With the RM 75-01 Flying Sapphire Tourbillon, Richard Mille has brought a fresh perspective to haute horlogerie. Its highlights include: the interplay of light and shadow, the crystal-clear case structure, and the suspended mechanical movement!
Who hasn't heard of the chicken-and-egg paradox? When asked "which came first," there's no simple answer. Unveiling the secrets of a new watch also raises similar questions: Was the movement conceived before the case? Or vice versa?
However, there's no mystery to it! Circumstances vary. At Richard Mille, the answer remains consistent for every watch. "From the very beginning of a project, all relevant departments are involved. We have extensive discussions and exchanges with the team to determine the direction forward. Simply complicating things isn't enough; consistency and a certain restraint are also necessary," explains Salvador Albonna, the brand's Technical Director, emphasizing that for each watch, "we strive to highlight its technical aspects."
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Honesty and Integrity
This philosophy is fully embodied in the RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire Watch. This timepiece perfectly blends the brand's rigorous mechanical standards with the absolute transparency of its case, meticulously crafted entirely from sapphire crystal. The exquisite craftsmanship is not merely a display, but a breathtaking visual feast. The flying tourbillon operates freely within a boundary-breakingly clear sapphire crystal structure. Light flows freely, perfectly showcasing each component of the RM75-01 movement and its unique finishing techniques, including the mainspring barrel, the central minute bridge, and of course, the regulating mechanism.
The components that make up the iconic tonneau-shaped sapphire case are the result of close collaboration with Stettler AG of Switzerland. This Swiss company is an expert in the Kyriopoulos process, a variant of the Czochralski process, a single-crystal growth technique developed in the early 20th century by the Polish chemist of the same name. This technique involves placing a small "seed crystal" on a surface in contact with alumina material and growing it at a high temperature of 2000 to 2050 degrees Celsius. As the alumina material gradually solidifies around the seed crystal, the crystal grows layer by layer, eventually forming a perfectly uniform structure. This slow growth process takes several days to weeks, ultimately resulting in an optically pure single crystal weighing several kilograms.
Transitioning to Color
However, even with this technique, creating colored sapphire crystals complicates the process. Again, precision dictates the production speed. The amount of pigment or metal oxide added to the substrate must be precisely measured to ensure a uniform color tone without compromising the crystal's purity and strength.
In addition to its exceptional light-diffusing properties, the sapphire crystal used is renowned for its near-diamond hardness, giving it exceptional shock and scratch resistance. Therefore, polishing it to the required size requires immense patience. After more than 1000 hours of processing, including 350 hours of polishing, the curved three-section case is finally formed. Depending on the version, the RM 75-01's case middle layer, bezel, and case back are finished in either a soft pink or blue hue. This showcases a unique expression of haute horlogerie; transparency is not merely an aesthetic choice, but a testament to exquisite craftsmanship. The combination of sapphire crystal and a flying tourbillon creates a masterpiece that perfectly blends ultimate mechanical craftsmanship with visual lightness. This might seem contradictory in other fields, but for Richard Mille, it is a reality.
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