Richard Mille Just Gave Its Tourbillon Aerodyne a Chic White Makeover
One of Richard Mille’s most complex references just got a simple yet powerful refresh.
The Swiss watchmaker unveiled a new white iteration of the RM 21-02 Tourbillion Aerodyne on Wednesday. The timepiece features a 42.7 by 50.1 mm tonneau-shaped case made of white quartz TPT, carbon TPT, and titanium. (For the unversed, TPT, or Thin Ply Technology, relates to Richard Mille’s patented technique of layering fibers.) Previous models in the series were forged from equally tough materials, but the newcomer is the first to showcase this particular shade. Limited to just 50 pieces, the new reference will set you back $928,000.
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The skeletonized dial is equipped with large Arabic numerals, along with colorful indicators for power reserve and torque. (The power reserve shows you how many hours of energy are left in the mainspring, while the torque indicator shares info about the mainspring’s tension.) The winding barrel and tourbillion are balanced on lightweight grade 5 titanium bridges with four arms on either side.
Speaking of the tourbillon, the watch is powered by the in-house caliber RM21-02. The manual winding movement runs at a frequency of 21,600 vph and offers a 70-hour power reserve. The baseplate has a Carbon TPT core and is topped by a honeycombed structure made of a material called HAYNES 214. The nickel-chromium-aluminum-iron alloy offers “unparalleled stiffness, low thermal expansion coefficient, and torsion resistance,” according to Richard Mille. The baseplate is visible via the openwork caseback, as is the movement and its 27 jewels.
The strap is made of black and white rubber, while the caseband and spline screws are forged from grade 5 titanium like the bridges. The tripartite case is assembled with 20 screws and two seals, which ensure the watch is water resistant up to 50 meters.
Richard Mille has been on somewhat of a hot streak with releases. So far this year, the watchmaker has debuted its first women’s sports watch, dropped three ladies’ models inspired by the Memphis Movement, and created a chronograph in honor of the 2023 Le Mans Classic. We can only imagine what’s in store for 2024.
The new RM 21-02 Tourbillion Aerodyne is available exclusively at Richard Mille boutiques. Visit the brand’s website for more info.
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