Richard Mille

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Lightness

Just about the whole movement is made from titanium aluminide. While the finish is the ‘industrial’ Richard Mille variety, it matches with the nature of the watch itself. The black back plate gives a stunning relief to the 3-dimensional aspect of the movement. Where as with the RM006, the movement was build from the base plate, with the RM027, the movement and the base plate are suspended above the black base of the case. As such, the 3-dimensional aspect to the movement appears more pronounced and draws the eye into examining the intricate parts therein.

Some of you might be thinking that this is just a high end Swatch – right? I am going to argue that you are not even close. Sure, the case is a fancier form of plastic (carbon content admitted), as is the crown guard. The movement is basic in that it is time only, but it has a tourbillon, and constructed of some lightweight metal. But then, I think you would be missing the point. Who here has ever lusted after a Ferrari; an Enzo perhaps? Or the new Maclaren McLaren MP4-12C? To cut weight, to push the boundaries of what is possible, new materials are introduced into areas where previously no one would have tried. Cars started off being made of steel; engineers such as Bentley and Bugatti started to introduce and experiment with new alloys such as aluminium. You cannot stand still.

You cannot make a watch for the raquet arm of a tennis player from gold! He would be standing there wondering why his timing was off, why nearly every ball either landed in the net, or in the fourth row of the seating. Any watchmaker can have a player stand there with the trophy and their watch after the match. It is another matter entirely to have the player wear it in the match, where the watch is taking continual shocks, and to make sure that when the player lifts the trophy, or seen at his seat, that the watch is still ticking. The watch was developed for a purpose. Over a year of solid research and development went into what appears to be a simple watch. You choose to own one because you love it for what it is; a research piece at the lower bound of what is possible. And if you love it, it will make you smile.



Announced on April Fools day, this watch is no joke! It really is no joke – it is a return to form for Richard Mille and his pushing the boundaries for the tourbillon wristwatch. I have to say that I am smitten by the watch, and if I had the cash, I would. Can you imagine a better sports watch than this one? It has it all: stealth, technology, and a ‘lightness of being’.



On the wrist – it looks perfect. What is missing from the photo is the smile on my face; which then broke into laughter. It was with a great deal of reluctance that I took it off and handed it back.



See it, experience it, if you can. Your smile, and the feeling of the watch on your wrist, will lift the weight in your soul. Fabulous watch!

Thanks for reading

Andrew H

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