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Lot Essay
Richard Mille collectors and aficionados worldwide will immediately recognize the importance of this exceptionally difficult to obtain RM052 Skull Tourbillon. Presented here for the first time at auction, the present watch is further distinguished in being the highly prestigious number “01” of only six examples made in white ceramic and 18k pink gold especially for the Asian market.
The RM 052 Skull Tourbillon is one of the most distinctive and coveted watches ever made by Richard Mille. First introduced at the SIHH in 2011 and launched in 2013, it created a sensation with its dramatic and uncompromising skull design that pushed the barriers of ultra high-end watchmaking in classic Richard Mille style. The skull itself is not purely decorative but acts as a central bridge holding the movement in position. Between the skull’s upper and lower jaws the upper jewel of the balance and tourbillon cage is displayed.
Richard Mille
Nicknamed the ‘billionaire’s handshake’, Richard Mille watches adorn wrists within the most exclusive circles. The brand reinforces this message by partnering with ambassadors such as Felipe Massa, the former Formula One driver, and Rafael Nadal, the tennis champion, among them.
Founded on state-of-the-art technical innovation, artistry and a culture of fine watchmaking, Richard Mille is regarded in many quarters as the ultimate expression of wealth. Established in 1999 with the backing of Audemars Piguet and its legendary development company, Renaud et Papi, the mission was to push high-end, hand-made watchmaking to the very limits of technical innovation.
The size and shape of a Richard Mille watch is instantly recognisable, even from a distance. Inspired by automotive design, the aesthetic is unapologetically bold and, according to Forbes, acquiring a Richard Mille watch is the equivalent of ‘buying a miniature sports car for the wrist’. As Mille himself has said, ‘I want people who see my watches to go, “Wow”!’
The RM 052 Skull Tourbillon is one of the most distinctive and coveted watches ever made by Richard Mille. First introduced at the SIHH in 2011 and launched in 2013, it created a sensation with its dramatic and uncompromising skull design that pushed the barriers of ultra high-end watchmaking in classic Richard Mille style. The skull itself is not purely decorative but acts as a central bridge holding the movement in position. Between the skull’s upper and lower jaws the upper jewel of the balance and tourbillon cage is displayed.
Richard Mille
Nicknamed the ‘billionaire’s handshake’, Richard Mille watches adorn wrists within the most exclusive circles. The brand reinforces this message by partnering with ambassadors such as Felipe Massa, the former Formula One driver, and Rafael Nadal, the tennis champion, among them.
Founded on state-of-the-art technical innovation, artistry and a culture of fine watchmaking, Richard Mille is regarded in many quarters as the ultimate expression of wealth. Established in 1999 with the backing of Audemars Piguet and its legendary development company, Renaud et Papi, the mission was to push high-end, hand-made watchmaking to the very limits of technical innovation.
The size and shape of a Richard Mille watch is instantly recognisable, even from a distance. Inspired by automotive design, the aesthetic is unapologetically bold and, according to Forbes, acquiring a Richard Mille watch is the equivalent of ‘buying a miniature sports car for the wrist’. As Mille himself has said, ‘I want people who see my watches to go, “Wow”!’