- Size
- 50.50 × 42.70 × 16.75 mm
- Edition
- 5 pieces
Overview
Sapphire baseplate, central bridge and third wheel
The RM 56-01 Tourbillon Sapphire followed the RM 056 in 2013, again in a limited edition of five pieces. Where the RM 056 confined sapphire to the case, the RM 56-01 extends it into the movement: the baseplate that carries the entire manual winding tourbillon calibre is sapphire, as are the central bridge and the third wheel. Richard Mille draws on work done for the RM 018 Hommage to Boucheron, which used the material for a baseplate and a bridge.
The calibre RM56-01 displays hours and minutes, with torque at 2 o’clock, power reserve at 11 o’clock and a function selector indicator at 4 o’clock. Richard Mille states that the combination of sapphire and titanium is unaffected by temperature variation and wear.
Key details
Design and engineering
- Sapphire baseplateThe baseplate supporting the entire tourbillon movement is sapphire crystal, chosen to allow light through the calibre. The central bridge and third wheel are made from the same material.
- Three-part sapphire caseFront bezel, caseband and back bezel are each machined and ground from a solid block of sapphire. Production of one case requires machining operations running over 40 days, 24 hours a day. A specialist CNC machine was purchased for the model, and all sapphire components were machined by Stettler, the sapphire specialists based in Lyss, Switzerland.
- Indication layoutHours and minutes centrally; power reserve at 11 o’clock; torque at 2 o’clock; function selector at 4 o’clock. The power reserve is shown on a numeric scale to the left of the barrel.
- Case sealing and assemblyTwo O-ring seals in transparent nitrile give a water resistance of 30 m. The case is fixed around the calibre with 24 grade 5 titanium spline screws.
- Aerospace nano® strapDeveloped by Biwi SA with Richard Mille, the strap material uses nano-reinforcements to combine transparency with strength. The RM 56-01 was its first use in watchmaking.
- Sapphire and titanium togetherRichard Mille states the pairing is unaffected by temperature variation and wear.
Specifications
Technical specifications
| Reference | RM 56-01 |
|---|---|
| Calibre | RM56-01, manual winding tourbillon |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, function selector, power-reserve and torque indicators |
| Power reserve | Circa 70 hours (± 10%) |
| Frequency | 21,600 vph (3 Hz) |
| Jewels | 28 |
| Baseplate | Sapphire crystal |
| Central bridge | Sapphire crystal |
| Third wheel | Sapphire crystal |
| Movement materials | Sapphire crystal and titanium |
| Case dimensions | 50.50 × 42.70 × 16.75 mm |
| Case material | Sapphire — front bezel, caseband and back bezel |
| Case machining | Over 40 days continuous per case |
| Sapphire machining | Stettler, Lyss, Switzerland |
| Case sealing | Two transparent nitrile O-ring seals |
| Case assembly | 24 grade 5 titanium spline screws |
| Water resistance | 30 m |
| Strap | Aerospace nano®, developed with Biwi SA |
| Edition | 5 pieces |
| Introduced | 2013 |
Buying with HYPA
Purchase with confidence
- Manufacturer warranty confirmed from the warranty card
- Insured worldwide delivery
- Payment by bank transfer or cryptocurrency
- Registered Australian dealerHYPA International Pty Ltd · Victorian Second-Hand Dealer Licence SHD-0018017.
- Direct specialist supportSpeak with the HYPA team before, during and after the purchase.
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