Friends from Place Vendome

Mar 09, 2010,12:54 PM
 

Early in 2006, with the 150th Anniversary of Boucheron around the corner, Richard and a former neighbour and friend on Place Vendome: Jean-Christophe Bedos (CEO of Boucheron) decided on a collaborative venture. To create a unique watch, a watch of substance, and yet a simple jeweled mechanism. I asked Jean-Christophe why Richard? And likewise, I asked Richard, why now, why for the Boucheron anniversary? Even before founding Richard Mille watches, while CEO at Mauboussin, Richard had played around with the idea of creating a watch using precious or semi-precious stones.



Jean-Christophe answered: “…it is because we were friends before that we decided to work on something unique together. Richard decided to use Boucheron's 150th Anniversary celebrations as an opportunity to create the RM018: a jewelled watch with all the stones inside, and no stone set outside".

For Richard, he decided to use the ideas he had fostered for some time simply out of friendship; for his friend Jean-Christophe. Richard wanted to create osmosis between the skills of the jeweler and the skills of haute horologie. And this is what has been accomplished with this truly unique watch. The RM018 is a watch as a jewel and a jewel of a watch. Hold a jewel to the light, and look deeply into the gem, and the colour, fissures, edges, and clarity all become apparent. The characteristics of the jewel change in the light of the day, each time it is held to the light, each time we gaze into the heart of the gem. So it is with the RM018.

I was allowed unprecedented access to some of the research around the RM018 and below is a look at the devotion to achieving the near impossible.





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‘A Jewel of a Watch’: the Richard Mille RM018 ‘Hommage a Boucheron’.

 
 By: 219 : March 9th, 2010-12:53
The RM 018 "Hommage à Boucheron" represents the interesting union between jewelry and watch making, bringing the best of both worlds into one. Boucheron with exquisite jewelry design with Richard Mille’s revolutionary technical skills in watch making. Thi...  

Friends from Place Vendome

 
 By: 219 : March 9th, 2010-12:54
Early in 2006, with the 150th Anniversary of Boucheron around the corner, Richard and a former neighbour and friend on Place Vendome: Jean-Christophe Bedos (CEO of Boucheron) decided on a collaborative venture. To create a unique watch, a watch of substan...  

Perpetual Research

 
 By: 219 : March 9th, 2010-12:55
Showing a computer rendering of the watch to the world is one thing; developing and producing working watches for the end collector is another. Add to the mix that you have included semi-precious gem stones as integral parts of the cog wheels in the drive...  

They are making wagon-wheels!

 
 By: aaronm : March 9th, 2010-14:49
That "heat it and then let is cool down to apply compressive force" technique is exactly how tires (really steel rings) were put on wooden wagon wheels... I guess this would then qualify as "re-inventing the wheel" A

Inspiration can come from anywhere! True - and if

 
 By: 219 : March 11th, 2010-08:15
it worked well for the pioneers across America, it works well for pioneers in haute horologie! Thanks for reading. Andrew H

A Unique Watch in Every Sense.

 
 By: 219 : March 9th, 2010-12:56
The watch is unmistakably Richard Mille; it is unmistakably Boucheron. The tonneau case shape with the lateral struts, but with the Boucheron line pattern on the upper part of the case. As a synthesis it is genius. This watch has no parallel; it is for al...  

Stunning timepieces.

 
 By: VMM : March 9th, 2010-15:33
Saw them at the SIHH and found them very attractive. The colors from the wheels were very beautiful. Thanks for sharing. Vte

I think once all watches are assembled, it would be

 
 By: 219 : March 11th, 2010-08:16
fabulous to take pictures of all of them together. Personally waiting to see the lapis and the coral. Thanks Andrew H

Andrew, well done and thanks for sharing.

 
 By: Davo : March 9th, 2010-18:09
Always a pleasure to see these most beautiful pieces.

Thanks Andrew for this wonderful review!

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : March 9th, 2010-19:20
I can only imagine how tough it is to make these cog wheels. And a rejection rate of 90%? Not very cost effective but guess you got to do what you got to do to make the innards of the RM18. The red/pink coral and lapis versions will look amazing since the... 

Thanks Anthony - yes, all will carry the same engraving

 
 By: 219 : March 16th, 2010-02:02
on the top plate: it is the Boucheron case design. As I said, it is uniquely Boucheron; uniquely Richard Mille - and the case design reflects that - it is recognizeable as both. Andrew H

marvelous

 
 By: Tony A.H : March 10th, 2010-05:00
but my Heart is Aching righ now. sigh .so goegeous.!!!!!!!! Tony

You really should try to get to see one in the flesh...

