Richard Mille is rightly renowned for the technical sophistication of its watchmaking, its willingness to explore unorthodox dimensions in watch aesthetics, and its creativity and passion for innovation.
Now, with the RM 17-01 Tourbillon “snow setting”, the house highlights another aspect of its agenda-setting watches: their status as beautiful pieces of jewellery.
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Richard Mille’s expertise with precious stones is highlighted on the RM 17-01 Tourbillon with a dramatic covering of diamonds on its case, showcasing the Swiss luxury watchmaker’s skill as a jeweller.
This is a watch with a case that sparkles like sunlight glinting off snow. It’s based on previous iterations of the classic RM 17-01 Tourbillon. Here, though, the watch gets a sprinkling of fairy dust, courtesy of Richard Mille’s jewellery artisans.
They individually secure diamonds directly onto the case of the watch, which is tonneau shaped and comes in red or white gold. The diamonds are attached with prongs and arranged precisely, so that stones of different sizes perfectly fill the dimensions of the watch in a harmonious pattern.
The irregular nature of the diamond setting means that every RM 17-01 Tourbillon timepiece is a unique creation that bears the hallmarks of its creators’ hands.
A study in contrasts, the watch accompanies the delicate, sparkling stones of its case with the technical achievements showcased on its dial. As ever with Richard Mille timepieces, the watch is dramatically skeletonised, with a dial that’s barely there, creating the impression that the Arabic numerals are hovering above the movement, which is surrounded by a minute track arranged around the inside of the bezel.
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The manufacturer has become a master of slimline movement design, and the calibre RM017 at the heart of this one, made from grade 5 titanium, is among the thinnest tourbillon movements ever created, measuring just 4.65mm thick. It comes with hours, minutes, a scale indicator that shows the level of the 70-hour power reserve at 2 o’clock, and a function indicator at 4 o’clock – the latter resembling a car’s gearbox, with winding, neutral and hand setting positions.
On top of all that, there’s also a tourbillon at 6 o’clock. The movement features a fast rotating barrel for improved performance, while a torque limiting crown protects it from overwinding.
In short, the brains of the RM 17-01 Tourbillon are just as showstopping as its beauty.
