The good old Raymond Weil Lady Maestro line has fairly recently been updated with a new open-heart version. Finally available in different colors (including gorgeous one on a lime-green strap with reference number 2827-L5-00966) and growing noticeably in size, the updated timekeeper still features the easily recognizable design cues on its dial, including the clever use of guilloching and diamond-setting techniques.
Frankly, I don’t understand why people love “open heart” watches so much.
Although I don’t share the opinion that a timekeeper with a visible balance wheel is a poor man’s tourbillon (however I can use the argument from time to time to good-naturally troll the general public), I do not like the concept itself.
The constantly pulsating wheel starts to look boring pretty quickly and it is difficult to make the part look any more interesting if you deal with a mass-produced movement. More than that, in most cases the design only makes the watch look cheaper than it is.
Well, it is always a matter of personal preferences and if you are into this kind of design language, then this new Lady Maestro may be a good candidate for a birthday or even a proposal/wedding gift.
Its Breguet-type hands and the sunray guilloche pattern in the center of the natural white mother-of-pearl dial make it look irresistibly classic, while the alternately applied steel Roman numerals and clear diamonds provide it with a dressy, even luxurious feel.
At this time, the watch is available in two versions with its 39.5 mm stainless steel body equipped with a rather thin bezel, which comes either mirror-polished or set with whole 74 diamonds.
Its setting crown is not only decorated with the well-known among the fans “RW” monogram but is also finely fluted thus ensuring that the watch will be easy to operate.
According to official specs, the watch is animated by the same RW 4200 automatic caliber that we have already seen last year in their last year’s Jasmine collection.
Based on the well-known Sellita SW 200 ebauche, this fast-beating movement is built on 26 jewels and features pretty much standard 38 hours of continuous operation after being fully wound and left immobile.
Still no info about the price, but I highly doubt that the new Raymond Weil Lady Maestro Open Heart will cost significantly more than $3000*.
See also: Frederique Constant Amour Heart Beat Ladies
* UPDATE ON PRICE: It’s been reported that the timekeepers will initially go on sale at a price of $2250, which is not bad given the fact that they also get heavily discounted soon after reaching online stores with prices often slashed by half. This, however, is also the reason why you should never buy a timekeeper at MSRP, you will simply lose too much money while trying to sell it after the honeymoon is over.
Photos: Raymond Weil
Raymond Weil Lady Maestro Open Heart specification
Price: $2250 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, caliber RW4200, base Sellita SW200, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 26
Movement frequency: 28,800 vph
Power reserve: 38 hours
Movement decoration: Perlage
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
Case and Crown: Stainless steel
Bezel: Stainless steel set with 74 diamonds
Shape: Round
Size: 39.50 mm
Dial: White mother-of-pearl
Numerals: Roman
Hour markers: Diamonds
Hands: Steel
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Full skin alligator, saddle-stitched leather strap with polished steel ardillon buckle (different colors)
Crystal: Sapphire, antireflective on both sides
Back: Sapphire