what makes this watch special.
The Epitome Of Understated Elegance
A newer member of Raymond Weil’s Maestro collection, launched as it was in 2017, the Raymond Weil Maestro Skeleton features a wide aperture on the silver dial so that one can appreciate its intricate Swiss-made inner workings. One will be able to observe the balance wheel and the open-worked spring barrel in action on the front, while through the exhibition caseback, one can view the rotor and some of the jewels of the movement. The movement is sealed between sapphire crystal glass, making the watch quite resistant to scratches.
The Maestro Skeleton is powered by the durable and efficient calibre RW4215, a Sellita-based movement with 27 jewels that offers a 38-hour power reserve. This movement is housed in a stainless steel case with a diameter of 39.5mm and thickness of only 9.2mm, which makes this fine timepiece quite comfortable to wear. The watch boasts a water resistance of up to 50m.
Besides the moving parts that can be viewed through the aperture, one of the defining features of this skeleton watch is the blue colour of the hands and hour markers. This bright colour makes it easy for one to read the time. One of the watch’s USPs is that it is slightly more affordable than most premium skeleton watches in the market, which is a great advantage for those looking for a beautiful open-worked watch that doesn’t pinch the pocket too much. The watch comes in two versions—fashioned with a stainless steel bracelet or a black calfskin leather strap with an alligator-skin finish.
Contemporary, refined and luxurious, the Raymond Weil Maestro Skeleton is open-worked magic on your wrist. This watch is yet another testament to the passionate craftsmen who toil away to create exemplary machines. And at the end of the day, a quartz watch may have a battery but a mechanical watch has a soul.
Shop The Story
-
Raymond Weil Maestro
2215-ST-65001
-
Raymond Weil Maestro
2215-STC-65001
