RICHARD MILLE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE LIGHTWEIGHT LIMITED EDITION WHITE QUARTZ CARBON TPT® SKELETONIZED TOURBILLON WRISTWATCH WITH DIAMOND-SET SKULL
RICHARD MILLE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE LIGHTWEIGHT LIMITED EDITION WHITE QUARTZ CARBON TPT® SKELETONIZED TOURBILLON WRISTWATCH WITH DIAMOND-SET SKULL
RICHARD MILLE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE LIGHTWEIGHT LIMITED EDITION WHITE QUARTZ CARBON TPT® SKELETONIZED TOURBILLON WRISTWATCH WITH DIAMOND-SET SKULL
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RICHARD MILLE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE LIGHTWEIGHT LIMITED EDITION WHITE QUARTZ CARBON TPT® SKELETONIZED TOURBILLON WRISTWATCH WITH DIAMOND-SET SKULL
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RICHARD MILLERM52-01 WHITE QUARTZ CARBON TPT® SKULL TOURBILLON
RICHARD MILLE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE LIGHTWEIGHT LIMITED EDITION WHITE QUARTZ CARBON TPT® SKELETONIZED TOURBILLON WRISTWATCH WITH DIAMOND-SET SKULL

SIGNED RICHARD MILLE, TOURBILLON SKULL MODEL, REF. RM52-01, CIRCA 2018

Details
RICHARD MILLE. AN EXTREMELY RARE AND HIGHLY ATTRACTIVE LIGHTWEIGHT LIMITED EDITION WHITE QUARTZ CARBON TPT® SKELETONIZED TOURBILLON WRISTWATCH WITH DIAMOND-SET SKULL
SIGNED RICHARD MILLE, TOURBILLON SKULL MODEL, REF. RM52-01, CIRCA 2018
Movement: Manual
Dial: Skeletonized skull with diamond set teeth
Case: 42 mm. wide, 50 mm. overall length
With: Titanium Richard Mille double deployant clasp, Official Warranty dated 2018, service booklet dated December 2022, product literature, travel pouch, presentation box and outer packaging
Remark: Serviced by Richard Mille in 2022, limited edition of 10 examples

Brought to you by

Remi Guillemin
Remi Guillemin Head of Watches, Europe and Americas

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Lot Essay

By making the aesthetic choice to completely integrate this complex symbol of vanitas vanitatum into the mechanics of the watch, we were making references to the “promise of eternity” as well as a need to enjoy life to the fullest. The finish is breath-taking, providing a glimpse of the immutable forces at play in the universe. - Richard Mille

Richard Mille enthusiasts and collectors worldwide will immediately recognize the importance of this exceptional RM52-01 CA-FQ white quartz carbon TPT® Skull Tourbillon. To the best of our knowledge, the present watch is the first of its kind to be offered at auction, it is further distinguished in being on of only ten examples made in ultra-lightweight white quartz carbon TPT®.

The RM52 Skull Tourbillon is one of the most distinctive and coveted watch models 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. The skeletonized baseplate and bridges were subjected to rigorous testing to ensure their optimal strength, and the entire movement is connected to the case by 4 bridges that are inspired by the crossed bones from flags on pirate ships.

Equally impressive is the case which is made of a relatively new and groundbreaking ultra-lightweight material that was developed by Richard Mille for use in watchmaking. Called TPT® (thin ply technology) quartz carbon, it was first used in Richard Mille’s RM27-02. Its strength and incredible lightness is unparalleled and comprised of hundreds of layers of quartz that are interspersed with layers of NTPT carbon. The layers are then fused together at 120 degrees Celsius to form a case that is almost indestructible. Also resistant to extremes of temperature and magnetism, it is a near perfect sports watch.
This RM052 white quartz carbon TPT® Skull Tourbillon exemplifies the innovation and unmistakable style that has become Richard Mille’s hallmark.

Richard Mille
Richard Mille established his brand in 1999 with Dominique Guenat and Audemars Piguet. The mission was to push high-end, handmade watchmaking to the very limits of technical innovation. Richard Mille watches are now regarded as the ultimate expression of luxury and are among the most valuable timepieces in the world. They are revered for their bold, futuristic design, extreme resistance, and quality.

Richard Mille launched its first watch, the manually wound Richard Mille RM001 in 2001. The entire production run of 80 units sold out almost immediately. The prototype RM056 contains one of the most complicated movements to have appeared in a Richard Mille watch to date. The second prototype of the first edition of the RM056 sold for $1.2 million at Christie’s in 2017. The RM008 contains the same complicated movement.

Another defining feature of Richard Mille watches is their featherweight feel. The seemingly bulky reference RM 50-03, a McLaren-Richard Mille collaboration, weighs less than 40 grams. In 2021, the first Richard Mille Ferrari collaborative timepiece was released. At just 1.75 millimeters thick, the RM UP-01 is a triumph of technical prowess.

The brand reinforces its exclusivity by partnering with sporting ambassadors at the top of their game. These include Formula One driver Felipe Massa, American golfer Bubba Watson, and tennis star Rafael Nadal. For Nadal, Mille wanted to develop a watch that he could wear during matches. The Spaniard broke five prototypes before the Richard Mille Nadal RM027 which weighed just 20 grams, was finalized.

Fewer than 5,000 Richard Mille watches are made annually, making them highly sought-after by watch collectors around the world. Strong Richard Mille watch prices at auction reflect this. In 2022, a skeletonized Richard Mille Tourbillon Sapphire wristwatch (RM56-01) sold for CHF 3,654,000 at Christie’s in Geneva. It was then the most expensive Richard Mille watch ever sold at auction.

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