Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The Raymond Weil Toccata Heritage is an Attainable, Elegant Take on the Elliptical Shaped Watch (Incl. Video)
A classic dress watch with an elegant elliptical case and an attainable price.
Following the success of the Millesime collection, a series of vintage-inspired, 1930s-based watches that have been praised by enthusiasts and industry insiders (including us), Raymond Weil is back with yet another “Heritage” collection, despite being a relatively young brand founded in 1976. Surfing on the renewed interest for shaped, classic and dressier timepieces, the brand introduces the Toccata Heritage. Referring to a virtuoso piece of music often composed for pianos and organs, the Toccata is about as classy as things can get. A refined and elegant shape, only two hands, a mechanical movement at heart, and a fair price. Let’s see if this elliptical take on the dress watch lives up to the expectations, as we go hands-on, with photos and video, with the new Raymond Weil Toccata Heritage Collection.
The name Toccata is not new to Raymond Weil, even though this design plays a different tune than what most of you might be familiar with. For nearly 50 years, the Toccata has explored the realms of shaped dress watches, finding inspiration in classically composed music. Currently, the range comes in rectangular or round cases, including the Toccata Square and Toccata Classic series. Both rely on proven design codes, such as Roman numerals, slim lugs, and a rather slender profile. But that’s about the change with this new Toccata Heritage.
The new elliptical Toccata Heritage
This Toccata Heritage Collection feels entirely new for the brand, yet the overall design, composed of soft and elegant shapes and lines, is a classic of the watch industry. The best way to describe this shape is with the words elliptical or ellipse, which some might immediately associate with the Golden Ellipse of Patek Philippe, but which has also been widely used by Universal Genève, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin, to name a few. This design, often seen without lugs, was highly popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
For its Toccata Heritage Collection, Raymond Weil reinterprets this emblematic vintage shape in a compact, softly elongated version. Hitting the classic dress watch mark, the case measures 33mm across, 38mm in length and has a slim profile of just 6.95mm. One important element to mention here is that RW chose a case with lugs rather than a more traditional construction with the bracelet or strap attached under the case. This gives the Toccata a bit more personality and adds a bit more presence on the wrist, despite its petite profile. On my 18cm wrist, it certainly doesn’t feel too small. Actually, I’d say it has the perfect dress watch dimensions.
The stainless steel case is polished throughout, but is also available with a rose gold PVD coating to jazz it up a notch. The fluted crown might look undersized, but it pulls out quite easily as the case flank angles inwards ever so slightly, creating a small recess to grip it. On top, a sapphire crystal follows the case’s profile, and the back is also open, revealing the movement. Water-resistance is rated at 30 metres.
In addition to several smaller versions powered by a quartz movement, the mechanical version of the Toccata Heritage is available in three editions: two classic models in polished steel, either with a silver or blue dial, and a more precious (potentially the most appealing) version with gold PVD coating and a light copper-toned dial. On all versions, the watch is as pure and classic as it can be, with only minimal indications and markings. The dial has a very fine sunray-brushed pattern radiating from the centre.
Then come slender, polished and slightly faceted Dauphine hands for the hours and minutes. The outer perimeter features a printed minute track and applied, polished hour markers. The finishing touch is the printed Raymond Weil logo at the top, and that really is it. Nothing more, but certainly nothing less.
Slim hand-wound movement
The opposite side of the Toccata Heritage features an oval-shaped crystal (a nice touch) that reveals the movement. As always with Raymond Weil, we’re talking about tried-and-tested Swiss-made movements that, if nothing spectacular, are reliable and allow for a reasonable price. The beating heart of the Toccata Heritage is a slim hand-wound movement, dubbed the calibre RW4100, based on the Sellita SW210-1. The latter is an alternative to the ETA 2801, itself a hand-wound version of the emblematic ETA 2824.
Measuring 25.6mm by 3.35mm, this movement is the main reason for the Toccata’s slimness. It displays only hours and minutes, but this is basically all you want in a dress watch. The finishing is minimal, with brushed bridges and blue screws, and engravings filled in blue. This movement runs at a rate of 28,800 vibrations/hour and delivers a power reserve of 45 hours.
The Raymond Weil Toccata Heritage comes on a grey or blue leather strap with a steel pin buckle that matches the case. Also, a nice touch: the spring bars are slightly curved to follow the case’s curvature, making for a very neat integration. The blue edition is also available on a steel multi-link bracelet with a folding clasp, adding a slightly more contemporary touch.
Thoughts, availability & price
Spending time with this Toccata Heritage shows that Raymond Weil has found a very soothing rhythm, first with the handsome Millesime line, and now with this new, elliptical, thin, hand-wound dress watch. The Toccata is gracious, elegant, and refined, without making things unnecessarily complex. Or expensive… And with the renewed interest in elegant, compact watches, Raymond Weil is once again on trend.
The Raymond Weil Toccata Heritage Collection is now available as part of the permanent collection. The prices range from EUR 1,495 in stainless steel to EUR 1,595 for the blue dial on the stainless steel bracelet, and EUR 1,625 for the gold PVD Copper Toccata. For more details, please visit www.raymond-weil.com.
