Swiss watch brand, Raymond Weil, has unveiled the limited edition freelancer “David Bowie” as a tribute to the life and musical career of one of the most influential artists of all time..
The release of the watch, created in collaboration with the David Bowie Estate, is timed to celebrate what would have been Bowie's 70th birthday. The timepiece is dedicated to a few of the many personas created by the five-time Grammy Winner.
To honor Bowie, Raymond Weil chose its most free-spirited model: freelancer. The 42mm case contains a dial resembling a vinyl record featuring some of the most emblematic design cues of the British artist. A stylized version of the lightning bolt painted across his face that first appeared on the cover of the “Aladdin Sane” album in 1973 is detailed in red at 12 o’clock. The pop art logo "Bowie," revealed on the cover of the album “Diamond Dogs” in 1974 is located above 6 o’clock.
The sapphire caseback has a portrait of David Bowie, immortalized in 1974 by photographer Terry O’Neill.
The watch is powered by the RW4200 automatic movement with a 38-hour power reserve.
“He was an artist in a league of his own, a visionary, multi-faceted icon whose work is testimony to an exceptional career as a musician and a creative,” said Elie Bernheim, Raymond Weil CEO. “His metamorphoses both in terms of style and music studded his career, catapulting both himself and his characters to legendary status.”
Bowie, a prominent figure in popular music for more than five decades, received acclaim as an innovator whose career was marked by reinvention. His visual presentation, music and stagecraft significantly influenced popular music. His record sales, estimated at 140 million worldwide, made him one of the world's best-selling music artists. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.
Bowie died on Jan. 10, 2016, of liver cancer, two after his 69th birthday and the release of the album "Blackstar."
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