Introducing: The Raymond Weil Toccata Heritage Brings Classic Shaped Watch Elegance At An Approachable Price (Live Pics)

What We Know

Following the success and acclaim of its paradigm-shifting Millesime collection among enthusiasts and generalist watch consumers alike, launched in 2023 and expanded with a slew of iterations since, a refreshed Raymond Weil is now ready for its next act. Here comes the Toccata Heritage collection, the family-owned, independent Swiss brand’s answer to renewed market interest in more shapely, dressy, classic design timepieces. We got to spend some time with the hand-winding, mechanical models ahead of the official launch this week. These are some handsome, well-made watches that lean into clever design choices, making the Toccata a hot option for those seeking a fair balance of style, trend, Swiss-made quality, and price. 

If the Millesime drew inspiration from a fellow Geneva-based, family-owned brand’s Calatrava designs, the Toccata tips its cap to the Ellipse, a long-overlooked model in the Patek catalogue that’s enjoying a bit of a renaissance these days as more formal, shape-driven watches get their due.

Yet there are significant contrasts with the classic Ellipse design, perhaps most notably the polished, angled lugs on the Toccata that jut prominently from the 33mm wide, 38mm long oval case.  The bezel, top-facing lugs, and case are polished to underscore the watch’s tasteful dressiness, and the mechanical version is just 6.95 millimeters thick.

Yet it’s the sparse, sunburst dial that does much of the work here, lending the Toccata a subtle elegance. Only the Raymond Weil brand name above the dauphine handset and below 12 o’clock, as well as the ‘Swiss Made’ indication straddling the six o’clock index, can be read on the dials, which, on the mechanical hand-wound versions, include silver, blue, and copper versions. All feature a knurled, RW-branded crown. 

While the silver and blue are housed in a stainless steel case, the copper dial version features a ‘rose gold’ PVD coating that elevates the luxury look and feel. The mechanical copper dial Toccata in rose gold PVD, on a calfskin leather strap, is priced at $1,825, while the blue and silver dial versions in steel are $1,675 each. There’s also a steel bracelet available that raises the price to $1,795. 

Flip the skinny watch over, and you’ll find what’s perhaps the most unique and surprising element on the screwed case back. An oval-shaped sapphire crystal window shows off the lightly decorated Selita-based movement, but also suggests the movement itself might have had the same oval shape as a Piaget from the 1970s. Of course, it doesn’t, and this is very much a square-shaped movement, but it’s a considered and clever design choice that adds to the watch’s personality.

There’s also a quartz movement version of the Toccata that is more affordable and features a slightly smaller case measuring 31.5 millimeters in diameter, 36 millimeters in length, and just 5.1 millimeters thick. The quartz Toccatas include a ‘rose gold’ PVD-coated version paired with a matching bracelet, with a bezel set with 60 lab-grown diamonds. There’s a similar steel version with a blue or red dial and a gold PVD-coated version with a silver dial and a bezel sans diamonds. 

To round off the quartz offerings, there’s the classic blue dial in steel as well. Like the mechanical version, each feature-applied index matches the case treatment and is displayed under a sapphire crystal with a double-sided anti-reflective coating. Both versions are water-resistant to 30 meters (98 feet). The quartz models range in price from $1,195 with a steel bezel on a strap to $2,625 for the rose gold PVD coated diamond set versions on a bracelet. 

What We Think

On trend and at a reasonably value-conscious price for a Swiss Made watch, the new Toccata collection could be another winner for Raymond Weil as the brand approaches its 50th anniversary in 2026. The mechanical watches feel solid and well-made, and their shape and thinness make them appropriate for all but the biggest wrists, and they easily slip under a cuff. The calfskin straps were stiff but of good quality. 

And just as it’s become a thing to wear a dressy Cartier or Piaget with jeans and a t-shirt on the weekend or after work, these elegantly thin and understated watches could see you through the entire week. We expect they’d make a thoughtful gift for the upcoming holiday season. In its new mission to win kudos from both the enthusiast and casual watch buyer, the Toccata represents a worthy sophomore effort from Raymond Weil. 

The Basics

Brand: Raymond Weil
Model: Toccata Heritage (mechanical) 33 x 38 mm and Toccata Heritage (quartz) 31 x 36 mm
Reference Number: 2280-PC5-80001 (rose gold PVD), 2280-STC-64001 (steel silver dial), 2280-STC-50001 (steel blue dial), 2280-ST-50001 (steel blue dial on bracelet)
Quartz models: 5280-P5S-64001, 5280-PC-64001, 5280-STS-45001, 5280-STC-50001, 5280-STS-50001

Diameter: 33 mm for the mechanical, 31 mm for the quartz
Thickness: 6.95 mm mechanical, 5.1 mm quartz
Case Material: stainless steel, rose gold PVD coating, yellow gold PVD coating
Dial Color: Blue, silver, copper, burgundy
Indexes: Applied
Lume: No
Water Resistance: 30 meters or 98 feet
Strap/Bracelet: Grey calfskin, blue calfskin, green calfskin, steel bracelet, rose gold PVD coated steel, yellow gold PVD coated steel

The Movement

Caliber: RW 4100 mechanical hand winding / quartz
Functions: hours, minutes
Winding: Manual/quartz
Chronometer Certified: No

Pricing & Availability

Price: Mechanical – $1,675 for silver and blue dials in steel with mechanical movement on strap, $1,795 on steel bracelet, $1,825 for copper dial with rose gold PVD coating on strap/quartz models – $1,195 for blue dial in steel on strap, $1,450 for yellow gold PVD coated on strap, $2,245 for the steel diamond-set models on bracelet and $2,625 for the rose gold PVD coated diamond-set model on bracelet.
Availability: Oct. 29
Limited Edition: No

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