Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

Hong Kong, Jun 27, 2009

LOT 440

Richard Mille, ?Tourbillon RM002? No. 57. Production of this reference started in 2001 Very fine, and unusual, tonneau-shaped and curved, 18K white gold wrist-watch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, torque indicator, power reserve and an 18K white gold Richard Mille buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box and warranty. To be sold without reserve

HKD 550,000 - 850,000

USD 80,000 - 120,000 / EUR 55,000 - 85,000

Sold: HKD 816,000

C. Three-body, bezel with 8 special milled titanium screws, reinforced case band, transparent case back with 4 special milled titanium screws, rubber-coated winding crown with co-axial pushbutton to select a neutral, winding or handsetting position, 2 curved and anti-reflective sapphire crystals. D. Transparent with white Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions with 5-minute luminous dot markers, 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 tourbillon regulator under a V-shaped bridge. Titanium skeleton hands with luminous tips. M. Cal. RM 002-4, titanium, 30 jewels, some in gold châtons, 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, shock-absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 38 x 45 mm. Thickness 11 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 RM 002 Tourbillon features a co-axial button in the crown to select neutral, winding or hand-setting positions, very much like selecting gears in a 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 dreams reality ? but trad tional techniques, materials and skills are still of equal importance in building these radically different watches.