A month after launching the countdown to its 50th anniversary, RAYMOND WEIL invites Romaric André, the designer behind the label seconde/seconde/, to reinterpret its latest creation: the Toccata Heritage dress watch. In the spirit of a refined game, a horological “Simon Says”, the French designer playfully bends the rules, subverting them with finesse and breathing contemporary life into a timeless staple of the masculine wardrobe.

Forty years ago, Mr. Raymond Weil introduced a case shape that was neither oval nor rectangular, a rare balance, instantly recognisable, and now distinctly vintage. Under the direction of Elie Bernheim, grandson of the founder and current CEO of the independent Geneva-based watchmaking brand, the Toccata line has been modernized while remaining true to its original craftsmanship and spirit.

Born of music and refined by time, at RAYMOND WEIL, music is more than a source of inspiration, it is part of the brand’s very DNA. From The Beatles to Bob Marley, and AC/DC, the brand has always known how to blend rhythm with precision, melody with mechanics. Toccata, from the Italian toccare, “to touch”, embodies both technical virtuosity and emotional expression: a composition performed with the hand… and the heart.

“Sobriety and elegance are the hallmarks of a dress watch. Here, seconde/seconde/ shakes them up with wit and boldness, giving this classic a delightful, offbeat personality that both literally and figuratively captures the very essence of what a dress watch stands for. This small, yet daring step, truly resonates with us and brings an unmistakable smile.”
Elie Bernheim, CEO of RAYMOND WEIL

The Toccata Heritage x seconde/seconde/ limited edition stands manifest to both elegance and humor. How should one adjust a shirt cuff to best reveal the watch beneath? Much like a game of “Simon Says”, where every move only matters if prompted by the magic words, “Raymond Says” here becomes an invitation — to follow, or to playfully defy, the rules of good taste.
With a witty nod, RAYMOND WEIL delights in reinterpreting the gestures and codes that define how a dress watch is meant to be worn.

“Dress codes — the rules of elegance — are conventions worth knowing and respecting, but also ones we should never forget to play with. I therefore needed a distillation of this classic elegance, a pure ‘dress watch’ like the Toccata as my starting point. A sort of essential raw material for carrying out my project, which aims to gently tease the very idea of ‘proper etiquette’”
Romaric André, Founder and designer of seconde/seconde/

The limited-edition reference 2280 plays on a subtle duality; two faces of elegance and precision. Its stainless-steel case houses an anthracite-grey dial distinguished by two contrasting designs. On the left side, an ethereal, almost ghostly finish conceals certain details, echoing the concept itself: the dress shirt cuff should cover at least half of the watch. The matte anthracite opaline finish and glossy transparent transfers of its indexes nonetheless ensure perfect legibility. At 9 o’clock, a yellow inscription sets the tone, or rather, the rule: “Dress shirt cuff should cover at least half of the watch.” In other words: “Raymond Says” a dress watch should only be half revealed.

The luminous, right-hand side reveals subtle, anthracite sunburst reflections and polished minute markers. A small typographic twist: the Swiss-made at 3 o’clock is oriented vertically, as is every visible inscription on the dial.

And to the rear of this creation? A lesson in etiquette. With a nearly-closed case back, the finishing touch by Romaric André is engraved, or, as ‘Raymond Says’: “Never wind your watch while wearing it. Take it off first, then wind it in a dramatic fashion (ideally in the middle of a conversation).” Behind the single visible wheel, the column-wheel, bathed in sunburst reflections and featuring a blued screw under its sapphire crystal, is a discreet homage to the artisanal gestures cherished by collectors, if not to the act of winding the watch itself.

Beneath this refined and spirited appearance, reference 2280 houses a manually-wound mechanical movement within a slim oval case measuring 37.7mm × 32.5 mm and depth of 6.95 mm; a configuration that evokes the golden age of Swiss watchmaking. The Dauphine hands, balanced with counterweights, reinforce the harmony between technical precision and aesthetic beauty. Short, polished lugs, a modernized crown, and calf leather strap complete the silhouette with a newfound fluidity — a coherent, subtle, and perfectly proportioned ensemble.

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