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Cool White in Cambodian Tropical Climes: an on-the-wrist review of the Richard Mille RM055
As you walk out of airport terminal, the heat, the humidity; it hits you full in the face. Hours of flying in pressurized air-conditioned temperature controlled tin cans nulls the senses; the jet-lag only seems to anaesthetize them further. But the humidity and heat: your lungs, the pores on your skin, your eyes; all come to life. And there you are, in the clothes you left a London in winter, you are in the sub-tropical heat and humid climes of Siem Reap, Cambodia. You need to shed the grime and the leaden clothes: you need to cleanse; you need the cool of white. 
The car awaits; the driver is a ghost silhouette in white. A hand motions to the door on the car. The car is a perfectly polished black: an impeccable 1960’s Mercedes limousine. From a car such as this, you expected ‘Odd-Job’, you expected Auric Goldfinger, but no: no need for an obsession with precious metals. Precious metals belong to yesteryear: you have the new world of haute horologerie on your wrist: the esoteric materials and manufacture that make up the cool white RM055. No need for watches made of precious metals; no need for the covert black watch; you have the cool of white!
The ride from the airport to the Villa Princere (as the place was originally known) is only a matter of 15 minutes with your driver expertly dodging the tuk-tuks, pedestrians, and the tourists spilling out of Angkor Wat. A French designed modernist guest house palace, built in the 1960’s (during what is generally regarded as Cambodia’s ‘Golden Age’), and next to the epicenter of the ancient world of Khmer temples; it seemed the perfect place to review a French designed modern watch that moves away from everything that was once seen as accepted in the old world of haute horologerie and yet still remains true to principles of haute horologerie. Although materials and techniques may change, you can still discern when something is ‘right’; that the design, workmanship, and finish exude that certain quality.
What better place to test out if the white of the case and strap, the darkened movement interior, would still work perfectly when in humid and tropical climes; when sitting by the pool, or clambering over ancient temple ruins. It might seem far-fetched, but for a moment, lend me your eyes and humour my thoughts. There are a couple of reasons why this is a valid watch test. 
First, the hypoallergenic properties of the rubber cased titanium watch back and strap is something that would come under scrutiny as you perspire when in humid tropical climates. To make it worse, sight seeing and climbing over temples will only acerbate the problem. So, how does the white coating stand up over time in conditions that are far from ideal to keeping the watch looking pristine white? 
Second, if you are in sunlight, and while the white surfaces will reflect the light and the heat, the darker interior of the watch, with all movement surfaces exposed will attract the heat and the question remains as to how that will affect time keeping.
There is more to this seemingly simple watch than meets the eye.
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To read to rest of Andrew's RM055 review in RM forum, richardmille.watchprosite.com
