Comments:
I think that the size is about 50MM and 20MM large on the web size of richard you should find everything
Richard Mille Dinner - Hong Kong - iW Magazine - May 5, 2009
On Cinco de Mayo this year I was not at my local Mexican restaurant drinking a Corona. Instead I was invited to join a Richard Mille dinner sponsored by our friends at iW Magazine Hong Kong.
The evening was an exciting event. Not just to spend time with Richard himself but also to see the new 2009 collection. With production now about 2000 pieces for the year it’s amazing to see so many new models.
Richard Mille watches combine what he describes as "3 pillars". The first is the best possible technique and innovation. Second aesthetic dimension and third hand finishing and assembly. More and more he is giving importance to the artistic part. His concern is that if focuses exclusively on technical watches customers like us would get bored. He considers the RM19 a piece of art.
When speaking with Richard Mille he explains that he wants to make watches you can wear. He loves people that wear his watches and thinks they should never be put in a safe. What is important, as he explains "is they need to be comfortable, need to be easy to wind, need to be easy to read, and the need to be good companions of luck."
We all know RM watches are expensive. Throughout the evening I heard him repeat many times "whatever the cost". His passion for perfection is amazing. RM explained he has over a 50% rejection rate during manufacturing. Amazing.
RM shared an amusing story with us about a conversation between him and a friend on the cost of a titanium screw. The cost of a kilo of titanium screws is more then 20 million euros. All grade 5 and polished by hand. You can imagine that each scew costs a small fortune.
New all grey collection with limited editions for RM 2,3, 4, and 8. "Everyone is doing black so I say lets do all grey! We have so many treatments on titanium that are absolutely beautiful, with different shades of grey that are complementary."
When Richard Mille was told the market for pocket watches was dead he decided to make a pocket watch.
The price is in euros not Hong Kong Dollars!
"I did a rectangular watch, now I wanted to do a round watch, when people said to why a round watch? I said why not a round watch?"
The RM25 was important to important to him to integrate to another shape and adapt a new design. He finally had to accept that you can not have a turning bezel on a rectangle watch.
The beast as he calls it is a typical technical product. The bezel construction is apparently very complex. You can see from all the screws that the bezel system is very secure to the watch. The unidirectional makes sixty cranks when turned which he said sounds amazing. Unfortunately we could not hear the sound on the prototype.
RM 23 is more of a lifestyle piece. After RM005 was canceled people told RM they wanted a less technical unisex piece. The RM23 in size between RM007 and RM010.
RM describes the front as romantic and behind which is unbelievable technique. The “back is absolutely is breathtaking.” The base plate is made of Black Onyx and considered to be a gemstone that protects against negative thoughts.
With so many watches to look at I almost forgot the amazing dinner we had. Here are just a few of the many courses. The others I ate too quickly.
Thank you to Richard Mille for a wonderful evening and to iW and friends for hosting such an excellent event.
The evening was an exciting event. Not just to spend time with Richard himself but also to see the new 2009 collection. With production now about 2000 pieces for the year it’s amazing to see so many new models.
Richard Mille watches combine what he describes as "3 pillars". The first is the best possible technique and innovation. Second aesthetic dimension and third hand finishing and assembly. More and more he is giving importance to the artistic part. His concern is that if focuses exclusively on technical watches customers like us would get bored. He considers the RM19 a piece of art.
When speaking with Richard Mille he explains that he wants to make watches you can wear. He loves people that wear his watches and thinks they should never be put in a safe. What is important, as he explains "is they need to be comfortable, need to be easy to wind, need to be easy to read, and the need to be good companions of luck."
We all know RM watches are expensive. Throughout the evening I heard him repeat many times "whatever the cost". His passion for perfection is amazing. RM explained he has over a 50% rejection rate during manufacturing. Amazing.
RM shared an amusing story with us about a conversation between him and a friend on the cost of a titanium screw. The cost of a kilo of titanium screws is more then 20 million euros. All grade 5 and polished by hand. You can imagine that each scew costs a small fortune.
Together with our honored guest of the evening.
Richard Mille shows his all grey RM016
New all grey collection with limited editions for RM 2,3, 4, and 8. "Everyone is doing black so I say lets do all grey! We have so many treatments on titanium that are absolutely beautiful, with different shades of grey that are complementary."
RM captivates a crowd.
