Raymond Weil is a very special company, and one of only a handful of Swiss manufacturers that still operate under the control of the family. A relatively young business, started by Raymond Weil in 1976, they approached the watchmaking industry as traditionally as possible, in the time-honoured Swiss fashion.
At the time, the future of the luxury timepiece was looking bleak. Quartz technology was squeezing mechanical movements out of the frame, and the global economy was poised to collapse. Starting a business was risky at best, and starting a luxury business was just plain silly. But this didn't stop Raymond and his son-in-law Oliver Bernheim from making the company a success. In 1982, Oliver modernised the basis of how the company operated, working hard to develop new marketing opportunities globally. His appointment reinforced the family-run nature of the business, something very dear to Raymond.
The influences of art have always been evident in the work of Raymond Weil. Launching the Amadeus range alongside the release of Milo Forman's film of the same name - both named after the classical Austrian composer, Amadeus Mozart - is a testament to this. The ranges continued to follow the theme, Fidelio being the next, the title of Beethoven's only opera. The opera tells the story of Florestan, who attempts to expose the crimes of nobleman Pizarro. Pizarro captures Florestan, and locks him in the prison of which he is governor. Florestan's wife, Leonore, disguises herself as a boy seeking employment at the prison, and slowly works out a plan to free him.
The Fidelio watch range mirrors the duality displayed by Florestan's wife, contrasting the polished and satin finished gold against each other, complimented by the pearls on the face indicating the hours. This cast the mould for the future direction of the company. Raymond Weil stunned the world again with the launch of the Othello collection, infusing avant-garde design with elegant shapes. Its ultrathin case lifted the success of the brand higher than ever before; the timeless pieces becoming must-have items.
Further collections, true to the artistic nature of the company, continued to wow audiences with their style and enduring classicalism. Utilising bold, award-winning advertising, Oliver - who had become CEO of the company by 1996, steered Raymond Weil to the popularity it still enjoys today - offering ranges such as Shine, Parsifal and Noemia to its clients. The introduction of complications in 2004 added an extra sense of excitement to an already striking range, further increasing the wearability and usability of the watches.
Bigger, bolder pieces, using varieties of materials and colours, have kept the avant-garde spirit alive, and new concepts and evolving classics shall continue to keep the company's work at the forefront of the fashion world. Exciting and enticing customers globally, Raymond and Oliver have managed to maintain the solid foundation that built the company; the family. Given the success that Raymond Weil has had throughout its past, grandsons Elie and Pierre Bernheim should be sure to secure a bright future, with the bold, eye catching designs that they continue to produce.
