- I’ve always wanted to have watches that are larger than 40mm.
- Raymond Weil impressed us at Watches & Wonders with their smaller dimensions.
- The Raymond Weil Millesime Automatic Small Seconds is my pick from the 2025 novelties.
A year ago, if you’d told me I’d even consider wearing a 35mm watch, I would’ve laughed in your face and called you a silly, silly person. I’ve always been firmly in the 40 mm-and-up camp. Give me wrist presence. Give me bold lugs and enough dial real estate to track a storm system. Small watches? That was a hard no.
Then came the Raymond Weil Millesime 35mm… and everything changed.
We first spotted it at Watches & Wonders 2025, and it stopped us in our tracks. Quiet confidence. Elegant proportions. Vintage codes without the faux nostalgia. I tried it on… and suddenly, I got it. This wasn’t just a small watch; it was a refined watch. One with purpose and restraint. And it looked bloody great on the wrist.
This new Raymond Weil Millesime lineup includes central seconds models (ref. 2125), moon phase complications (ref. 2145), and even diamond-set lugs for those who want a bit of discreet sparkle. The dials are a mix of denim blue, burgundy, and silver, all with Raymond Weil’s signature sector layout, sapphire glass-box crystals, and delicately textured finishes.
Let’s talk price, because in a world where Swiss watches seem to start at five grand, these are genuinely accessible: Raymond Weil Millesime 35mm with central seconds is available for around $2,300 USD (~$3,650 AUD). Raymond Weil Millesime Moon Phase 35mm ranges depending on configuration and is available for around $3,152 USD (~$4,200 to $4,850 AUD).
All watches are Swiss-made, feature automatic Sellita-based movements, and come with free shipping and returns across Australia.
The Raymond Weil Millesime Central Seconds is My Pick
At 35mm, the Millesime Central Seconds is slim (under 10mm thick); it houses the RW4200 automatic movement, has 50m water resistance, and features a brushed bezel with polished bevels that lift the whole design. There’s a denim blue dial version with 16 lab-grown diamonds on the lugs. It’s a nice touch that doesn’t scream “jewellery piece” but adds a sense of occasion.
If you’re after something a little more poetic, the moon phase version adds an animated complication at six o’clock with a smiling moon, stars, and planets. Still classic, but not too serious. It’s powered by the RW4280 automatic calibre and comes in either a stainless steel case or rose gold PVD, paired with silver or deep blue dials.
And let’s not forget: the Millesime Small Seconds 39.5mm model actually won the 2023 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) Challenge Prize – a massive nod to Raymond Weil’s growing credibility in enthusiast circles.
In a time when everyone’s watching their wallets — and rightly so — this brand makes high-quality, beautifully designed, Swiss-made mechanical watches at prices that don’t feel like daylight robbery. So yeah… I’ve changed. Against all odds, I’ve become the guy who wears a small watch. And not just wears it… loves it. What the hell is happening to me?
