With the RM 47 Tourbillon, Richard Mille is presenting an extraordinary timepiece that pays an artistic tribute to Japanese culture. Instead of a dial, the wearer can admire a three-dimensional decoration depicting a samurai warrior. This symbolises the traditional Japanese values that still influence society today. The work of art is made entirely by hand from gold and features many details. Even more remarkable, however, is the mechanism including the tourbillon, which is harmoniously integrated into the figure.
To make room for the warrior, the manufacture accommodates the entire inner workings in a 47 x 16 x 50 mm case. The bezel and case back are of black TZP ceramic, which is extremely scratch-resistant. The middle part of the case, on the other hand, is of 18-carat 3N gold. On the side is the crown of titanium, carbon TPT and 3N yellow gold, which also bears the motif of a Japanese maple leaf. Elsewhere, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating protects both the front and the back of the RM 47 Tourbillon.
With this creation, Richard Mille wants to pay homage to Japanese culture and combine aesthetics with spirituality. Accordingly, there is an elaborate, three-dimensional decoration inside the RM 47 Tourbillon that depicts a samurai warrior. In this way, the Manufacture highlights the bushido, the samurai code of honour that still shapes the values of Japanese society today. Fittingly, some details of the figure showcase cultural aspects. For example, the emblem of the important Asano clan sits on the tourbillon bridge at 6 o’clock.
The engraver Pierre-Alain Lozeron makes each of the 75 examples of the Samurai armour together with his wife Valérie Lozeron. The decoration of the RM 47 Tourbillon is made of 3N gold and is finished entirely by hand. For this purpose, Richard Mille even designed his own tools to work each of the 11 individual parts. In total, the artisans need 16 hours for engraving and 9 hours for painting a piece.
Two sharp-edged hands indicate the time with the help of hour indices with luminous material. What is remarkable, however, is how the movement is incorporated into the figure of the samurai. In fact, the mechanism is harmoniously integrated into the armour, which is particularly noticeable on the back of the RM 47 Tourbillon. Here you can see the back of the stylised warrior, in which the rubies sit to support the gear shafts.
The mechanics of the RM47 calibre are inside the structure of the samurai to ensure stability. The movement displays hours and minutes and has a power autonomy of 72 hours. The latter comes in manually by hand. The Glucydur balance here works at a frequency of 3 hertz. Meanwhile, a tourbillon rotates the escapement on its own axis. As is usual for the brand, the individual parts sit on a plate and skeletonised bridges made of titanium. With the black PVD coating, the watchmakers achieve high corrosion resistance and a flat surface.
The Richard Mille RM47 Tourbillon with Samurai décor comes on a black rubber strap with folding clasp. The watch is a limited edition of 75 pieces.
