By Jovan Krstevski
Richard Mille has unfurled its novel RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire collection, a trio of timepieces sporting housings largely composed of sapphire. What makes this launch a bit of a departure is that the inner workings weren’t just rejigged; they were conceived and birthed specifically for a sapphire housing, ensuring a proper meshing of form and function.
At 32.90mm x 46.75mm x 14.35mm, the tripartite case is a crystalline fortress. Fashioned entirely from synthetic sapphire, it doesn’t just flaunt transparency but invites scrutiny. The clear variant mimics the motion of waves; the others add a twist with sapphire casebacks in either deep blue or lilac pink, mirroring ocean depths and twilight horizons. Assembled with 24 spline screws in grade 5 titanium and abrasion-resistant washers, it promises resilience while retaining the material’s inherent smoothness.
A fully skeletonized watch face strips away the excess. Super-LumiNova applications enhance legibility, playing with ambient light. The flange, crafted from microblasted red gold and supported by satin-finished titanium columns, exudes a structured yet free-flowing aesthetic. Even the index markers follow the curvature of the movement, reinforcing visual continuity.
Inside, the RM 75-01 calibre hums at 3 Hz, with a 65-hour power reserve. The flying tourbillon and barrel operate without upper bridges, amplifying openness. A 5N gold PVD baseplate contrasts with rhodium-treated wheels, adding warmth to the stark, skeletal architecture.
The RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire is offered on a rubber strap in three versions. The clear sapphire with sea-green strap costs $2,018,000 USD, limited to 15 pieces. The lilac-pink sapphire caseback with pink strap is $2,258,000 USD, limited to 10. The deep sapphire blue caseback with white strap is $2,238,000 USD, also limited to 10.
