Richard Mille has unveiled a sporty and dynamic RM 53-01 Tourbillon timepiece exclusively designed for one of polo’s greatest champions ever Pablo Mac Donough. The unprecedented laminated sapphire crystal of its Carbon TPT case reveals the watch’s suspended tourbillon calibre. The RM 53-01 is limited to 30 pieces and costs $900,000!
The aspiration behind the RM 53-01 was to flaunt the movement that had previously been hidden behind
a metallic plate in the RM 053, and make a timepiece tough enough to withstand the particularly harsh conditions of polo. To fulfill the first goal, Richard Millie has fitted the watch with a crystal of laminated sapphire glass, which comprises two cylindrical discs polished to a mirror finish on both sides and treated with an antireflective coating. Between the two is deposited a thin sheet of vinyl. With anti-reflective and UV coatings, this glass, which preserves the movement from the external environment, is a patent-pending Richard Mille exclusive.
The watchmaker who assembles the movement, is also the one who undertakes to tension these cables, which are just 0.27 mm in diameter. The 10 pulleys at the heart of the movement guarantee an even distribution of tension and perfect balance of the whole, what’s more, they provide optimal shock absorption to more than 5,000 g’s – Salvador Arbona Technical Director for Movements
The case of the watch is made from Ccarbon TPT that consists of over 600 layers of parallel filaments obtained by separating carbon threads. With a maximum thickness of 30 microns, the Carbon TPT layers are saturated with resin, then compiled on a special machine that modifies the orientation of the fibres between each layer by 45°. Once it has been heated to 120°C and subjected to a pressure of 6 bars, it is machined at Richard Mille’s factory. Carbon TPT is renowned for its excellent resistance to micro-cracks and splits. Its remarkable surface displays complex damascene patterns.
The case features spline screws in Grade 5 Titanium, the design of which permits better control of the torque applied during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well. Torque limiting crown is an additional security system prevents from accidental overwinding, which could cause damage to the winding stem or putting extreme pressure on the mainspring barrel.
RM53-01 is 50 meters water resistant with its laminated sapphire crystal. The movement is designed to withstand up to 5000G impacts thank to its unique suspension system featuring 10 pulleys and mesh wires.
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