The brand of indestructible watch mechanics represents more and more female tourbillons. Not worse than men, but in some ways even better.
Text: Lisa Epifanova specially for the “Russian Emirates”.
The main news of this summer from the manufactory Richard Mille is the launch of the new female model RM 71-01, which received the symbolic name Talisman. Inside this watch there is an automatic caliber with a CRMT1 tourbillon, which has become the eighth fully manufactured movement of the brand and - most importantly - the first in-house automatic tourbillon.
Interestingly, Richard Mille, who creates prestigious watchmaking for extreme sports (remember at least the tourbillon for polo player Pablo McDonough), prefers to run new movements at women's collections. And even the very first manufactory caliber CRMA1 debuted in the female model RM 037.
But back to the new Talisman tourbillon. This is not just a women's watch combining watch and jewelry, but the first accessory of this class, designed by a woman. The creation of this collection was dealt with by Cecile Gena, who became the director of a whole new direction of the company devoted to female mechanics. Cecile has been the daughter of Dominic Gene, partner and co-owner of the Richard Mille brand since its foundation in 1999. Prior to joining the family business, she worked with the well-known independent jeweler Scott Wilson, who created limited collections for Thierry Mugler, Hussein Chalayan, Givenchy and Gaultier, and therefore has a unique combination of knowledge in both areas: watchmaking and jewelry.
When creating the RM 71-01 Automatic Tourbillon Talisman, Cecile was inspired by the art deco aesthetics and her clear geometric design. As a result, she got 10 different sketches, from which it was difficult to choose the best. Richard Miles himself, having looked at the drawings, suggested instead of one model to make immediately 10 - 5 copies of each option. According to Cecil Gene herself, this is how the name of the Talisman collection was born, since each owner can choose the image that will become her personal precious amulet.
The case of RM 71-01, 34.4 x 52.2 mm in size, is made of white or pink gold, manually encrusted with white and black diamonds, and the dial is a pattern of mother of pearl, diamonds and onyx. At the same time, the watch sits perfectly on an elegant wrist, thanks to an ultra-lightweight mechanism made of titanium: the thickness of the CRMT1 caliber is only 6.2 mm and its weight is 8 grams.
The Talisman collection does not have an official “messenger,” it soloists on the front stage of Richard Mille. But you can see that the brand has decisively pulled over the most successful athletes and charismatic trendsetter girls to their side.
Today, according to Richard Mil, the proportion of women's watches in his collections is 25%, and his goal is to bring the ratio to at least 40/60 in the next two years. And, of course, it will be the most reliable and hardy female mechanics in which a titanium heart is hidden under a fragile shell.
All steps in this direction have been taken. Since 2015, Richard Mille has partnered with Rallye des Princesses, the only classic race in which only women participate. In 2017, the brand's ambassador was Hollywood actress Margot Robbie. She wears a model RM 037 in white ceramic. Just the same watch in which the first automatic manufactory caliber of the brand is installed.
And in 2018, two athletes joined the Richard Mille team. Belgian Nafissatu Tiam at the age of 23 already has the title of Olympic champion in heptathlon (2016) and world champion in pentathlon (2017). Her choice is the rare Richard Mille RM 033.
In June, the Ukrainian high jumper joined the brand, the silver medalist of the 2017 World Cup, 20-year-old Yulia Levchenko. The youngest messenger Richard Mille chose the white model RM 07-01 Automatic Ladies.
