Richard Mille Watches

True adventurers and watch enthusiasts can’t get enough of luxury watch brand Richard Mille, founded by Richard Mille in 2001 with the concept of creating ultra-high-end high-tech watches. His timepieces use the most advanced materials, some never before seen in the watch world, and highly sophisticated mechanics. Richard Mille insists that his brand ambassadors (tennis players, golfers, racecar drivers, and more) wear their watches in play – showcasing the fact that they can withstand any forces incurred. The Richard Mille collection runs the gamut from adventure watches, to dive watches and high complications – all with daring colors and three-dimensional architecture.

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History of Richard Mille

Richard Mille was born in the Var region in Draguignan, France, and attended the Besancon School of Technology. He started his career at a French watchmaking company and, after a few years, became Director of Export for all their wristwatches. By the 1990s, Richard Mille joined Mauboussin, of which he later became President of the watchmaking division. His position allowed him direct involvement in the creative process of watchmaking and access to future friends in the industry, such as movement crafter Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi.

At the age of 50, Richard Mille had accumulated a wealth of knowledge and decided to go out on his own. He felt that no watch in existence at the time could ever really meet his expectations. Richard Mille aspired to advance watchmaking beyond anything that existed at the time. With a new contemporary approach to watchmaking, he planned to develop one product: the watch of his dreams without regard for what ended up being excessive production costs.

He approached his good friend Dominique Guenat, owner of Montres Valgine, to make his dream come true. The two men had met professionally when Richard Mille was at Mauboussin. They quickly struck up a friendship and agreed to be partners in Richard Mille, the brand. They both shared a passion for automobiles, aeronautics, and all things mechanical.

The Richard Mille RM 001 Tourbillon

Richard Mille introduced his first timepiece, the RM 001 Tourbillon, in the year 2001. With its ergonomic tonneau case design punctuated with distinctive torque screws, this extraordinary timepiece was produced in the first series of 17 watches. Its 200,000 Euro price tag immediately placed the small brand at the top tier of the luxury watch market. It was an immediate success with hundreds of confirmed orders. The RM 001 marked the beginning of a new era in watchmaking.

The Richard Mille RM 002 Tourbillon

The RM 002 Tourbillon was an evolution of the RM 001 and its first serial production. The RM002 had two additional features: a movement baseplate in titanium and a function indicator with winding, neutral and hand-setting positions.

Today, the Richard Mille watch collection comprises more than eighty models, each designed and produced with the same passion and uncompromising beliefs that guided Richard Mille’s first creation. Richard Mille watches are recognized the world over and are known as the very best in Haute Horlogerie.

Who Owns Richard Mille?

Richard Mille the brand is owned by Horométrie SA, a partnership between Richard Mille and Dominique Guenat in collaboration with Audemars Piguet, who acquired a 10% stake in 2007.

Fun Fact about Richard Mille

Richard Mille carved his very first watch prototype out of a bar of soap.