The Affordable Modern Automatic Dress Watch From Geneva: Raymond Weil Millesime Small Seconds Review

Winning a prestigious, surprise GPHG award for a humble, entry-level steel dress watch completely shifted how serious collectors view modern Raymond Weil. Ariel Adams goes hands-on with two distinct versions of the Millesime Small Seconds—the original silver-dial flagship and the new grape-colored Tuxedo variant—to examine how this vintage-inspired sector layout has aged into a premier daily wearer. Ariel compares the individual personalities of both references on screen, highlighting the visual contrast between the original’s classic baton markers and the newer Tuxedo edition’s luminous Arabic numerals. The review breaks down the case architecture, detailing the unique bulbous lug shapes, the vertically brushed bezel finish, and the box-style sapphire crystal that successfully drops the case height to a slim 10.25mm thickness. Ariel also covers the practical side of ownership, sharing his perspective on strap versatility, demonstrating the integrated quick-release spring bars, and evaluating the technical performance of the Sellita-based Caliber RW 4251 movement visible through the exhibition caseback. Finally, he traces the historical landscape of why well-designed, independent Swiss dress watches vanished from the retail market for a generation and explains how this $2,295 reference stacks up against modern competitors. Read our full technical reviews and see the deep photo galleries on aBlogtoWatch: https://www.ablogtowatch.com/watch-review-raymond-weil-millesime-automa