This talented, award-winning singer, songwriter and producer has long been a friend of the brand and has many iconic timepieces. When Richard Mille suggested that they collaborate to develop the first watch named after him, Pharrell went deep into his childhood to find inspiration-Richard Mille RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams.
“I have always been fascinated by looking up at the sky. What can be more inspiring than everything in the past and in the future? Space is in front of your eyes. This is yours. It is here before the earth, before this solar system. It will be in us After that, nothing is more meaningful than this. When I look up to the sky, I am looking up to God. I feel like a part of many different parts of a whole. This is Alpha and Omega.
The word Pharrell uses to describe his music is “subversive”. His art world is about shifting focus, looking for new perspectives in unexpected partnerships. ‘If it is not disruptive, it is simple. We need things to “pop” in this world. As human beings, we spend time looking at the universe. The “pop” on Richard Mille RM 52-05 comes from completely changing our perspective by 180°. It is at this moment that we realize that, staring at the surface of the watch, what we are staring at in the vast space is…ourself. Earth as seen from Mars. A distant and beautiful reflection trapped in an astronaut’s helmet.
But how to capture this absolute vastness within the scope of the dial? RM 52-05 meets this artistic and technical challenge with the brand’s groundbreaking concept and expectations of the Richard Mille creative development team. High-tech materials are micro-processed using the most advanced technology and honed by the cooperation of engravers, enamelers and painters.
The technical innovation of the Richard Mille RM 52-05 tourbillon movement is incredible. Equivalent to a space shuttle, the bottom plate carrying the movement is made of grade 5 titanium. Through it, you can get a glimpse of the grade 5 titanium bridge. The hollow design is reminiscent of a rocket launch platform. It is characterized by large pieces embedded in the dazzling blue aventurine glass, reminiscent of the range of outer space and the universe and all its stars.
The astronaut’s helmet is carved from grade 5 titanium and hand-painted with indestructible paint to suggest eternity everywhere. As for the red planet itself, only red gold can give it a vivid color. We were drawn to the dramatic Vale of Mariners, named after the Mariner 9 probe, which was the first human envoy to travel far away. The carving captures the overwhelming rock face, which rises 7 kilometers from the auburn sand scene below, intimidating. For this reason, it is necessary to realize multiple color changes in enamel. Unlike the traditional Grand Feu enamel obtained by adding different pigments, the orange to red and blue to black gradients are made by superimposing layers and increasing the number of firings at 850°C.
We become astronauts. In the helmet, two platinum elements containing a black sapphire and two diamonds evoke floodlights that illuminate our surroundings. Close to the skin, we feel that the spacesuit is made of grade 5 titanium, painted white with a spray gun. wholesale replica watches
Other innovations complete this cosmic timepiece. Brown cermet combines the lightness of titanium with the hardness of ceramics. It consists of a metallic zirconium matrix associated with high-performance ceramics, giving the material an incredible brown hue and metallic reflection. The case is made of carbon TPT®, which is well known in the aerospace industry. The hands and bridge on the back of the model have been hollowed out to evoke the rocket launch platform or satellite arm. The crown is based on the design of the rocket compartment. Even the rubber around it has the unique profile of a Mars rover tire.
Only a handful of astronauts will participate in this unique mission to Mars. Richard Mille RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams will be limited to 30 pieces. The little boy who grew up watching “Star Trek” in Virginia Beach was very excited to drive this expedition…
“In every aspect of my job, I am always looking for something different and new. The collaboration with Richard Mille provides an opportunity to go to places that no one else has ever been. Take Mars as an example. Creation is about change. Our perspective on things is indeed the only difference. For RM 52-05, we observe Mars from a different perspective, which is an unexpected first-person perspective. In doing so, we break the pattern. We own the world The best timekeeper on the planet. We have Mars. We have an African-American from Virginia, and everyone is connected.”
Richard Mille RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams Technical Specifications
Brown cermet and carbon TPT®
CALIBRE RM52-05: Manually wound tourbillon movement with hours and minutes.
Dimensions: 49.94 x 42.35 x 16.15 mm.
main feature
Power reserve
Approximately 42 hours (±10%)
Grade 5 titanium base plate and bridge
Grade 5 titanium is a biocompatible, highly corrosion resistant and very strong alloy that allows the gear train to function effortlessly. The alloy is 90% titanium, 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium. This combination further enhances the mechanical properties of the material, which explains its frequent use in the aerospace, aviation, and automotive industries.
The main plate of the movement is inlaid with large pieces of dazzling blue aventurine glass, reminiscent of outer space. This kind of glass is also called “golden stone” and sparkles because of its triangular and hexagonal copper crystal inclusions. It is integrated into the core of the Richard Mille RM52-05 movement, representing the universe and the range of all its stars.
Strict testing has also confirmed its resistance.
