[The crystal sapphire case – from the RM056 at SIHH – in its constituent parts]
The watch is absurd on one level – why? Why would you want to produce a watch case that could shatter? You do not have to worry about hair-line scratches on the case, but if you knock the case on a hard or sharp object, with sufficient force, you could see the sapphire case crack or even shatter in front of you. But for Richard, the RM056 is an opus piece and fulfils the governing philosophy that it is not the material that should be seen as the value element in the watch, but the techniques and work to develop that material to the finished watch. It is to show you can. The price tag associated with such flights into the unknown are not small, and the RM056 with a 1.4million CHF tariff, certainly fits into that category. But then, that’s Richard! It has always been his philosophy to attempt the new, the seemingly impossible, to pull it off, and to amaze us all. Not to count the cost, but show what can be done, where we can go with the commitment and enthusiasm for the new, and the resolve to see it through to the end.
The RM056 with its sapphire crystal case is the ghost in the machine. When the RM056 photos were beamed worldwide from SIHH, the discussion turned to what would be the rational for such a watch. (http://richardmille.watchprosite.com/show-forumpost/fi-18/pi-5087828/ti-765828/s-0/). One of our forum members suggested that the RM056 Saphir was a masterpiece as a demonstration of what Richard could achieve. And this is how the watch should be seen. It is Richard showing that it could be done, and leaving aside the arguments on whether it should be.
See the watch for what it is – a flight into the unknown to show what can be done, what can thrill the watch world: that such a watch is possible. When I caught sight of the watch that first morning at SIHH, I could not help think of the immortal words of Jim Morrison singing The Doors: “Deliver me from reasons why, You'd rather cry, I'd rather fly, The crystal ship is being filled, A thousand girls, a thousand thrills , A million ways to spend your time...” And so it seems!
Andrew H