By John Galt
Felipe Massa was the first sporting figure to join the family that is Richard Mille, the Brazilian formula 1 driver became an ambassador or the brands “friend” as Richard Mille like to call them back in 2005, so with a decade of collaborating on many pieces together Richard Mille have released two limited edition to mark this milestone of 10 years together.
The RM011 is probably one of the most famous of the Richard Mille designs and a true iconic piece. The self-winding RM011 flyback chronograph featuring an annual calendar with large date window at 12 O’clock is probably their most successful model with over 30 different versions of this model powered by the in-house RMAC1 calibre.
For Felipe Massa’s 10th anniversary Richard Mille have placed the RM011 into a NTPT carbon case (north thin ply technology) which in short is a layered carbon fibre material (no more than 30 microns thick) in which each layer is at 45 degrees to the previous one.
The deep black skeleton dial is accentuated beautifully by the royal blue minute track and bright yellow tachymeter scale hugging the perimeter of the dial. The blue and yellow colour scheme carries on over the rest of the dial indications with blue hour indications, Richard Mille have removed the number 12 instead replacing it the number 19 in homage to Felipe’s racing number with blue & yellow outlining the date window designed like racing stripes.
This is limited to 100 pieces and I’m sure it will become a rare collectors piece. Even rarer will be the second of the two-anniversary editions as Richard Mille are only releasing 10 pieces, called the RM056 Tourbillon Split seconds and what an absolute beauty it is.
The piece runs with the same colour scheme for the tachymeter scale and minute track. They have also added red and yellow coloured hands to the sub-dials but that is where the similarities finish, because just look at that case! Take a good hard look as this tonneau shaped case, it’s made from sapphire crystal. Yes, you read that correct, a sapphire crystal case. This exceptional piece is driven by the manually wound RMCC1 calibre crafted mostly in titanium which features a split second chronograph and a tourbillon escapement with every one of the 500 components on show from whichever angle you look and stare at its exceptional beauty. Both pieces are finished with black or white rubber straps.
Conclusion
Stunning is all that really needs to be said about these limited edition pieces especially that sapphire case showing the beating heart to full effect. Richard Mille has once again released pure unadulterated beautiful horological pieces. For more info, please visit richardmille.com
JOHN GALT – CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
John Galt caught the horology bug back in 2010 on his first visit to a London watch show and has snowballed since; John has become an avid writer and blogger of timepieces of all kinds, from everyday timepieces to modern Luxury HauteHorology, his favorite brands being HYT and GreubelForsey that push the boundaries of modern watch-making. John keeps a keen interest in the UK watch scene with their many emerging brands and timepieces. John Galt currently contributes watch related articles for online publications in the UK and USA. You can follow John on Twitter @johng73 Read his articles here.
