Antiquorum Auctioneers since 1974

Important Collector's Wristwatches, P...

Grand Havana Room, May 26, 2004

LOT 300

Richard Mille,?Tourbillon RM002?. Production of this reference started in 2001. Very fine, rare and very unusual, tonneau-shaped and curved, titanium gentleman?s wristwatch with visible one-minute tourbillon regulator, torque indicator, power-reserve and a titanium Richard Mille buckle.

USD 130,000 - 160,000

EUR 110,000 - 135,000

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 hand-setting position, 2 curved and antireflective 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 postion, 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, 23 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.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 1

As new

Movement: 1

As new

Dial: 1 - 01

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.