The Wind Up: Raymond Weil’s Most Important Watch of 2026

Welcome, watch lovers, to another instalment of The Wind Up. This is Man of Many’s weekly wrap detailing the horological encounters, events, and releases that have caught my eye over the past seven days. I’m Rob, the Man of Many team member most likely to judge you for wearing an Apple Watch, and I’m very happy to be joining you once again.

There’s been a lot of activity on the Raymond Weil front of late. The maison is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and as regular readers may remember, last week I talked about a luncheon I was fortunate enough to attend with CEO Elie Bernheim. Following that, I’ve been spending some time this week with the A.R.T. Date 38 mm. While not the most recent Raymond Weil release of 2026, I do think it’s the most important.

Below, I’ll also detail what it’s like to enjoy a meal at Sydney’s swanky Saint Peter restaurant paired with some tasty pieces from Zenith. Plus, you can find my thoughts on Omega releasing yet another Bond watch, and more. As always, there’s no time like the present and not a second to waste, so let’s get stuck in with the latest edition of Man of Many’s The Wind Up.

Raymond Weil A.R.T. Date 38 mm

While everyone else has been oohing and aahing about Raymond Weil’s Millesime Jubilee, I’ve been getting to grips with a watch that’s less flashy, but arguably more significant for the brand.

I’m talking about Raymond Weil’s A.R.T. Date 38 mm, which I’ve had on my wrist for the last few days. Launched earlier this year, it’s the Swiss brand’s first watch with an integrated bracelet. And with a name like that (the A.R.T. stands for… art, refinement, and timekeeping), it has a lot to live up to.

Let’s start with the case, because it’s a perfect example of how simplicity can be elevated through execution. It measures 38 mm across and just 9.95 mm thick. This makes for a compact, close-fitting experience that’ll suit a wide range of wrists. It also means it sits in a sweet spot where it’s wildly versatile. You could wear this watch almost anywhere, from formal events (everything shy of the strictest of black tie) to the beach, and it wouldn’t look out of place.

I love an integrated bracelet (who doesn’t?), and here the sculpted bezel flows beautifully into those stainless-steel H-shaped links with polished bevels. These contrast against the satin-brushed surfaces across the case and bracelet, catching the light in a way that’s elegant without being showy.

Then there’s the dial. Again, this keeps things simple but solid. Raymond Weil has realised it in sunray-brushed blue and surrounded it with a finely finished minute track. There’s also a recessed groove between these elements that helps to define them. Applied indices and faceted hands are filled with Super-LumiNova, so it’s easier to read in low light, and the date window does its thing at three o’clock as you’d expect. Atop all of these elements, there’s a sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating, while inside you’ll find the RW4200 movement. This is a customised Sellita SW200-1 self-winding mechanical effort offering 28,800 vibrations per hour and a 41-hour power reserve.

This watch is a pretty perfect representation of where Raymond Weil is at in 2026. Here we have a brand that knows where it sits in the watch landscape and wants to offer a product as high-quality as it can while keeping it accessible. The A.R.T. is a handsome, if knowingly straightforward, Swiss-made three-hand watch that’s elevated through a commitment to deft execution. I have to say, stock photography has not done this watch justice. It’s a far better-looking piece than you may have been led to believe.

At AUD$3,300, it sits in a place many non-watch obsessives will consider very premium, but it’s still accessible. To my eyes, it looks more expensive than it is, and that versatility I mentioned is a real boon. This watch covers a lot of bases, and I’m genuinely tempted to add it to my collection.

Raymond Weil A.R.T. Date 38 mm Key Specs

• Reference: 1000-ST-50001
• Case: Stainless steel
• Diameter: 38 mm
• Thickness: 9.95 mm
• Water resistance: 100 m
• Dial: Metallic blue, sunray-brushed finish
• Bracelet: Integrated, stainless steel
• Movement: RW4200
• Power reserve: Up to 41 hours
• Price: AUD$3,300

On the ‘Gram: Longines Master Collection Chrono Monopusher

Josh Niland Delivers Dining At Its Zenith

I recently had the privilege of dining at Saint Peter in Sydney’s east, surrounded by some of the finest watches Zenith has to offer. The venue is the brainchild of the celebrated chef Josh Niland, who also happens to be a Zenith ambassador. On the night, Josh was on hand (wearing his Zenith Defy Extreme Diver) to help guide us through an exceptional culinary experience, punctuated with the opportunity to go hands-on with some of the maison’s best.

This will sound hyperbolic, but it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. It consisted of an exceptional selection of seafood, each dish demonstrating Niland’s singular flair and deep understanding of the fish in question. In fact, the chef even explained how there’s a curious parallel between the hundreds of parts found in the anatomy of each fish and the hundreds of components that go into each Zentih timepiece, and the devotion to craft that’s required to become a master of either.

Of all the dishes served, the highlight for me had to be the southern calamari. This was an ingenious take on classic spaghetti bolognese, substituting the pasta for finely cut strips of calamari, while the tomato sauce featured yellowfin tuna and a slightly spicy kick. Of the watches on display, I have a particular fondness for the Zenith Chronomaster Solo Sport (as featured in this previous instalment of The Wind Up), or the slightly out there Zenith Chronomaster Sport Skeleton in green, adorned with its matching green rubber strap.

In Other Watch News…

Omega Helps Spectre Beats Bond

There was a bit of eye-rolling at the latest Omega releases this week, with the feeling that this Bond release came somewhat out of nowhere. I can see why, as we’re not celebrating any significant Bond event: no anniversary, new release, or announcement of who the next Bond will be.

That said, I quite like the Spectre release, particularly the limited-edition gold model with the leather strap. Yes, I recognise the absurdity of a 300-metre dive watch that’s attached to your wrist via a flimsy strip of cowhide (and the absurdity of paying AUD$141,700 for the privilege). However, when I laid eyes on that particular piece of this six-reference collection, well, I felt a little flutter. The heart wants what the heart wants.

Seiko Redefines the Panda Dial

We tend to associate panda dials with the serious world of motorsports (see TAG Heuer’s most recent take in The Wind Up), and Seiko already has a number of these within its catalogue. However, this week the Japanese brand opted for a significantly less stern take on this classic piece of watch design.

Introducing the HHK001P and HHK002P, two additions to Seiko’s Power Design Project Collection 2. Seiko continues that project’s playful approach to watchmaking (learn more about that here) with subdials shaped into droopy panda eyes, chronograph pushers that curve into adorable black ears, and an embossed radial pattern that gives the dial a fuzzy look.

Are these watches ridiculous? Yes. But in an industry that takes itself entirely too seriously most of the time, it’s always a pleasure to come across a release with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Bremont’s Formidable New Diver

Bremont’s latest release sees the British firm out to reaffirm its tough-as-nails credentials. While I’ll admit that I’m quite partial to the brand’s more elegant jumping-hour offerings, the Supermarine Full Ceramic Deep Blue accommodates an entirely different user base.

Built for the kind of ice-cold expedition that I assumed went out with Sir Ernest Shackleton, this limited-to-250 release has been put through its paces in Iceland’s unforgiving surroundings. It has done so on the wrist of former Royal Marine and Bremont ambassador Aldo Kane as he embarked on cold-water dives, exposed glacier climbs, and trips high into the mountains. After all, we can’t just take a brand’s word for it these days, can we?

The headline feature here is that the watch will accompany you to a depth of 500 metres (a terrifying place to be), thanks to its helium escape valve and screw-down crown. However, the fact that most of these 250 pieces are unlikely to ever approach anything like that kind of depth, well, that’s beside the point. At least you can feel confident doing the dishes without taking it off.