High Life

HIGH LIFE #14 Nov 2017 123 Thus, the first Richard Mille watch was born with the RM 001’s release revolutionizing the world of fine watchmaking. That firstmodel, the inspiration ofmany thatwould followin the ensuing years, was consciously meant to serve as the landmark for the brand, an embodiment of concepts that could define a vision of 21st century watchmaking. Within a short time, the terms “futuristic” and “high tech” soon became the buzzwords used while attempting to decipher the emotional attraction the RM001 provoked. A holistic approach to the wristwatch is symbolic of Richard Mille’s methodology: “It is an expression of my love for all things technical and for automobiles and aeronautics in particular. My watches are efficient and uncompromising, with no use of gimmicks.” The characteristic, ergonomic shape of the watchcase has nowbecome thebrand’s iconicvisual identity. Eventhosemodels that stray from the tonneau form, such as the two rectangular models RM 016 automatic and RM 017 tourbillon or the round cased RM 025, RM 033, RM 39-01 and RM 63-01, incontestably possess thebrand’sessenceandare instantaneouslyrecognizable as RichardMille creations at a distance. A watch designed by Richard Mille is marked by the absence of the superfluous. Just as we find in high speed racing cars of today, function dictates form and there is no use and no room for an approach driven solely by aesthetics. For Richard Mille, every screw, every pinion, lever and spring must fulfill its mission, meeting the highest standards of security and precision, exactly like a racing car. This notion is manifested not only visually but also throughout every design choice and every phase of the watch’s production. For Richard Mille, although aesthetics have their place, functionality has always been the highest priority. This is why all models of the collection contain numerous innovative developments inspired by the latest technological developments from the world of F1 racing, the aeronautics and aerospace industry, materials R&D and micromechanics. The quest for perfection is a question of balancing all these features and options. This is precisely why there are virtually no standard pieces inaRichardMillewristwatch; the concept defines the components, the components do not define thewatch. Richard Mille’s watches, these diminutive marvels of technology painstakingly produced in limited quantities, are designed specifically for those with a keen appreciation and love of fine watchmaking. RM 39-01 Automatic Aviation E6-B RM 27-01 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal