The Richard Mille RM 58-01 Tourbillon World Timer is an impressive watch, for several reasons. For its imposing size. For its features. For the hi-tech materials used to craft it. And for the manufacturing quality that you can immediately perceive as soon as you can handle it. We recently had the opportunity to test and wear a 35-piece special edition of this model - the RM 58-01 Tourbillon World Timer Jean Todt Limited Edition - and we are now pleased to share our impressions with our readers. A limited edition of just 35 pieces, the Richard Mille RM 58-01 Tourbillon World Timer Jean Todt Limited Edition has a price of Euro 701,000.
The Richard Mille RM 58-01 Tourbillon World Timer is an impressive watch, for several reasons. For its imposing size (50,00 mm diameter x 15,35 mm height). For its features, combining a tourbillon, a world timer and a 10-day power reserve indicator. For the hi-tech materials used to craft it. And for the exceptional manufacturing quality that you can immediately perceive as soon as you handle it.
We recently had the opportunity to test and wear a 35-piece special edition of this model - the RM 58-01 Tourbillon World Timer Jean Todt Limited Edition - and we are now pleased to share our impressions with our readers.
Mr. Richard Mille dedicated this sophisticated sport watch to his friend Jean Todt as he is the perfect example of an extreme traveller that has to travel thousands of kilometers around the globe every year.
The Swiss brand wanted to offer a timepiece that could allow such a demanding traveller to deal with time zones with unique simplicity and ease. As we will see, the goal has been completely achieved.
The watch is powered by the Calibre RM58-01, a hand-wound movement fitted with two consecutive barrels which provides an impressive power reserve of around 10 days. The remaining autonomy is indicated via the small retrograde display at 2 o'clock.
The skeletonised baseplate and bridges are made of grade 5 titanium with black PVD coating. This is made to guarantee rigidity and surface flatness, which are essential for the perfect functioning of the gear train. Their resistance capacities have been optimised through intensive and complete validation tests.
The detailed multi-level dial is framed by a four-part case alternating titanium and 5N red gold. As we will see, its design required an overall conceptual approach in order to achieve its interaction with the dial and individual movement parts.
Made of titanium, the shot-blasted, satin-brushed and polished rotating bezel bears the names of 24 world cities, symbols of the international 24 time zones, on its brown upper flange.
In contrast to other time zone watches, the RM 58-01 does not need any adjusting push-piece to change from one time zone to another.
The time is set by simply rotating the bezel anticlockwise, making adjustment a much quicker operation. All the traveller needs to do is position the name of the city where he or she has just landed at 12 o’clock, which automatically sets local time and the time in the other 23 world cities thanks to the 24-hour scale engraved on the flange. The black and white disc distinguishes day from night for the user automatically.
A technical mechanism of great complexity is hidden behind the apparent simplicity. The smart solution is the result of the cooperation between Richard Mille's movement and case engineers, who managed the feat of linking the bezel and movement with a special gear train while ensuring that the whole timepiece remains perfectly water-resistant to 30 metres / 100 feet, also thanks to two Nitril O-ring seals.
The fixed bezel and the case back are made from satin-brushed 5N red gold with polished bevels. The transparent sapphire crystal - with anti-glare coating on both sides, just like the frontal one - displays the back side of the movement allowing one to admire the outstanding finishes. All anglages (chamfering) are performed by hand. The circular-grained bridge surfaces are shot-blasted and hand-polished. Stones are set in white gold.
The case middle is made from grade 5 titanium with a vertical satin-brushing, just like the guards which protect the torque limiting crown. This is equipped with an additional security system to prevent from accidental overwinding, which could cause damage to the winding stem or putting extreme pressure on the mainspring barrel.
Beating at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour), the large 11.90 mm-diameter tourbillon is prominently displayed at 9 o'clock.
Several movement optimisations contribute to achieve better chronometric performances.
The free sprung balance with variable inertia and a terminal-curve spring (originally designed for pocket watches) guarantees greater reliability in case of impacts and during movement assembly and disassembly.
