.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
This awesome RM004 takes opulence and luxury watchmaking to a whole new level. Richard Mille enthusiasts and collectors worldwide will immediately recognize the significance of this exceptional and phenomenally attractive RM004 split-seconds chronograph. Cased in white gold, it is set throughout with dazzling specially shaped baguette-cut and brilliant-cut diamonds. Made in a limited edition of only 10 pieces, the present watch is number 03 of the edition. To the best of our knowledge, this majestic timepiece is the first of its kind to be offered at international auction. It provides collectors with a significant opportunity to obtain one of the most exclusive and super-cool of all Richard Mille’s wristwatches.
The RM004 Felipe Massa is already one of the rarest of Richard Mille timepieces due to its complexity and the challenges of its construction and assembly, consequently very few examples have been produced. With the presentation of this spectacular diamond-set limited edition RM004, the close collaboration between Richard Mille and Felipe Massa is once again underlined. The aesthetics of the present watch are particularly eye-catching, the overall whiteness of the gold and diamonds is beautifully contrasted with the sheer colour vibrancy of the semi-skeletonised dial with its blue and yellow chapter ring and the bright red of the winding crown.
A phenomenon of contemporary horological engineering and gem-setting of breathtaking precision, this RM004 perfectly embodies the brand’s technical and aesthetic values. It is a watch that in its conception and development has been the focus some of the greatest minds and talents in watchmaking today. The original RM004 debuted in 2003 as a titanium-clad, split-seconds chronograph. In the following years, the movement underwent various incremental improvements resulting in the RM004-V2 caliber, and from 2016, the deeply reworked caliber RM004-V3. These two updated generations of RM004 movement are more lightweight, featuring a carbon nanofiber baseplate in place of the titanium baseplate of the first version. The RM004 manual winding split seconds chronograph is enhanced by a torque and function indicator. The torque indicator displays the amount of torsion required in order to ideally wind the chronograph and prevent wear to the mechanism. The ‘WHN’ indicator on the dial shows whether the watch is in ‘Winding’, ‘Handsetting’ or in ‘Neutral’ mode. Ingeniously, the RM004 caliber utilizes a mechanism that virtually eliminates the initial ‘jump’ of the chronograph hand that is seen on most mechanical chronographs, giving it extremely accurate timing capabilities.
This mind-blowing Richard Mille Split-Seconds chronograph is a true rare ‘jewel’ in every sense of the word and is, without doubt, one of the most desirable contemporary timepieces in the world from one of the most sought-after of independent brands, holding a unique place in the world of luxury watchmaking.
Felipe Massa
The Brazilian driver began his Formula 1 career in 2002. Massa was Richard Mille’s first long-standing partner from the world of motor sport and it is said that he never started a race without a Mille watch on his wrist. Indeed, he became known as the brand's Formula 1 “private test driver”. During Felipe Massa’s illustrious career, he totalled 11 race wins, 16 pole positions and 41 podiums, and he was runner-up in the 2008 Formula 1 championship with Ferrari. Until the end of the 2017 season, Felipe competed with Williams, after which he decided to end his Formula 1 career and to move to new challenges including taking part in the ‘Formula E’ championships and stock car racing, whilst simultaneously being the head of the CIK-FIA.
The RM004 Felipe Massa is already one of the rarest of Richard Mille timepieces due to its complexity and the challenges of its construction and assembly, consequently very few examples have been produced. With the presentation of this spectacular diamond-set limited edition RM004, the close collaboration between Richard Mille and Felipe Massa is once again underlined. The aesthetics of the present watch are particularly eye-catching, the overall whiteness of the gold and diamonds is beautifully contrasted with the sheer colour vibrancy of the semi-skeletonised dial with its blue and yellow chapter ring and the bright red of the winding crown.
A phenomenon of contemporary horological engineering and gem-setting of breathtaking precision, this RM004 perfectly embodies the brand’s technical and aesthetic values. It is a watch that in its conception and development has been the focus some of the greatest minds and talents in watchmaking today. The original RM004 debuted in 2003 as a titanium-clad, split-seconds chronograph. In the following years, the movement underwent various incremental improvements resulting in the RM004-V2 caliber, and from 2016, the deeply reworked caliber RM004-V3. These two updated generations of RM004 movement are more lightweight, featuring a carbon nanofiber baseplate in place of the titanium baseplate of the first version. The RM004 manual winding split seconds chronograph is enhanced by a torque and function indicator. The torque indicator displays the amount of torsion required in order to ideally wind the chronograph and prevent wear to the mechanism. The ‘WHN’ indicator on the dial shows whether the watch is in ‘Winding’, ‘Handsetting’ or in ‘Neutral’ mode. Ingeniously, the RM004 caliber utilizes a mechanism that virtually eliminates the initial ‘jump’ of the chronograph hand that is seen on most mechanical chronographs, giving it extremely accurate timing capabilities.
This mind-blowing Richard Mille Split-Seconds chronograph is a true rare ‘jewel’ in every sense of the word and is, without doubt, one of the most desirable contemporary timepieces in the world from one of the most sought-after of independent brands, holding a unique place in the world of luxury watchmaking.
Felipe Massa
The Brazilian driver began his Formula 1 career in 2002. Massa was Richard Mille’s first long-standing partner from the world of motor sport and it is said that he never started a race without a Mille watch on his wrist. Indeed, he became known as the brand's Formula 1 “private test driver”. During Felipe Massa’s illustrious career, he totalled 11 race wins, 16 pole positions and 41 podiums, and he was runner-up in the 2008 Formula 1 championship with Ferrari. Until the end of the 2017 season, Felipe competed with Williams, after which he decided to end his Formula 1 career and to move to new challenges including taking part in the ‘Formula E’ championships and stock car racing, whilst simultaneously being the head of the CIK-FIA.