Richard Mille RM 17-02 Tourbillon White Quartz TPT

Richard Mille has released a new watch that integrates the improved RM017 tourbillon movement, RM 17-02 Tourbillon White Quartz TPT, with an indication of hours, minutes, power reserve and function indicators. Combining watchmaking traditions and mechanical innovations, the new model comes in a typical Richard Mille tonneau case, this time made entirely of white TPT quartz.

The distinctive appearance of this high-tech material, characterized by unique stripes, is achieved by applying 600 layers of silicon with a thickness of 45 microns each and impregnating them with a white matrix before heating to 120 °C in an autoclave. This process gives the material a very high resistance to weight ratio. Other properties include transparency to electromagnetic waves and exceptional resistance to ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures. In addition, it does not cause allergies and is highly resistant to a variety of chemicals that the watch may encounter during its service life.

The dimensions of this three-component case are 48.15 x 40.1 mm with a thickness of 13.08 mm, it provides 50 meters of water resistance, which is ensured by two nitrile O-rings. It is assembled using 12 Grade 5 titanium slotted screws and 316L stainless steel wear-resistant washers. Supported by a skeletonized base board, Grade-5 titanium bridges frame the large wheel at the top of the watch and the 12.3mm tourbillon located at the bottom.

Grade 5 titanium alloy (90% titanium, 6% aluminum, 4% vanadium) has excellent properties, including remarkable rigidity and corrosion resistance, which explains its frequent use in the aerospace, aviation, and automotive industries. Extreme rigidity with precise surface flatness is essential for perfect gear operation. The RM017 tourbillon clockwork with a frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 half-vibrations per hour) can withstand more than 5,000 g and guarantees a power reserve of 70 hours. The rapidly rotating drum increases the power reserve, as well as the accuracy factor.

Protected by anti-reflective sapphire crystal on both sides, the sapphire dial features a Grade 5 titanium flange with black electroplating, a contrasting white minute scale and the Richard Mille logo. The function indicator works similarly to a car’s gearbox, detecting the setting position of the arrows (H), neutral (N), and winding mode (W) when the crown is pulled out. The arrow located at the “4 o’clock” position indicates the current mode.

The crown is equipped with a torque limiting safety system that prevents accidental twisting, which can cause damage to the crown stem or excessive pressure on the drum spring. The power reserve indicator at 2 o’clock shows the number of hours of energy remaining in the mainspring before the watch has to be wound again. A limited edition of 30 copies Richard Mille RM 17-02 Tourbillon White Quartz TPT is available at a price of 670,000 Swiss francs.