When the musical prodigy and the watchmaking icon Richard Mille got together, an outstanding creation was inevitably going to transpire. Focus on the most inspiring collaboration of the moment.
It was totally in character for Richard Mille to propose to Pharell Williams, a long-time friend of the Brand, to imagine a watch which would be extraordinary, in the genuine sense of the word. A challenge which the incredibly-talented American singer, songwriter, performer and producer, who multitasks with daunting dexterity, took up instantly.
When questioned about his inspiration for the piece, Pharell answered that he looked deep inside his childhood memories, moments spent contemplating the sky because “What could be more inspiring than all that ever was and all that ever will be? Space, before your eyes. It’s yours to see. It was here before the Earth, before this Solar System. It’ll be here after us and nothing’s more meaningful than that. When I look up at the sky I’m looking at God. I feel part of so many different parts of a whole. This is the Alpha and the Omega.”
The RM 52-05 whisks us into the hugeness of our galaxy and places the spotlight on Mars. A creation like an invitation to step outside our comfort zone to better sense the exquisiteness of the unexpected. Our glance, drawn deep into the heart of the spectacular Valles Marineris, is caught by the dial which captures this impressive Martian canyon like a snapshot. Wondrous precision which required superimposing several layers of enamel and a myriad of firings at 850 degrees.
For this galactic journey, no detail has been left to chance: take, for example, the astronaut’s helmet sculpted in grade 5 titanium and hand-painted, the shape of the crown conjuring up the design of a rocket capsule, and the details of its rubber surround which features the profile of a Martian rover tire. The timepiece, hosting a RM 52-05 caliber, a hand-wound tourbillon movement, is definitely cut out for space. An expedition which the brand proposes in a limited 30-piece edition.