Decorative bridge, astronaut’s helmet
The grade 5 titanium helmet is located on the structure depicting the upper part of the spacesuit. It is also made of grade 5 titanium and connects the dial to the movement below it. It was painted white using an airbrush originally developed for street artist Cyril Kongo, who painted Richard Mille RM 68-01 by hand.
Projectors and cameras with two diamonds and a black sapphire inlaid on both sides of the helmet require special care and attention. The gems are displayed with medium gem setting depths, reflectors polished and chamfered using watchmaking techniques, and their watch alignment, all of which face the same direction to ensure uniform reflection.
In order to reproduce the imaginary scene of Mars, the curved 5N gold mask is engraved with a special carving knife, Grand Feu enamel and hand-painted. It takes 15 hours to engrave each piece alone, followed by a full day of Grand Feu enamelling. Pierre-Alain Lozeron must use all his patience, skill and dexterity to turn these creations into reality.
Free spring balance with variable inertia
The end curve spring equipped with this kind of balance wheel can ensure higher reliability in the process of being subjected to shock or strong vibration, as well as the assembly and disassembly of the movement, thereby ensuring better timing results over time. Because of the 4 small adjustable weights directly on the balance, there is no need for regulator indicators, allowing more accurate and repeatable adjustments.
Spin the barrel quickly (6 hours per revolution instead of 7.5 hours)
This type of barrel has the following advantages:
– Periodic internal mainspring adhesion is significantly reduced, thereby improving performance,
– Provides excellent mainspring delta curve. The choice is determined by the ideal power reserve/performance/regularity ratio.
Progressive recoil barrel pawl
This device allows significant winding gain (approximately 20%), especially at the beginning of the winding. It also helps to effectively distribute the internal tension of the mainspring.
Spool gear teeth and third wheel pinion with central involute profile
The central involute profile of the winding barrel teeth provides an optimal pressure angle of 20°. This promotes effective rotational movement and compensates for possible changes in the gearing of the driveline, thus ensuring excellent torque transmission and significantly improving performance.
Grade 5 titanium alloy spline screws for bridges and housings
Unaffected by physical operations during assembly and disassembly, these screws can better control the torque applied to them during assembly and aging.
Other features
– Movement size: 32.80 x 30.90 mm
– Thickness: 6.40 mm
– Tourbillon diameter: 10.90 mm
– Diameter of balance wheel: 9.12 mm
– Jewelry: 19
– Balance wheel: Glucydur®, 2 arms and 4 set screws
– Moment of inertia: 11.50 mg.cm2, angle of lift: 53°
– Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
– Hairspring: elinvar by Nivarox®
– Shockproof: KIF ELASTOR KE 160 B28
– Barrel shaft: Nickel-free Chronifer® (DIN x 46 Cr 13 + S) is used, with the following characteristics: Stainless steel – Antimagnetic –
Suitable for tempering
Richard Mille RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell
Brown cermet and carbon fiber TPT® case
Brown cermet combines the lightness of titanium with the hardness of ceramics. It consists of a metallic zirconium matrix associated with high-performance ceramics, giving the material an incredible brown hue and metallic reflection.
The mass-to-volume ratio of cermet is 5.7 g/cm3 and the hardness is 1,200 Vickers, which is comparable to traditional ceramics, making it very suitable for bezel and back cover. Both areas are easily scratched while ensuring the entire assembly Light weight. These two elements are fixed to the case made of carbon TPT®, which also helps to reduce the total weight.
This high-tech material consists of 600 layers of parallel filaments obtained by separating carbon fibers. These layers are no more than 30 microns thick and are impregnated with black resin. They are then assembled on a dedicated machine that stacks the layers and changes the direction of the fibers by 45° between the layers. The composite material is then heated to 120°C at a pressure of 6 bar in a kiln similar to that used for the production of aerospace parts, and is then ready for machining at Richard Mille.
The tripartite case is water-resistant to 30 meters deep, sealed by 2 nitrile rubber O-rings, and assembled with 24 grade 5 titanium spline screws and 316L stainless steel wear-resistant washers.
Flange
Grade 5 titanium
crystal
– Bezel side: Sapphire (1800 Vickers hardness), anti-glare treatment (both sides).
– Thickness: 1.50 mm
– The back of the case: Sapphire (with a hardness of 1800 Vickers), anti-glare treatment (both sides).
– Thickness: 1.20 mm
finishing
mobile
– Hand polished corners
– Micro-jet milling part
– Stretched or polished upper surface
Steel parts
– Micro-blasted surface
– Satin finish
– Hand polished corners
– Long stroke
– Brush strokes
– Long flanks
– Polished edges
Contour turning
– Grinding and polishing ends
– Polished pivot
wheel
– Diamond chamfer
– Round decorative surface
– Rhodium plating (before gear cutting) Minimal corrections to the wheel to maintain geometry and performance.