Richard Mille RM 56-02

The RM 56-02 is built around two main innovations. The first is the unprecedented use of transparent sapphire components. At the same time, the second was the introduction of a unique cable and pulley system that suspended all movement within the case. This detail added an even more intriguing visual twist to an already complex wristwatch.

The RM 56-02 is a perfectly executed technical challenge. This timepiece can be considered a crowning achievement for Richard Mille, especially for the brand's family of sapphire crystal watches. The innovative piece stands out miles above others despite the variety of creative models in the Richard Mille catalog.

Richard Mille RM 56-02 History

The innovations that culminated in the creation of the RM 56-02 began a few years before the watch itself made its debut. Back in 2012, Richard Mille announced the release of the RM 056. This split-second chronograph tourbillon watch came in a case made entirely out of sapphire.  Although watchmakers have used this material for a long time (mainly for the crystals covering the dial and case back), Richard Mille pioneered a new and daring use of this durable and scratch-resistant material.

The watch was practically transparent, an innovative design that turned many heads right away. Richard Mille upped the ante with the RM 56-01 release a year later. This time, the watchmaker made even more components with pure sapphire. The baseplate, bridges, and third wheel of this watch were made out of sapphire.

In 2014, just three years after making history with the first watch in the RM 56 series, Richard Mille unveiled the RM 56-02. Another outlandish sapphire crystal timepiece, this watch was announced at the Watches and Wonder Fair 2014. It was a Sapphire Tourbillon piece that introduced a suspended movement design into the series.

In addition to building on the legacy of older transparent watches, the RM 56-02 borrowed inspiration from an entirely different collection - the RM 27-01 Nadal watch. The ultra-light timepiece, released in 2013 in collaboration with tennis champion Rafael Nadal, was characterized by an elaborate cable and pulley system, making it appear like its movement is floating within the extremely skeletonized casing.

RM 56-02 Features

The Richard Mille RM 56 02 combines two very evocative attributes seen in separate Richard Mille collections. Like the RM 27-01, this watch is an ultimate expression of weightlessness and durability. Similarly, it retains the unparalleled transparency achieved in the earlier models of the RM 56 series. The result of this combination was a timepiece that is transparent, tough, and extremely lightweight.

Suspended baseplate

As mentioned, the RM 56-02 took cues from Richard Mille’s RM 27-01 Nadal timepiece. This was the first wristwatch to feature a floating movement. The Nadal watch was released just a year before the RM 56-02 hit the market.

Unlike its immediate predecessor (RM 56-01), which had a transparent sapphire crystal baseplate, the RM 56-02 has a baseplate crafted from grade-5 titanium. This is the same material used for the baseplate of the original RM 56. However, the movement is entirely suspended within the sapphire watch case for this timepiece.

Richard Mille achieved this impressive effect by suspending the watchcase on a specially developed pulley system. The baseplate is anchored to four pulleys connected to poles at the movement corners and 6 other pulleys around its periphery. The whole system is held together by a specially braided cable with a thickness of just 0.35mm, which makes it barely visible.

In addition to creating a spectacular visual effect, this unique cable and pulley system provides extremely efficient protection against shocks and vibrations since the movement isn’t resting directly on the case. The watch has a miniature ratchet located at the 9 o’clock mark for adjusting the tension of the suspension cable. There’s also an indicator below the 12 o’clock match showing the exact cable tension for accurate adjustments.

Sapphire Casing

Like the other watches in the RM 56 series, the visual highlight of the RM 56-02 Tourbillon Sapphire is its exquisitely crafted sapphire crystal case. The case has been meticulously fashioned to create a fantastic sense of transparency and demonstrate the watchmaker’s technical prowess.

The case has a tripartite design with all its components made from sapphire crystal created by subjecting aluminum oxide crystals (Al2O3) to high pressure and temperature conditions. This material is transparent due to its purity but also extremely hard.

While this material's hardness and scratch resistance are huge advantages, they also introduce some technical difficulties to the manufacturing process. For one, the case has to be milled from solid pieces of sapphire, a delicate process that can lead to the pieces cracking. If this happens, the entire process would have to be restarted again. According to Richard Mille, it takes 40 days of continuous machining to create just one RM 56-02 casing. The amount of work that went into creating this unique case reflects Richard Mille's dedication to precision and innovation.

In the end, the result is a timepiece with a transparent exterior that provides a clear glimpse into the watch's internal components. Every detail of the movement and tourbillon is revealed in full glory, creating a captivating visual experience for any observer. The see-through aesthetics of this watch also extends to its strap, which appears to be partially translucent. This strap, made exclusively for Richard Mille from a proprietary Aerospace Nanomaterial, has a silky organic texture that perfectly complements the transparent design of the case perfectly.

Technical Brilliance

The Richard MIlle RM 56 02 is powered by the Calibre RM 56-02 movement crafted specifically for this model. This manual winding tourbillon movement, which appears to be floating in mid-air within the case, is a testament to Richard Mille’s technical mastery.

The movement is built around a one-minute tourbillon escapement visible at the 6 o’clock position. It delivers hours and minute functionalities and has a tension indicator. The RM 56-02 movement has the least number of technical features in the RM 56 series. Yet, it takes nothing away from its technical brilliance.

Richard Mille engineers also extended the use of sapphire crystals into the movement. Parts of the winding barrel bridge, the center bridges, and the tourbillon are crafted from sapphire. This provides an in-depth view into the technical elements of the watch ‘engine,’ giving it an even more impressive appearance.

Durability

The transparent sapphire case gives the Richard Mille RM 56 02 a delicate appearance. But don’t be deceived by this. The three parts of the watch case were each milled from solid blocks of sapphire. This material has a hardness of 1800 Vikers (9 on the Mohs scale). The hardness and scratch-resistance of sapphire are only exceeded by that of diamond, guaranteeing durability.

The cable system further adds to the durability and shock resistance of this timepiece. It is specially designed to provide optimal protection against shocks and vibrations. The RM 27-01, which debuted this design, was built specifically to be worn during tennis matches and can withstand forces of up to 5000G.

The RM 56-02 also has transparent nitrile O-rings, which makes the watch water-resistant to a depth of 30 meters. The three-part casing is held together by 24 spline screws, all made out of grade 5 titanium materials.

Richard Mille RM 56-02 Price

The Richard Mille RM 56 02 Tourbillon Sapphire is highly exclusive and pricey. This adds to its allure and desirability. Every watch in the RM 56 series has been produced as limited-edition models, so they’re highly sought-after by collectors and connoisseurs.

While this is largely deliberate, the complexity of creating this watch also makes it difficult to produce in bulk, even if the watchmaker wanted to. Creating just one case for this watch takes up to 960 hours (40 days of  24/7 machining), and the sapphire bridges add another 400 hours.

With such a complex and time-consuming process, it’s no surprise that Richard Mille has kept the number of models down to 10 pieces - the highest in the series. As such, it is extremely difficult to find a Richard Mille RM 56-02 for sale. When the timepiece was released in 2014, Richard Mille placed a heavy price tag of about $2,020,000. Today, the Richard Mille RM 56 02 watch is worth between $3,000,000 and $5,000,000 in the secondary market.

Conclusion

The Richard Mille RM 56-02 is a horological masterpiece characterized by mesmerizing elegance and technical innovation. An epitome of innovation and technical artistry, this watch is a perfect fusion of transparency, lightweight design, and durability. These unique attributes are extremely difficult to combine in a watch but have been perfectly executed in this incredible Richard Mille creation.