The champion of the Perini Navi Cup yacht race, Thomas Perkins, once made waves when he declared, “With the price of a Richard Mille watch, you could buy a Rolex.” Since then, Richard Mille has become an icon and has piqued the curiosity of many. People ask, “Which country does Richard Mille watches belong to? Why are Richard Mille watches so expensive? Why are tycoons so enamored with Richard Mille?”
Let’s join Mon Luxury as we delve into the history of the Richard Mille watch brand to unravel these intriguing questions!
I. History of the Richard Mille Watch Brand
The Richard Mille brand was established in Switzerland in 1999, and within just 23 years, it has built a solid reputation in the world of luxury watches.
Not only is it the choice of global stars like Rafael Nadal, the “greatest tennis player of all time,” top world defender Dani Alves, rapper Jay Z, but Richard Mille is also beloved by many wealthy artists and entrepreneurs in Vietnam, such as businessman Minh Nhựa, Ly Nha Ky, singers Tuan Hung, and Le Quyen.
The motto “Sit in a Lamborghini, wear Richard Mille” showcases the credibility and class of tycoons and successful entrepreneurs.
Richard Mille, as the brand’s name suggests, is a combination of marketing talent and advertising expertise of its founder.
A pivotal moment in Richard Mille’s life was in 1988 when he decided to leave his job at Mauboussin and seek a new direction.
A chance encounter with Dominique Guenat, owner of a watchmaking workshop in Les Breuleux, Switzerland, shaped the future of Richard Mille. In 2001, the Richard Mille brand officially entered the market with support from Audemars Piguet.
The ambition to push boundaries, constant innovation, and a passion for racing and engines drove Richard Mille to create unique masterpieces inspired by Formula 1 race cars.
Richard Mille’s first watch, the RM 001, used a titanium case and introduced a new approach to watchmaking. Since then, Richard Mille has created many unique product lines that are sought after by connoisseurs, from the RM 56 Sapphire – the world’s most expensive watch priced at 2,031,500 EURO (around 52 billion VND), to the RM57 – 03 Sapphire Dragon featuring a powerful dragon design, and the RM 50-02 ACJ collaboration with Airbus Corporate Jets using advanced aerospace titanium.
In addition to crafting unique timepieces, Richard Mille sponsors numerous major sports events and even participates in a world-class racing team. Difference and innovation have made the Richard Mille brand famous worldwide in just over 23 years.
II. Are Richard Mille Watches Good?
Now that we’ve explored the history and origin of Richard Mille Watches, let’s preliminarily assess the product’s quality through four main aspects to answer the question: are Richard Mille Watches worth buying?
Unique Design of Richard Mille Watches
While high-end Swiss watch brands often pursue elegant and classic designs, Richard Mille chooses a different path, with sporty, powerful, and sometimes distinctive designs. The front and back of Richard Mille watch cases are often “curved” to create a unique and impressive design.
Not only is the shape unique, but the construction of Richard Mille watch cases also requires precision and meticulousness down to 1/100th of a millimeter to ensure airtightness and prevent dust and dirt from entering and damaging the movement.
Craftsmanship of Richard Mille Watches
To create an exquisite and high-class Richard Mille watch, every manufacturing process must be carried out with precision and diligence. For example, the watch case requires up to 200 steps and uses up to 15 different types of screws. This results in lightweight and extremely durable watches.
For instance, the RM 27-01 that Rafael Nadal wore weighs only about 18 grams, equivalent to a handwritten letter.
Materials Used in Richard Mille Watches
Richard Mille places a strong emphasis on research, technological innovation, and the use of high-quality materials such as those used in Formula 1 cars, spaceships, and racing yachts.
An excellent example is the use of Alusic, an ultra-hard, super-durable, and shock-resistant material. This material is widely used in the racing car and aerospace industries. Alusic metal is so hard that it can wear out the machining parts on CNC machines. This makes Richard Mille watch cases expensive and unique.
Movement of Richard Mille Watches
While many watch brands choose to produce “in-house” exclusive movements, Richard Mille collaborates with other manufacturers to produce movements in the same workshop. Richard Mille’s mechanical movements often use Titanium combined with exclusive materials researched and developed by the brand’s artisans. All manufacturing steps are done by hand and must adhere to Switzerland’s strict standards, and the surfaces are often coated with materials like PVD or Titalyt.
With highlights in design, materials, and manufacturing technology, Richard Mille Watches can be considered masterpieces in the world of luxury watches. However, their prices reflect the uniqueness and high performance, making owning a Richard Mille Watch a substantial investment, typically ranging from billions to tens of billions of Vietnamese dong. This makes Richard Mille Watches an icon of class and the luxury world.
III. Pricing of Richard Mille Watches
To own a genuine Richard Mille Watch, you need to be prepared to spend a significant amount of money. The prices of Richard Mille Watches typically range from 1.1 billion VND and up for standard editions, and can go up to 25 billion VND or more for special and limited editions. For those who are passionate about exquisite Tourbillon watches, prices can start from 12 billion VND and above. Only those who are truly elite and willing to spend generously can wear a Richard Mille Watch.
