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Lot Essay
“Hand gestures, perhaps the most expressive form of body language, are used for sign language, certainly, but also to convey meaning beyond words, from the social conventions of greeting – the most common of which is the handshake – to more subtle cues. But the so-called devil’s horn, where the index and pinky fingers are raised as the thumb holds down the ring and middle fingers, has a particularly colourful identity. Heir to centuries of diverse traditions, beliefs and superstitions, the horn has become a cultural, social and even political phenomenon. Today, it symbolises kinship and inclusion, with a pinch of rebellion and darkness, and a guitar riff screeching in the background… “ - Richard Mille
This awesome and startlingly original Richard Mille flying tourbillon is a fusion of art and technology. The level of hand-finishing throughout is remarkable, not least the beautiful openwork 18k red gold hand created under the supervision of Olivier Vaucher, the famed Genevan engraver. Attached to the barrel bridge, it is of the finest craftsmanship, entirely hand-finished with microblasted and polished finishes.
As expected from Richard Mille, the case is remarkable in its mix of materials, both traditional and state-of-the-art. Made in three parts, the bezel and caseback are machined from Carbon TPT® which in this model has a lustrous almost damascened appearance. Composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fibres which have a thickness of only 30 microns, the carbon fibres are woven on a special machine that modifies the direction of the weft by 45° between layers. The compound is then heated to 120°C at a pressure of 6 bars, the Carbon TPT® is then processed on a CNC machine at Richard Mille’s factory. The caseband is made from grade 5 titanium intersected by red gold polished ‘hobnail’ pattern inserts. One of the most impressive details is the spider or claw-like torque-limiting titanium crown, each crown taking an incredible 12 hours to machine and finish.
This awesome and startlingly original Richard Mille flying tourbillon is a fusion of art and technology. The level of hand-finishing throughout is remarkable, not least the beautiful openwork 18k red gold hand created under the supervision of Olivier Vaucher, the famed Genevan engraver. Attached to the barrel bridge, it is of the finest craftsmanship, entirely hand-finished with microblasted and polished finishes.
As expected from Richard Mille, the case is remarkable in its mix of materials, both traditional and state-of-the-art. Made in three parts, the bezel and caseback are machined from Carbon TPT® which in this model has a lustrous almost damascened appearance. Composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fibres which have a thickness of only 30 microns, the carbon fibres are woven on a special machine that modifies the direction of the weft by 45° between layers. The compound is then heated to 120°C at a pressure of 6 bars, the Carbon TPT® is then processed on a CNC machine at Richard Mille’s factory. The caseband is made from grade 5 titanium intersected by red gold polished ‘hobnail’ pattern inserts. One of the most impressive details is the spider or claw-like torque-limiting titanium crown, each crown taking an incredible 12 hours to machine and finish.