Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Jimi Hendrix™ Limited Edition
Swiss watchmaker RAYMOND WEIL pays tribute to legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix with its newest Limited Edition freelancer chronograph, inspired by the musician’s timeless Woodstock performance.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the famous festival, one of the most pivotal live music events in history, which saw Hendrix perform his renowned rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.
RAYMOND WEIL chose its flagship freelancer collection to capture Jimi Hendrix’s free-spirited attitude and classic trademarks. His famous 1968 white Fender Stratocaster inspired many of the dial’s details, including the ten dotted index markers that mimic the frets on his guitar neck and circular border representing the six guitar strings.
Hendrix was known for his signature left-handed guitar technique, visible in the Fender guitar counter weight design of the second hand. He wore an unforgettable cyan blue ensemble with an Aztec guitar strap on the Woodstock stage; the color is prominently accented on the second and sub-dial hands while the embossed design on the watch face calls attention to the Aztec pattern.
Crafted in Geneva by RAYMOND WEIL’s in-house watchmakers, the timepiece maintains the freelancer collection’s case design in a matte finish, original chronograph push buttons and classic brown leather strap.
The tachymeter ring is detailed with the singer’s famous quote, “Music is my Religion” alongside his name, and the case back is finished with the Authentic Hendrix logo, giving his estate’s seal of approval.
The timepiece is limited to just 500 units worldwide; each with its own numbered case back and certificate of authenticity signed by Jimi’s sister, Janie Hendrix.
Each timepiece is packaged handsomely in a blue and white commemorative box, paying homage to Woodstock. It is completed with a funky tie-dye interior to proudly display your timepiece.
Technical details
Model: Raymond Weil Freelancer Chronograph Jimi Hendrix Limited Edition
Reference 7730-STC-JHDX1
Movement
Mechanical chronograph with automatic winding, with day and date function
Power reserve: 48 hours
Jewels: 25
Functions
Day and date window at 3 o’clock
Chronograph
– Seconds counter in the center
– 30 minutes counter at 12 o’clock
– 12 hours counter at 6 o’clock
Case
Round – stainless steel, with grey PVD coating
Diameter: 42 mm | Thickness: 13.8 mm
Screwed-down crown with RW logo
Sapphire crystal glass with dual-sided antiglare treatment
Case back: Screwed-down, with Authentic Hendrix logo on sapphire crystal
Water-resistance: 10 ATM
Dial
Grey dial with indexes shaped as JH’s guitar microphones
Hands
Galvanic coating, barrel-shaped
Hours / minutes: Nickel plated microball- sandblasted enhanced with white Super-Luminova®
Second-hand: Counterweight in the shape of guitar head, but turned backwards, the way Jimi Hendrix used to hold and play hi guitar. The blue colour comes from the outfit, Jimi Hendrix wore at Woodstock.
Bracelet
Genuine calf leather strap
RW stainless steel folding clasp with double push-security system
About Jimi Hendrix
Recognized the world over as one of the most creative and influential musicians of the 20th century, Jimi Hendrix’s innovative electric guitar style influenced a multitude of modern musicians, from George Clinton to Miles Davis, and Joe Satriani to Jonny Lang.
Influenced by such artists as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Holly, and Robert Johnson, Hendrix, without reading music, taught himself to play first using a $5 second-hand acoustic guitar. Later, when his father presented him with his first electric guitar, a Supro Ozark 1560S, he forever changed the musical landscape.
Hendrix, who generated an amazing collection of songs over the course of his short career, forged a new sound that embraced the genres of blues, ballads, rock, R&B and jazz which continues to make Hendrix one of the most popular figures in the history of rock music.
Are You Experienced, a psychedelic musical compilation released in 1967 by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Hendrix, drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding), featuring anthems of a generation – “Hey Joe,” “Purple Haze,” “The Wind Cries Mary,” “Foxey Lady,” “Fire,” and “Are You Experienced?” – has remained one of the most popular rock albums of all time.
Hendrix also made history in June 1967, with the incendiary performance of “Wild Thing” at the Monterey International Pop Festival and, in 1968, with the release of Axis: Bold as Love, both of which contributed to The Jimi Hendrix Experience ranking as one of most popular and highest grossing touring acts in the world.
In August 1969, Hendrix performed the iconic renegade version of “Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock, forever defining the spirit of that generation. That New Year’s Eve, with bassist Billy Cox and Electric Flag Drummer Buddy Miles, Hendrix would perform and record a series of four performances later released on the quintessential Band of Gypsys album in mid-1970 (and the expanded Hendrix: Live at The Fillmore East in 1999).
Back in the studio in 1970, Hendrix recorded several tracks for another two album set, tentatively titled First Rays of The New Rising Sun. With Hendrix’s tragic and untimely death on September 18, 1970, the album was finally released in 1997 through the support of his family and original studio engineer Eddie Kramer.
About Authentic Hendrix, LLC and Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.
Founded in 1995 by James ‘Al’ Hendrix, Jimi’s father, Experience Hendrix has been run, since its inception, by the family members handpicked by Al during his tenure as Chairman.
As a part of their daily operations, Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix oversee Jimi’s timeless legacy on a worldwide basis. They are the official family companies charged with managing the music, name, image and likeness of Jimi Hendrix. Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix own hundreds of registered trademarks worldwide, and own all of the copyrights in the Jimi Hendrix music catalog.