 
 By: 219 : March 16th, 2010-02:12
so much more than my photos can convey. Thanks for reading Andrew H

Awesome RM report and pics Andrew!

 
 By: DRMW : March 10th, 2010-08:25
Lots of cool stuff from RM, thanks for keeping us updated! -MW

Finally rational....

 
 By: MTF : March 10th, 2010-19:49
I've always respected Richard Mille Watches and Renaud & Papi for their material science developments. The price-to-horology ratio?.....Not so much! Too expensive for what you get --- not optimum for regular collectors. But who said RM collectors are "reg... 

It is a winner - technically and aesthetically about as

 
 By: 219 : March 16th, 2010-02:32
far up the horological tree as you can go. Thanks for reading. Andrew H

I saw a press photo of the tiger's eye version...

 
 By: dxboon : March 10th, 2010-20:42
...in the summer of 2008, and thought the watch amazing then, as I do now. IMO the union of Boucheron and Richard Mille has brought forth remarkable fruit! The view into the skeletal heart of the watch is so airy and light-filled. I love the way light fil... 

Thank you for the kind words Daos - the watch when

 
 By: 219 : March 16th, 2010-02:35
held to the light, or worn on the wrist is truly a jewel. Not my taste - always loved the RM006 myself - but can appreciate what a masterpiece this is. Thanks again Andrew H

Thanks for the great report Andrew. Any idea

 
 By: SJX : March 11th, 2010-02:05
how the stone wheels will last over time? - SJX

As the stones are kept in place by frictional force, they should

 
 By: 219 : March 16th, 2010-02:38
last as long as any wheel in a watch. There has been testing on wear and tear and so far, once the wheel is set (and no cracks!!), the wheel is fine. Getting it right at the first instance is the all important tricky hurdle. Thanks Andrew H

Great post Andrew ...

 
 By: p@trice : March 11th, 2010-02:37
Thanks for sharing Best Patrice

It's not a juxtaposition one would normally expect . . .

 
 By: Dr No : March 11th, 2010-10:27
. . . but inside every technician, there lurks the heart of an artist ;-) . . .

Amasing...

 
 By: DonCorson : March 12th, 2010-10:53
I saw some wheels mounted with different stones at RM in Geneva 2 or 3 years ago and have been wondering if they were going to surface again. This is a great achievement. Using natural stone with all its inconsistancies is a real challenge. Great work and... 

Yes, the watch has had a full-time team for the last 3 years!!

 
 By: 219 : March 16th, 2010-02:43
It has taken an immense amount of patience, trial, effort to produce the two watches so far. The series when complete will be stunning, original, and truly a rare piece to be seen. Thanks Andrew H

Stunning.

 
 By: Davo : March 9th, 2010-18:08
And how much are those again?

A LOT! But considering the uniqueness, research, and originality

 
 By: 219 : March 16th, 2010-02:45
- its worth the price tag if you can afford the outlay! Andrew H

Wow... Those are beautiful...

 
 By: Chris Agostino : March 9th, 2010-19:47
I didn't think I would like the RM018 based on the original images that were released, but after seeing these photos I am totally smitten. They look fantastic. It is great to see that Richard Mille is not content to sit back and let his previous work defi... 

Great report...

 
 By: chris4 : March 10th, 2010-01:04
..thanks for the write up. Must admit I am a bit indifferant to this watch...love the movement and all the 'cleverness' in developing the piece, but cannot really get on with the case, would love to see it in a less shiny & less ribbed case!

But then it would not be 'Hommage a Boucheron'. It is a

 
 By: 219 : March 16th, 2010-02:49
jewelry piece and hence, I think it would be missing something if the case was not polished, was not the Boucheron case design. Thanks for reading Chris Andrew H

Richard, as we will see a little later this year, is perpetually

 
 By: 219 : March 16th, 2010-02:47
pushing the envelope. It is the very facet that makes his watches so exciting. Andrew H

Thanks a lot Andrew for the post.

 
 By: foversta : March 10th, 2010-14:02
The Boucheron style of the RM case works quite well I must confess. Shall I add that another surprise will come from Boucheron before the end of the year ? But a RM one. Fr.Xavier

Great post about the RM018 and the cog wheels

 
 By: ED209 : March 10th, 2010-21:14
Thanks Andrew for such an awesome post about the RM018. Those cog wheels using the onyx discs are amazing. I hope to see one in person some day. Regards, ED-209

Stunning

 
 By: Da Guru : July 21st, 2010-16:26
I like what is known today as 'bling' and this is of the cultured variety much like a baguette set rm12 I once owned.