Important Collectors' Wristwatches, P...

New York, Jun 10, 2010

LOT 118

Richard Mille White Gold Tourbillon Richard Mille, ?Tourbillon RM 002? No. 62. 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, 70 hour power reserve and an 18K white gold Richard Mille buckle. Accompanied by the original fitted box and warranty. To be sold without reserve

USD 60,000 - 90,000

EUR 47,000 - 70,000 / CHF 67,000 - 100,000

Sold: USD 102,000

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 002-1, titanium, 30 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, shock absorber, self-compensating Breguet balance spring. Dial, case and movement signed. Dim. 38 x 45 mm. Thickness 12 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 1

As new

Movement: 1

As new

Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

What Is a tourbillon regulator ? A Tourbillon is a regulating mechanism in which the escapement of a movement is housed within a revolving carriage. It was developed in an effort to attain better precision. When a watch is in a vertical position, the force of gravity will speed the balance wheel as it moves in its downward (arc) direction and slow it as it moves upward, creating deviational errors of timekeeping. By placing the balance and escapement in a carriage that revolves 360° per minute, these errors become averaged and the timekeeping becomes constant and consequently adjustable. Created by Abraham Louis Breguet in 1795, the tourbillon is considered a difficult and complex achievement by any watch manufacturer.