Raymond Weil Celebrate Three Music Legends at Weir & Sons
It was an exciting day at Weir & Sons Grafton street, when we had the pleasure of welcoming three Irish music names to our store to be presented with three special watches. The watches in question have been created by Raymond Weil to pay homage to three of music’s biggest icons of the past century: the Beatles, Buddy Holly, and the most recent addition, the David Bowie timepiece. A celebration of music - Weir & Sons together with Craig Leach, Brand director of Raymond Weil, welcomed Irish music industry heroes to be presented with these iconic watches: Louis Walsh received the Buddy Holly timepiece while Ian Dempsey and Dave Fanning received the David Bowie and The Beatles timepieces respectively. The presentations took place on Monday 9th October 2017 in our Grafton Street Store.
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An impresario of the contemporary and pop music scene in Ireland, Louis’s roots are secured in the guitar riffs of Buddy Holly, globally recognised as the pioneer of Rock ‘n’ Roll. He received the Buddy Holly tribute watch which was co-designed with his wife Maria Elena Holly. This Limited Edition Maestro watch features a pale blue dial which was Holly’s favourite colour.
Lifelong fan Ian Dempsey proved his adoration for the late, great David Bowie during last year’s “Dare to Care” on Today fm, when he has a black star tattooed on his arm as a tribute to the final Bowie Album. Raymond Weil presented Ian with the David Bowie Freelancer featuring the seminal lightning bolt which first appeared across Bowie’s face on the cover of Aladdin Sane, 1973.
Dave Fanning, an authority on the Irish music scene as an Irish Rock journalist, DJ and broadcaster, attributes his love of music as being fostered by The Beatles. In his book ‘The Thing Is …’ he recalls the five-month anticipation he endured for the band’s release of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Dave was presented with The Beatles Abbey Road Limited Edition Maestro.
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Weir and Sons Grafton Street - Ian Dempsey + Bowie Watch, Louis Walsh + Buddy Holly Watch, Dave Fanning + Beatles Watch[/caption]
An Everlasting Legend – David Bowie Freelancer
To celebrate the immortal David Bowie, Raymond Weil has chosen its most free-spirited model – freelancer. Its 42 mm diameter case contains a dial resembling a vinyl record clearly featuring some of the most emblematic design cues of the British artist. The black dial is textured like a vinyl record which is set with stainless steel hour markers. 12 o'clock is marked by the iconic lightning bolt symbol, which marked the release of the Aladdin Sane album in 1973. The watch keeps time with it's mechanical, self-winding movement which is hidden under a portrait of Bowie, famously captured by Terry O Neill. The dial is signed with the pop art BOWIE logo, created by Andy Warhol which appeared on the Diamond Dogs album cover in 1974. Each watch is marked with its unique number as this model is limited to 3000 pieces worldwide.
The Fab Four – the BEATLES Abbey Road Maestro
Raymond Weil continues its collaboration collection with the world’s most famous rock band: The Beatles. The most recent model pays homage to Abbey Road, the last album recorded by the legendary Fab Four and regarded by some as their most influential composition. Limited to 3,000 pieces, this watch is a symbol of the timelessness of a group whose success and history are etched in our minds.
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The BEATLES Abbey Road Maestro by Raymond Weil[/caption]
Housed in a 39.5mm steel case, the dial of the Maestro The Beatles “Abbey Road” Limited Edition is a copy of a vinyl record engraved with microgrooves. Inspired by the iconic cover depicting The Beatles on the world famous pedestrian crossing, the outlined figures of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr stride along the groove of their landmark record: The Fab Four mark 4 o’clock. Possibly the most iconic logo in the music industry signs the vinyl-style dial. The back of the case features The BEATLES logo also, covering the mechanical self-winding RW200 movement.
The Abbey Road timepiece is one of two Beatles watches to be released so far, by Raymond Weil. View the first edition here.
Rock 'n' Roll Pioneer - Buddy Holly Maestro
Designed in collaboration with Maria Elena Holly, the Limited Edition maestro pays tribute to legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll pioneer, Buddy Holly.
This watch has been designed carefully with distinctive features and references to the artist himself. The 39.5mm Maestro is crafted in a polished stainless steel case which houses the RW4250 automatic movement. It is complimented with a silver galvanic dial which has highlights of pale blue: Buddy’s favourite colour. The second hand sub-dial also reflects that soft pale blue, and the hand is complete with the iconic symbol of the musician – a pair or spectacle frames.
The oversized number 9, featured as a reference to Buddy’s lucky number, is balanced by the date dial at the 3 o’clock position and Buddy Holly’s signature signs the centre of the dial. The stainless steel exhibition case back references the tribute to the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation. A contribution from each watch sold will be donated to the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, a charity set up to provide music education and opportunities to young people worldwide.
The Beatles Abbey Road Maestro and David Bowie Freelancer watches are available at Weir & Sons in-store and online.
Buddy Holly Maestro watch coming soon in-store and online at Weir & Sons.
Adapted from original press release by O'Leary PR