With 23 years of peerless artistry, Richard Mille has set lofty standards for haute horology.
The brand was founded in 2001 by marketing executive and entrepreneur Richard Mille and watchmaker Dominique Guenat, in partnership with Swiss watch brands Guenat S.A. Montres Valgine and Audemars Piguet. They launched their very first watch, a manual RM 001 tourbillon with power reserve and torque indicators, in 2001 at a watch and jewellery exhibition in Baselworld, Switzerland.
Within a few years, the brand established its superiority in luxury watchmaking. It joined the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie in 2007, just six years after its establishment. Today, few brands can boast the cachet of Richard Mille; celebrities and multimillionaires proudly flaunt their majestic RM watches.
Read on to discover the most expensive Richard Mille watches of all time.
RM 52-01 Skull Tourbillon “Vanitas Vanitatum”: $5.7 Million
The Vanitas Vanitatum, literally translating to “vanity of vanities,” is a model shrouded in many rarities. This beauty is one of the brand’s most recognisable models, having been spotted on Sylvester Stallone’s wrist in several action films such as Rocky and Rambo.
It is a rare harmony of two Richard Mille trademarks – the RM 052 Tourbillon Skull-inspired skull and RM 56-01’s signature transparency. The three-dimensional skull plate serves as the movement’s centre bridge. Four bridges evocative of pirate ship crossbones link the movement to the brown sapphire crystal case, which is its most striking feature.
The Vanitas Vanitatum is symbolic of the transience of time, designed to remind the wearer of this watch to savour every moment of life. Brimming with poetic significance and tasteful opulence, it was a limited edition series comprising only 21 units. One of these pieces was auctioned for £5,793,547 at the Antiquorum in Monaco in 2020.
RM 52-01 Blue Sapphire Tourbillon Skull Edition: $3.1 Million
With only three units of this model ever made, the RM 52-01 Blue Sapphire is one of Richard Mille’s most unattainable wonders.
Sapphire is famously a difficult gem to sculpt, due to which this model was painstakingly handcrafted. So, Richard Mille worked with Stettler of Lyss, an expert in sapphire crystal, to make this masterpiece.
The signature three-dimensional skull takes centre stage, acting as a baseplate, concealing the watch’s tourbillon complications, encased in an iridescent blue sapphire case. The three sapphire cases took 40 hours and an additional 350 hours to complete. The base of the watch is transparent, giving onlookers the impression that the watch is hovering over the wearer’s wrist.
Jay-Z’s Richard Mille Watch: $2.3 Million
The eminent rapper has flaunted his exclusive Richard Mille on several occasions, most notably in his song Boss – “100 million crib, three million watch. All facts.”
The watch Jay Z owns is the RM 001, Richard Mille’s first ever creation, of which only 17 units were made. This watch bears testimony to the company's relentless pursuit of perfection and inventiveness, as it was an utterly unique piece for its time. In spite of tourbillons being inefficient and frail at the time, Mille went ahead with a seemingly foolhardy plan of creating a resilient and precise tourbillon watch. Fortunately, he succeeded, redefining the horology landscape for years to come.
Jay Z proudly wears an authentic 2001-era RM 001, which went for $2.3 million at a Christie’s auction.
RM 27-04, Rafael Nadal Watch No. 4: $2.5 Million
The RM 27-04 was custom-made for and worn by none other than the Spanish tennis prodigy and “King of Clay,” Rafael Nadal. This watch is born of a longstanding friendship between the tennis player and the watch maestro, a bond fostered by a passion for pushing boundaries. It symbolises power and perseverance, aptly embodying both Mille’s and Nadal’s gusto.
Strikingly light, it weighs a mere 30 grammes, encompassing Mille’s iconic tourbillon calibre. The movements are laid on a micro-blasted mesh, woven like a tennis racquet with single braided steel cable. Encased in a rare case made of TitaCarb, the whole case can withstand accelerations beyond 12,000 g’s, demonstrating the watch’s sheer tenacity.
Among the many custom Richard Mille watches Nadal has sported on court, the RM 27-04 is the most expensive one, valued at $2.52 million. Only 50 units were manufactured.
Richard Mille Panda RM 26-1: $1.6 Million
A delightful harmony between extravagance and quirkiness, the Panda RM 26-1 was created to celebrate and spotlight the endangered species.
This limited edition series comprising 15 units serves as a tribute to the animal that's largely viewed as a global ambassador of peace.
The baseplate is made with onyx, a gem believed to absorb negative energy and shield people from emotional instability. The panda is sculpted in 18-carat white gold and entirely encrusted with diamonds and black sapphires. It’s nestled in a bamboo forest with trees and leaves, all moulded with yellow gold and handpainted. The case rim also shimmers brightly with diamonds.
This watch is an incredible artistic feat boasting perfectly executed intricacies, a testament to the brand’s admirable attention to detail.
RM 07-02 ‘Pink Lady’: $1.3 Million
Designed to revel in feminine beauty, the RM 07-02 is shrouded in rosy hues and distinguished detail.
The automatic gold calibre is set in 18-carat rose gold and is equipped with 50 hours of power reserve. The base plate is skilfully set with 25 little diamonds, bounding the baseplate and bridges. The case is cut out of a single block of sapphire, which takes over 40 days to construct and refine.
The immodestly pink colour palette is certainly arresting. It is bold, catchy, yet classy. To add to its elevated status, the RM 07-02 ‘Pink Lady’ is one of Rihanna’s fashion staples.
Richard Mille’s engineering mastery and unrivalled craftsmanship certainly live up to its promise of being “a racing machine on its wrist.” Accurate to a fault and beautifully complex, these timepieces are elegance and exclusivity personified. Owning a Richard Mille is bound to set you apart – it’s time to get yours.
