Introducing Richard Mille Adds New Edition to the RM 21-02 Tourbillon Aérodyne Collection

Launched in 2022 with a case combining green and black colors, the Richard Mille RM 21-02 Tourbillon Aerodyne received an update in 2023 featuring a striking black and white color combination. The new case is made from white Quartz TPT, Carbon TPT, and titanium. This model uses the RM21-02 movement, originally introduced by the company in 2009 in models with 18k gold cases. The updated version takes the original concept in a more modern direction, employing high-tech materials and showcasing a distinctly contemporary design.

As with the previous edition, the new watch combines bold design and exceptional materials for a striking look characterized by a case made of Carbon TPT and blue Quartz TPT two exclusive materials with exceptional physical properties and a distinctive appearance. Their surfaces display extremely regular undulations, composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fiber or silica threads. These layers are impregnated with black and white matrices, then woven on a special machine that modifies the direction of the weft by 45° between layers. Heated to 120°C at a pressure of 6 bars, these materials are then ready to be processed on a CNC machine.

In a blue and gray combo, the watch features Carbon TPT—a material often found in the automotive industry and plane fuselages to Formula 1 machines, as well as Quartz TPT and titanium for the bezel. Quartz TPT is also used for the caseback, while the caseband is made of satin-finished grade 5 titanium with pillars in Carbon TPT. The case is water-resistant to 50 meters and features 20 spline screws made of grade 5 titanium with abrasion-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel. The watch’s signature tonneau-shaped case has the dimensions of 42.68 x 50.12 x 14.30 mm.

Similar to a car’s gearbox, a push-button located at the center of the crown allows one to select the winding (W), neutral (N), and hand-setting (H) functions with a simple push. A small hand at 4 o’clock displays the selected function.

The skeleton display highlights the manual winding tourbillon movement, with the winding barrel and tourbillon positioned centrally. They gracefully balance on lightweight titanium bridges with four arms on either side. Oversized Arabic numerals indicate the hours in blue and yellow color printed on the sapphire crystal, while colors accent the power reserve and torque indicators, providing insights into the quantity and quality of energy stored within the barrel. The movement features a baseplate in honeycombed Orthorhombic Haynes 214, a nickel, chromium, aluminum iron alloy with Carbon TPT and a black PVD treatment to highlight its original construction. The power-reserve indicator is placed in lieu of the number at 11 o’clock, while the torque indicator is symmetrically positioned at 1 o’clock. At 4 o’clock, we found the function selector, operated by a pusher. This makes it possible to know the barrel-spring’s tension and thus optimize the movement’s functioning. Below 5.3 N.mm, the spring is too slack; at the other extreme, above 6.5 N.mm, excessive tension can adversely affect the running of the movement and may even cause damage.

For the bridges, Richard Mille opted for grade 5 titanium due to its superior rigidity and excellent corrosion resistance. Finished with a black and gray PVD treatment with hand-polished anglage, the hand-wound Caliber RM21-02 beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour and offers an autonomy of 70 hours.

The watch comes with a Black strap, with Titanium folding clasp, it is limited to 50 pieces, and the price is upon request.

For more information, please visit the official website of Richard Mille.