What seems like an easily decipherable element in nature often holds the most magical power—such as air, water, and light. Renowned luxury sports watchmaker RICHARD MILLE unveils the new RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire Crystal Watch. While sapphire crystal appears to have a strong transparency and high light permeability, it also incorporates the iconic Gothic architectural features from Medieval Europe within its movement. A perfect blend of both contemporary and classical, it showcases the beauty of a composite era.
Lightweight, ultra-thin, skeletonized movement, and complex functions—these are characteristics almost synonymous with RICHARD MILLE timepieces. In comparison, the flying tourbillon at the six o’clock position is a relatively effortless feat for the brand.
However, the standout feature of the RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon lies in its innovative conceptual design. The movement is infused with Gothic architectural elements, evoking images of churches throughout its details. For instance, the bezel and the side structure of the movement resemble the ribbed vault structure of Gothic architecture, while the flying barrel at twelve o’clock mimics the rose window of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The overlapping triangular five-level titanium alloy base plate, highly skeletonized, creates a metallic lace-like effect. Additionally, after being treated with 5N rose gold PVD, the silver-gray and brown tones of the movement’s components take on a warm, soft feel, balancing the cold, hard nature of the metal.
Looking from the outside in, the sapphire crystal case is another highlight of this timepiece. Since 2012, RICHARD MILLE has been using transparent sapphire crystal cases, pushing the boundaries of color and transparency. However, creating colored sapphire crystals is more challenging than transparent ones, as it requires the integration of metal oxides into the crystal structure to generate color. The process demands precise temperature control to prevent uneven hues or bubbles, which is why colored sapphire crystal watches are so rare.
Given that synthetic sapphire has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and a Vickers hardness of 2,000—second only to diamonds—it is highly scratch-resistant. Consequently, the processing of these components requires a precision of micron-level tolerances. The RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire Crystal Watch is available in three variations: all transparent sapphire crystal, transparent sapphire crystal case with a light purple sapphire crystal back, and transparent sapphire crystal case with a blue sapphire crystal back. When light passes through the case, it resembles the stained glass windows of European medieval churches, flowing with stories of saints or grace.
However, cutting a three-piece case from a raw crystal weighing several dozen kilograms takes 1,000 hours of labor, and polishing alone requires 40 continuous days. This proves the timeless truth that “time is money.” Each model is limited to only 10 or 15 pieces, with pricing available upon request at authorized retailers.
