Richard Mille continues its boundary-pushing exploration of sapphire with the RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire. Developed specifically for a sapphire case, the RM75-01 calibre features a flying tourbillon and a flying barrel within a fully skeletonised architecture, allowing light and structure to intertwine. Engineered for clarity and resilience, the tripartite case—made from synthetic sapphire—is a feat of micrometric precision, requiring over 1,000 hours of machining and polishing. The result is an uncompromising presentation of form and function that draws as much from ancient architecture as it does from modern materials science.
Available in three limited versions, the RM 75-01 reflects aquatic inspiration through colour and detail. The clear sapphire model evokes sunlit waves, paired with a sea-green strap, while the other two iterations incorporate coloured sapphire casebacks—one in lilac pink, reminiscent of twilight over calm waters, and the other in deep sapphire blue, echoing the mysteries of the ocean floor. Each variant offers a tactile and visual experience heightened by the inherent warmth and smoothness of sapphire, contrasting with the precision-engineered titanium and red gold interior structure. The calibre’s sweeping arcs and SuperLuminova accents offer a kinetic, luminous interplay between shadow and depth.
Beneath the transparent casing lies a mechanical paradox: an ultra-lightweight yet robust movement, minimalist in construction but complex in execution. The titanium baseplate, coated in 5N gold PVD, supports rhodium-treated wheels and a bridge system that eliminates excess while emphasising depth and dimensionality. The design’s architectural influence is evident in the flange and structural layout, drawing inspiration from ribbed vaults and Gothic symmetry. More than a technical showcase, the RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire is an articulation of space, light, and motion—where every angle reveals the convergence of watchmaking innovation and artistic intent.
