Richard Mille returns to its 'first love' with a hand-wound tourbillon in titanium.
The debut of Richard Mille in watchmaking dates back to 2001: the brand launched the RM001 Tourbillon in titanium. What immediately transpired, at first purely visual impact, was the clear and pressing 'motoring' atmosphere. This was not a random choice, consciously dictated by a passion for the world of speed and a desire to transfer its sensations and methods to the world of watchmaking. The evolution of the brand, always focused on innovation and design, has driven further the accelerator pedal on the avant-garde factor, also in terms of materials, and the latest frontiers in this field at Richard Mille have names like Carbon TPT or Quartz TPT.
Composite materials, based on layers of parallel carbon and silicon filaments impregnated with a specific resin, have enabled the Maison to achieve significant progress in terms of inalterability, lightness and resistance. With the new RM 17-02 Tourbillon, the brand returns invece to the more 'traditional' use of titanium, the perfect combination of lightness and strength, with that eye-catching brushed finish typical of early Richard Mille.
In the titanium case, the movement is perfectly integrated by Richard Mille, just like the chassis of a car
The bridges of the RM17-02 Tourbillon shine thanks to blue PVD treatment and 5N gold.
The sapphire crystal dial shows the complex architecture of the RM17-02 skeletonised manual calibre with its blue PVD and 5N gold-treated bridges. The base plate, which supports the tourbillon with a variable-inertia balance and a fast-rotating barrel (one revolution in 6 hours instead of 7.5), is machined from grade 5 titanium with a black PVD treatment.
The power reserve is 70 hours, displayed at 2 (far too traditional, but definitely indispensable for a manual winder). Similar to a car's gearbox, the function indicator by means of a pointer at 4 o'clock allows you to see the function engaged, recharge, neutral and time setting, which can be set with the crown pulled out: W' for load movement; 'N' for neutral, with the crown spinning, to be set in normal use; "H' for time remittance only.
The construction of the RM17-02 Tourbillon, with its clear automotive inspiration, leaves room for original and successful solutions
La cRichard Mille's dynamometric crown serves to protect the movement from damage due to excessive pressure during winding.
The tourbillon cage is naturally made of titanium, with a high-tech ceramic counter-pivot. The dynamometric crown from Richard Mille protects the reloading shaft and prevents the barrel from being damaged by excessive pressure.
The titanium tonneau case of the RM17-02 Tourbillon (40.10 x 48.15 x 13.08 mm) is characterised by an anatomical profile that is more accentuated at the top and less so at the bottom. It is sandwiched, with the bezel and back that close on the case middle by means of eight through screws. It is available with a blue or black strap.
Priceon request.
