Richard Mille kicked off 2023 with an extravagant watch inspired by the world of 1960s rock music. The RM 66 Flying Tourbillon impresses not only with its revolutionary rock and roll design, but also with the technical innovations of the movement.
Swiss brand Richard Mille for 22 years of history has earned a reputation as a rebel in the world of watchmaking. Using extraordinary solutions in the design of the case and dial since the release of the first model, the company instantly established itself in the segment of luxury watch manufacturers. This year, Richard Mille has once again demonstrated its furious innovation with the introduction of the RM 66 Flying Tourbillon.
The RM 66's incredibly intricate, curved, three-sided barrel-shaped case is centered on a golden skeletal hand depicting the symbol of rock music, the "devil's horns".
The creative director of the brand Cecile Gena designed five fingers, which were first polished and then handed over to a master engraver to be brought to perfection by hand. The incredible result of the work required unprecedented skill from the Geneva engraver Olivier Vaucher.
Paying homage to the iconic 052 RM 2012 Skull, Richard Mille has added a skull stamp at 12 o'clock. The RM 052 is the first watch that, according to the company, "embodies the principle of creative freedom and non-conformity, which lies at the heart of the brand's philosophy." The skull motif echoes the spider legs that wrap around the crown. The hour markers are made in the form of a guitar pick, which enhances the aesthetics of the watch.
Continuing with the rock theme, the side of the Grade 5 titanium case is adorned with rose gold plates with a “clou de Paris” motif, a nod to punk rock belts. And the texture of the Carbon TPT® bezel is reminiscent of the static sound of heavy metal.
Impressive and the internal structure of the case, and the mechanism. The hand-wound caliber RM66 is equipped with a quick-winding barrel for a power reserve of up to 72 hours. To achieve maximum transparency, the Grade 5 titanium movement is skeletonized thanks to Richard Mille's intricate solution: a flying tourbillon with variable inertia. The tourbillon carriage, placed at 12 o'clock, is fixed only at one end of the axle, excluding the upper bridge and visually emphasizing the airiness of the caliber. This atypical arrangement, with the movement reversed by 180°, adds dynamism to the tourbillon.
It took Richard Mille 1500 hours of research and development and 9 months of work to realize the idea of a watch. The Richard Mille Horn To Be Wild RM 66 Flying Tourbillon is a limited edition of 50 pieces. The estimated cost of the watch is 1,1 million US dollars.
