Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

New York, Dec 07, 2005

LOT 310

?Tourbillon RM003? Richard Mille, ?Tourbillon RM003?. Production of this reference started in 2003. Very fine, rare and very unusual, tonneau-shaped and curved, two-time zone, 18K white gold gentleman?s wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, torque indicator, power-reserve and an 18K white gold Richard Mille buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box and certificate.

USD 80,000 - 100,000

EUR 65,000 - 85,000

Sold: USD 126,000

C. Three-body, solid, bezel with 8 special milled titanium screws, reinforced case band, transparent case back with 4 special milled titanium screws, rubber-coated winding crown with coaxial push button to select a neutral, winding or hand-setting position, button at 9 to select the second time-zone, 2 curved and anti-reflective sapphire crystals. D. Transparent with white Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions with 5-minute luminous dot markers, concentric 12-hour disc for the second timezone function, at 1 sector for the torque indication, at 4 indicator for the winding, neutral and hand-setting position, at 11 sector for the up-and-down indication, at 6 aperture for the visible tourbillon regulator under a V-shaped titanium bridge. Titanium ?skeleton? hands with luminous tips. M. Cal. RM 003-4, titanium, 31 jewels, some in gold chatons, lateral lever escapement with one-minute tourbillon regulator, titanium tourbillon cage with 3 equidistant polished arms, monometallic balance with ceramic cap jewel, adjusted to heat, cold and 5 positions, shockabsorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 39 x 48 mm. Thickness 14 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 1

As new
Movement: 1

As new
Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

Richard Mille After a long and successful career in the watch industry, in 2001 Richard Mille presented his own line of watches and met immediate success with his very unconventional and radical high-tech approach to fine watchmaking. His timepieces break new technical and esthetical ground ? taking inspiration from Formula One racecars, materials and production processes. They are developed in close cooperation with Audemars Piguet?s Renaud & Papi, one of the watch industry?s most innovative technical leaders. Using materials like ceramic, titanium or chronifer, an anti-magnetic alloy, the Richard Mille watches feature a co-axial button in the crown to select neutral, winding or hand-setting positions, very much like selecting gears in a race car. A torque indicator displays the actual strength of the mainspring and a ceramic endstone on the balance reduces friction to a higher degree than a traditional cap jewel. The eyes and hands of experienced watchmakers bring Richard Mille?s progressive dreams to reality ? traditional techniques, materials and skills are still of equal importance in building these radically different watches.