The barrel pawl with progressive recoil permits an appreciable winding gain (circa 20 %), especially during the start of winding. It also aids in the even distribution of the mainspring’s internal tension.
Without doubts one of the most exclusive world timer watches on the market, the Richard Mille RM 58-01 Tourbillon World Timer Jean Todt is a limited edition of just 35 pieces with a price of Euro 701,000. richardmille.com
We recently had the opportunity to test and wear a 35-piece special edition of this model - the RM 58-01 Tourbillon World Timer Jean Todt Limited Edition - and we are now pleased to share our impressions with our readers.
Mr. Richard Mille dedicated this sophisticated sport watch to his friend Jean Todt as he is the perfect example of an extreme traveller that has to travel thousands of kilometers around the globe every year.
The Swiss brand wanted to offer a timepiece that could allow such a demanding traveller to deal with time zones with unique simplicity and ease. As we will see, the goal has been completely achieved.
The watch is powered by the Calibre RM58-01, a hand-wound movement fitted with two consecutive barrels which provides an impressive power reserve of around 10 days. The remaining autonomy is indicated via the small retrograde display at 2 o'clock.
The skeletonised baseplate and bridges are made of grade 5 titanium with black PVD coating. This is made to guarantee rigidity and surface flatness, which are essential for the perfect functioning of the gear train. Their resistance capacities have been optimised through intensive and complete validation tests.
The detailed multi-level dial is framed by a four-part case alternating titanium and 5N red gold. As we will see, its design required an overall conceptual approach in order to achieve its interaction with the dial and individual movement parts.
Made of titanium, the shot-blasted, satin-brushed and polished rotating bezel bears the names of 24 world cities, symbols of the international 24 time zones, on its brown upper flange.
In contrast to other time zone watches, the RM 58-01 does not need any adjusting push-piece to change from one time zone to another.
The time is set by simply rotating the bezel anticlockwise, making adjustment a much quicker operation. All the traveller needs to do is position the name of the city where he or she has just landed at 12 o’clock, which automatically sets local time and the time in the other 23 world cities thanks to the 24-hour scale engraved on the flange. The black and white disc distinguishes day from night for the user automatically.
A technical mechanism of great complexity is hidden behind the apparent simplicity. The smart solution is the result of the cooperation between Richard Mille's movement and case engineers, who managed the feat of linking the bezel and movement with a special gear train while ensuring that the whole timepiece remains perfectly water-resistant to 30 metres / 100 feet, also thanks to two Nitril O-ring seals.
The fixed bezel and the case back are made from satin-brushed 5N red gold with polished bevels. The transparent sapphire crystal - with anti-glare coating on both sides, just like the frontal one - displays the back side of the movement allowing one to admire the outstanding finishes. All anglages (chamfering) are performed by hand. The circular-grained bridge surfaces are shot-blasted and hand-polished. Stones are set in white gold.
The case middle is made from grade 5 titanium with a vertical satin-brushing, just like the guards which protect the torque limiting crown. This is equipped with an additional security system to prevent from accidental overwinding, which could cause damage to the winding stem or putting extreme pressure on the mainspring barrel.
Beating at a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour), the large 11.90 mm-diameter tourbillon is prominently displayed at 9 o'clock.
Several movement optimisations contribute to achieve better chronometric performances.
The free sprung balance with variable inertia and a terminal-curve spring (originally designed for pocket watches) guarantees greater reliability in case of impacts and during movement assembly and disassembly.
The barrel pawl with progressive recoil permits an appreciable winding gain (circa 20 %), especially during the start of winding. It also aids in the even distribution of the mainspring’s internal tension.
Without doubts one of the most exclusive world timer watches on the market, the Richard Mille RM 58-01 Tourbillon World Timer Jean Todt is a limited edition of just 35 pieces with a price of Euro 701,000. richardmille.com
I think you are right to call it the ultimate worldtimer! I am curious if there are worldtimer watches more expensive than this.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the GMT by Greubel Forsey?
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