Richard Mille revisits the extraordinary movement of the legendary RM 012, reconciling innovations at the level of materials with a testament to horological architecture. Known as the RM 12-01 Tourbillon and available in four different 18-piece limited editions available exclusively at Richard Mille boutiques in the Americas, the construction of the case on the new RM 12-01 Tourbillon follows the tripartite principle in case combinations that all include Carbon TPT.
Originally introduced in 2006, when the company was just five years old, the RM 012 Tourbillon in platinum —only 30 pieces ever produced— was dramatically different in the world of haute horlogerie and visually stunning. The movement’s lines were inspired by architecturally-engineered structural forms, and the tubular, angled configuration offered optimal stiffness and torsional rigidity with exceptional resistance to thermal change and corrosive elements. The functions of the baseplate were uniquely united with those of the movement and bridges, resulting in a technically coherent and visually inseparable whole. Proudly on display, through the sapphire crystal, was the extreme hand-finishing of the movement, with a playful combination of sapphire-blasted surfaces, burnished pivots, satin finishing, circular finishing, and high polish.
Then in 2007, the RM 012 Tourbillon was awarded the Aiguille d’Or —Grand Prize— at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, as well as receiving the Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie Asia Edition for its revolutionary concept. With the RM 12-01, Richard Mille presents a new uncompromising calibre that reinterprets the art and methods of watch design in the 21st century.
Its unibody baseplate, in which the caseband and baseplate have been fused into a single piece was inspired by the chassis of racing cars and enhances rigidity and resistance to impact. A major watchmaking and technological breakthrough, the unibody baseplate is a technical feat that requires in-depth knowledge and mastery of micro-machining new materials —knowledge Richard Mille has nurtured since the very beginning. The baseplate supports the grade 5 titanium bridges, which are highly original in terms of their three-dimensional construction. Extremely stylized, the sharp, streamlined curves of the skeletonized bridges encircling the barrel, the great wheel and the tourbillon radiate to the end of the manual winding calibre. This exceptional and architectural caliber can withstand accelerations of over 5,000 Gs.
The four 18-piece limited editions are fitted with a case measuring 48 mm x 39.30 mm x 13.84 mm and are available in black Carbon TPT, red Quartz TPT, white Quartz TPT and in gold carbon TPT.
Sticker Price Starting at $828,000 USD. For more information on Richard Mille click here.
