Raymond Weil is introducing their first ever integrated bracelet design this week with the A.R.T. collection consisting of 14 references across two sizes. The watch looks to capitalize on the industry’s hottest design trend, and while there certainly isn’t any new ground being covered with this design, the A.R.T. watches represent a compelling value play in the face of ever increasing prices elsewhere in the space. The A.R.T. watches might have a familiar look, but they’ve been designed with “contemporary lifestyles in mind”, ditching any sporty pretense right out of the gate.
The new collection boasts a muted color palette, and embraces softer textures, reducing the design to the broad strokes rather than emphasizing any single striking design element. Earth tones of blue, green, and black serve as the dial color options, each are given a simple sunray finish. There are no aggressive textures or signature colors at work, instead leaving the design to sit in a somewhat generic space at a glance, but one that will be easy to work with in a broader sense.
Two case sizes are being launched with the A.R.T. collection, but they probably aren’t what you’re expecting. There is a 38mm option, as well as a 30mm option, with no large size on offer. Within this, you’ll find full steel, steel and (PVD plated) gold, and full gold plated options. All get a 100 meter depth rating. Power is provided by an automatic Sellita base movement with 41 hours of reserve, or a quartz based movement within the smaller 30mm references. All sit behind brushed closed casebacks.
Stepping back, we find a design that appears quite similar to something like the IWC Ingenieur, though Raymond Weil creates some contrast with their dial treatments, and more obviously, their price point. The case and bracelet design borrows heavily from classic sport watch tropes, but the muted dials rob them of the sporty personality in favor of something a bit more chic. As good as the value proposition is with this collection, there’s much to be desired in terms of personality, but that’s generally something earned with time. Further, the somewhat pretentious naming convention paired with an aesthetic that leans into early 00’s fashion vibes aren’t helping much, either.
Still, more value oriented options that challenge the extreme price fluctuations of the Swiss legacy brands are ultimately a good thing. This collection represents a strong foundation to build on, and even if it’s not the most original thing in the world, it captures many of the strengths of existing designs at a fraction of the price. The A.R.T. collection is priced from $1,525 in 30mm and from $1,995 in 38mm. Raymond Weil
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