Filled with energy and passion.
Special couple. Nice watchs too.
Perfect Trio
My favorite of the evening.
When Richard Mille was told the market for pocket watches was dead he decided to make a pocket watch.
Perfect Pair.
One for each wrist.
The price is in euros not Hong Kong Dollars!
Admiring the RM25.
The round dial - a technical necessity for diving watches.
"I did a rectangular watch, now I wanted to do a round watch, when people said to why a round watch? I said why not a round watch?"
Sam thinking of his next diving trip.
Attention to detail.
Stunning.
RM sharing his vision with us.
The RM25 was important to important to him to integrate to another shape and adapt a new design. He finally had to accept that you can not have a turning bezel on a rectangle watch.
Titanium central casing and turning bezel.
The beast as he calls it is a typical technical product. The bezel construction is apparently very complex. You can see from all the screws that the bezel system is very secure to the watch. The unidirectional makes sixty cranks when turned which he said sounds amazing. Unfortunately we could not hear the sound on the prototype.
Skeletonized RM023
RM 23 is more of a lifestyle piece. After RM005 was canceled people told RM they wanted a less technical unisex piece. The RM23 in size between RM007 and RM010.
RM 019 Celtic Knot
RM describes the front as romantic and behind which is unbelievable technique. The “back is absolutely is breathtaking.” The base plate is made of Black Onyx and considered to be a gemstone that protects against negative thoughts.
RM 020 Tourbillon Pocket Watch
Assembled with 12 spline scews in grade-5 titanium.
RM 002-V2 All Gray Tourbillon
RM004
Unisex and less technical RM023
In 18k RG
With so many watches to look at I almost forgot the amazing dinner we had. Here are just a few of the many courses. The others I ate too quickly.
Simmered Lobster with Coconut Milk and Chili
Steamed Star Groupa Fillet in Bamboo Basket
Braised Seasonal Vegetables with Morel Mushrooms
Chilled Green Tea and Almond Pudding
Thank you to Richard Mille for a wonderful evening and to iW and friends for hosting such an excellent event.
Thanks Brad for the comprehensive report...I wonder it is ...
good to say his production yield is only 50% .
Kong
Kong
thanks for sharing
it was great fun reading about the event..... and also wonderful pictures too
Thats Brad for the event write-up!
The picture you posted of the RM25 is the best I've seen so far because it shows the curvature of the bezel extremely well. Would love to try one of these on the wrist just to see how large the 51mm case is.
How thick is the RM25? Even thicker than the RM11?
The skeletonized RM23 looks pretty nice, and it should be as popular as the RM10 IMO.
Your food pictures looks savory!
Cheers,
Anthony
Thanks Brad for the great write-up - looked like a fun event.
I too have been drawn to the RM020 - a gem of a watch, but just out of my price range - by about a 150K! 
Thanks again
Andrew H
Sive of the RM 25
I think that the size is about 50MM and 20MM large on the web size of richard you should find everything
Wow! Very Special Screws!
Great report, nice to see the watches with pictures that have other objects to reference them. That pocket watch is huge! Very clever packaging concept for the pocket watch.
Delicious food, delicious company, and beautiful watches; all with a man that seems to have the strength and energy of a teenager.
The expensive screws should be part of their advertising campaign! The odd part is that even a kilogram of Richard Mille watches doesn't cost 20 million Euros; meaning the screws are one of the most expensive components of the watch. In fact, assuming that a movement weighs about 25 grams (40 movements per kilogram), the screws cost more than the movement in terms of weight. Weird. This means that Richard Mille probably is able to mass produce movement parts, but hasn't been able to bring down production costs of titanium screws.
Delicious food, delicious company, and beautiful watches; all with a man that seems to have the strength and energy of a teenager.
The expensive screws should be part of their advertising campaign! The odd part is that even a kilogram of Richard Mille watches doesn't cost 20 million Euros; meaning the screws are one of the most expensive components of the watch. In fact, assuming that a movement weighs about 25 grams (40 movements per kilogram), the screws cost more than the movement in terms of weight. Weird. This means that Richard Mille probably is able to mass produce movement parts, but hasn't been able to bring down production costs of titanium screws.
Lovely post...
..thanks for posting, very interesting to see. Must say I really am not a fan of the hands on the 'new' RM002...should of left those alone!