Richard Mille partnered with Fernando Alonso for the samurai-inspired RM 47 Tourbillon
Richard Mille explores Japanese art and spirituality in the making of the one-of-a-kind RM 47 Tourbillon.
Samurai culture and folklore have intrigued and entertained enthusiasts of many pop culture genres—from theatre and films courtesy of Hollywood or legendary Japanese director Akira Kurosawa to literary works, manga and video games and beyond—for countless decades, in and out of Japan. And who would have thought a serendipitous tête-à-tête with twice Formula 1 world champion and Richard Mille brand partner Fernando Alonso would kick-start the creation of the samurai-inspired RM 47 Tourbillon. Alonso’s passion for Japanese arts and samurai philosophy may have led to the launch of the artistic project but it was the avant-garde watchmaking brand’s mastery of haute horlogerie techniques and excellence in working materials, alongside collaborations with talented craftspersons, that brought the exceptional timepiece to fruition.
Taking nearly four intense years of reflection and design work, RM 47 Tourbillon shines light on a new way of transcending the limits of creation in the watch brand’s lineage of “ornamental” watches. Paying aesthetic tribute to the culture of the Land of the Rising Sun, the timepiece interior houses a samurai armour crafted entirely by hand—harking back to the country’s crafting tradition, and evoking the spirit of bushido (or samurai code of ethics) and spiritual values that still guide and influence modern-day Japan.
Within the unique watch—a work of art of impressive realism—is an extremely compact calibre designed so as to leave room for a stylised and handcrafted samurai suit of armour that is emblematic of various aspects of ancestral Japanese culture. It comes as no coincidence that the armour inside RM 47 Tourbillon bears the Asano crest. According to Japanese lore, the Asano clan from Hiroshima epitomises the bushido spirit—especially in how the death of its 18th century daimyo (or chief) and lord of the 47 ronin (wandering warriors without a master), Asano Naganori, was avenged by his followers. The RM 47 Tourbillon bears the clan kamon—a heraldic sign marked on the warriors’ clothes, swords and banners carried into battlefields—in engraving form of two crossed falcon feathers, representing strength in war and the authority of the suzerain, on its tourbillon at six o’clock. This emblem is also finely engraved on the winglets of the warriors’ traditional helmet, called kabuto.
Another cultural symbolism ensues with the Japanese maple leaf motif or momiji—denoting the seasons as well as the grace, beauty and the brevity of life—which appears on the crown, crafted in titanium, Carbon TPT® and polished 3N yellow gold. Lastly, speaking of samurai with a sword, RM 47 Tourbillon features two at the bottom, sheathed in their scabbards and with the sharpened cutting edges of their blades pointing upwards, ready to be drawn quickly in a duel or conflict.
Entirely hand-carved by the engraver Pierre-Alain Lozeron and painted by his wife Valérie Lozeron, the armour comes to life in 3N yellow gold, referencing kinpaku or the gold leaf used in ancient Japan to embellish shrines such as Kyoto’s Kinkaku-ji, as well as works of time-honoured craftsmanship the likes of Wajima-nuri lacquerware. The decorative art of the timepiece is akin to a work of sculpture as much as an engraving piece—taking 16 hours of engraving and 9 hours of painting in total, achieved with patience, meticulousness, dexterity and passion to obtain the 11 components that make up the perfectly integrated samurai around the movement of RM 47 Tourbillon.
“Between sword and chisel, between the cutting edge of the blade and the incisions defined by the precision of the engraver’s technique, there are many parallels to evoke the similarities between the qualities of these warriors and those demanded by our artistic crafts,” explains Lozeron.
Echoing its original purpose of protecting the samurai, the armour sported by RM 47 Tourbillon literally shields the watch’s manual-winding calibre RM47 with hours and minutes. A barrel-shaped case, comprising three parts with a case band in 3N yellow gold, and a bezel and case back in black TZP ceramic, houses the spellbinding mechanical and artistic work. The hand-finished baseplate and skeletonised bridges, sporting complex lines, are made of grade 5 titaniumb—a biocompatible alloy used in the aerospace industry—with a black PVD treatment ensures the movement functions optimally along with corrosion-resistance, remarkable rigidity and perfectly flat surfaces.
This masterpiece involving the movement, case and decoration is exemplary not just in high watchmaking but as a contemporary work of art. The harmonious design process used to perfectly integrate all the elements of each of the 75-piece RM 47 Tourbillon limited edition is an absolute evocation of accomplished craftsmanship and reverence for tradition.
Visit richardmille.com to find out more.
