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Photo: Richard Mille
It’s common for popular watch models to show up in a slightly new guise every few years, whether it’s in the form of a different case material or colourway. It keeps things interesting and gives clients more options, so it wouldn’t be fair to accuse brands of laziness. Least of all, a brand like Richard Mille, whose aesthetic updates are still paragons of over-the-top engineering.
The latest limited edition of the RM 21-02 Tourbillon Aerodyne is a perfect example. The 14-year-old model has seen several renditions since it was first launched in gold, and its new black and white livery may seem muted compared to its many brightly coloured brethren, but its construction is nothing to sniff at.
Photo: Richard Mille
The 42.68mm by 14.3mm case is made from white Quartz TPT (Thin Ply Technology from Swiss materials manufacturer NTPT), Carbon TPT, and titanium — all materials favoured by high-performance industries like aerospace and automotive. The titanium case middle has black Carbon TPT “pillars” that run down the sides of the case, and 20 titanium spline screws hold it all together to give the watch a water resistance of 50m.
Beyond the technical casing lies an equally sophisticated interior. The dial is crafted from just 0.4mm-thick sapphire crystal, with open-worked, centrally mounted hands and applied Arabic numerals. A tourbillon spins below at 6 o’clock, while the function indicator is placed at 4 o’clock.
The crown doesn’t pull out, so switching between the winding, setting, and neutral functions just requires the push of a titanium button that has been built into the crown. The top left of the dial is reserved for the power reserve indicator, while the top right shows the torque indicator, which shows the wearer how accurately the watch is running based on the current tension of the mainspring.
Photo: Richard Mille
The dial’s transparency offers a view of the main plate, which is made from Haynes 214 — an alloy made of nickel, chromium, aluminium, and iron that is known for exceptional resistance to oxidation and high temperatures and is traditionally used in extreme environments like gas turbine engines and industrial heating systems. Its honeycomb structure offers rigidity and some visual flair and has been given a black PVD finish for this reference.
Photo: Richard Mille
It would be remiss to write the RM 21-02 Tourbillon Aerodyne off as old news because the materials and know-how required to make one are the stuff building our future. Its limited release of 50 pieces further underscores its rarity and innovation.
