Sapphire in Motion — Inside the Dazzling Architecture of the RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire

It looks like it shouldn’t exist — an entire timepiece suspended in air, held together only by geometry, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of perfection. Richard Mille, ever the architectural provocateur of haute horlogerie, has unveiled what may be one of its most visually commanding creations yet — the RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire.

Blending Gothic-inspired structural lines with the fluidity of natural elements like water and light, the RM 75-01 is more than a watch — it is a statement of modern mechanical art. From its transparent sapphire case to its suspended flying tourbillon, everything about this timepiece dares the eye to look closer.

The manual-winding RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire is housed in a case sculpted entirely from solid blocks of sapphire — bezel, caseband, and caseback — without any external supports. The result is a 360-degree panoramic experience of the movement’s internal complexity. The creation of this see-through armor is no small feat. Machining sapphire at this level requires over 1,000 hours of labor, with more than 350 hours dedicated solely to polishing. A technical and visual triumph, this transparent case reveals a world within — a movement suspended like a cathedral dome.

At the heart of the watch beats the RM75-01 calibre — a flying tourbillon paired with a flying barrel, both engineered to float without upper bridges. This seemingly weightless arrangement gives the movement the illusion of levitation, further emphasized by the skeletonized baseplate and architectural layout. What you don’t see is just as impressive as what you do.

Power reserve clocks in at around 65 hours, while the tourbillon itself is positioned at six o’clock — unobstructed, bold, and utterly mesmerizing. The movement’s bridges are crafted in Grade 5 titanium and 5N red gold, offering both visual richness and technical resilience. This particular titanium alloy, often used in the aerospace and automotive industries, is prized for its extreme strength-to-weight ratio and biocompatibility, echoing the watch’s futuristic ethos.

From an engineering standpoint, the RM 75-01 thrives on contrasts. It’s equal parts delicate and indestructible, classic and forward-thinking. The watch’s fast-rotating barrel, which completes a full rotation every 5.2 hours, enhances performance by reducing internal friction — a nod to Richard Mille’s obsession with mechanical precision.

A final stroke of design brilliance? The monumental gold upper flange, inspired by the soaring arches of cathedral ceilings. Resting on titanium pillars and brushed to perfection, it’s a visual metaphor for the watch’s architectural soul — elevating function into form, and mechanics into poetry.

Only available in limited editions, the RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire is a rare piece of kinetic sculpture, made for collectors who live at the intersection of art, engineering, and obsession.

Useful Info

Brand – Richard Mille

Product – RM 75-01 Flying Tourbillon Sapphire

Launch Date – 2024

Price – On request, limited editions only

Case – Full sapphire, tripartite, 30m water resistance

Power Reserve – Approximately 65 hours

Website – www.richardmille.com

© Richard Mille