Words: Josh Lee
An absolute vision with its poppy interplay of contrasting gold, yellow, blue and black features, Richard Mille’s RM 17-02 Tourbillon in titanium is the latest statement to be added to the Swiss label’s roster of boundary-shifting wristwear. In signature style of the venture, the watch is built around a tripartite case (complete, of course, with visible spline screws on the flanks) in the iconic tonneau shape, and this particular one is the result of a year of R&D: ‘Everything has been constructed according to extremely rigorous specifications, in the manner of the analytical engineering methods used in the design of Formula 1 racing cars, where the chassis and the engine are developed in complete harmony,’ Richard Mille said in a statement.
Notably, a casing ring no longer features, and the movement is placed on chassis mounting rubbers fixed by four grade-5 titanium screws.
Richard Mille RM 17-02 Tourbillon in titanium, richardmille.com
The case is anchored by a muted, evergreen look, thanks to the use of satin-finished grade 5 titanium – a material that is light yet robust and can withstand impact – and there’s a sapphire dial; bridges that feature 5N gold and blue PVD treatment, offering a modern-luxe feel; numerals in yellow; and the baseplate, too, is produced from grade-5 titanium, and is given a black PVD treatment, the effect of which helps counterbalance the more punchy hues. The final result is a piece of horology that’s rich and dynamic in look and spirit, and yet still retains Richard Mille’s instantly recognisable skeletonised aesthetic.
The manual-winding movement, meanwhile, comprises a 70-hour power reserve, a tourbillon regulator and function indicators – and, in another stroke of innovation, the blocking gear mechanism protects the winding barrel from any potential overwinding. And, as expected, if you wish to observe all the intricacies from the rear, that’s made possible by the sapphire caseback created, like the front, with an anti-glare treatment.
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