SIHH 2018
RICHARD MILLE
RICHARD MILLE ’ S FOCUS IN 2018 IS POLO — and how to build a watch that protects its complicated movement in the event of virtually any shock . The new RM 53-01 Tourbillon Pablo Mac Donough , a limited edition of thirty pieces , is built with a 44.5mm x 49.94mm x 16.15mm Carbon TPT case , two separate baseplates , and a movement suspended by cables . The result means the watch will withstand a whack that brings a 5,000-G force to the movement . What ’ s more , the watch ’ s crystal is made of two sheets of sapphire glass separated by a thin Polyvinyl film – not unlike automotive safety glass and a first in watchmaking . If , for example , a polo mallet were to smack the watch straight on its face , the glass will crack but not shatter . With anti-reflective and UV coatings , this glass , created with assistance from glass specialist Stettler , is patented to Richard Mille .
This is the second watch made in cooperation with MacDonough ( the first was the tank-like RM053 from 2012 ), and at $ 900,000 is the priciest of the two . Only thirty will be made .
Richard Mille also unveiled the RM 07-01 Gem-Set Black Ceramic . This new version Richard Mille ’ s Ladies Automatic timepiece also represents a first for watchmaking : the only ceramic timepiece ever set with diamonds directly into the ceramic . Pricing has yet to be determined .
SPRING 2018 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 111