Richard Mille RM 055 RM 055

Richard Mille Reference RM 055 Ti-TZP Bubba Watson ‘Asia Exclusive' | A limited edition black ceramic and titanium skeletonized wristwatch, Made exclusively for the Asian market, Circa 2016

Dial: skeletonized Caliber: cal. RMUL2 mechanical, 24 jewels Movement number: 180’077, 6’206 Case: black ceramic and titanium, case back secured by eight screws Case number: 06/50 Closure: Richard Mille rubber strap with titanium double folding clasp Size: 50 x 42 mm Signed: case, dial and movement Box: yes Papers: yes Accessories: Richard Mille presentation box, Warranty dated 27 February 2016, Warranty Card, operating instructions booklet, and service bookletIn an industry where the fundamentals of mechanical timekeeping have remained unchanged for over two centuries, Richard Mille has been pushing boundaries and challenging the conventional wisdom of traditional watchmaking in nearly every facet since its founding in 1999. Known for marrying the highest complications of traditional Swiss watchmaking with space-age alloys and metals, the brand has produced some of the most sophisticated sports watches of the last two decades. Famous for their use of the phrase “a racing machine on the wrist,” the unique technical prowess of their watches is matched only by the innovative ways in which they test their latest creations. Richard Mille launched the RM055 in 2012 as a collaboration with PGA Tour-winning golfer Bubba Watson. It was inspired by the RM038 Tourbillon, which they had presented the previous year. Powered by a manually wound and highly skeletonized movement, Richard Mille produced the movement itself in Grade 5 titanium with a PVD and Tytalit-treated baseplate and bridges. These choices are not only aesthetic—they also allow the movement to withstand accelerations of over 500 g’s. Taking inspiration from the impact forces Bubba Watson subjects a watch to on the golf course, the calibre RMUL2 also utilizes a variable-inertia balance wheel, a device capable of ensuring reliability during impacts—a particularly useful feature when worn during play. The RM055 case features an ATZ bezel made from aluminum oxide powder tubes injected under a pressure of almost 2,000 bars. This process increases rigidity by 20%, giving the watch extremely high scratch resistance. After diamond, it is one of the hardest materials on the planet. As mentioned, Richard Mille is all about pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation in materials. While the standard version was delivered in white, this present lot is part of a highly limited edition of 50 pieces made for the Asia market. The primary difference lies in the design: Richard Mille took the high-performance RM055 and updated its look with a more stealthy and sleek aesthetic. In lieu of its all-white ATZ bezel, this version features a combination of a black ATZ ceramic bezel and case back, sandwiching a midcase composed of white rubberized titanium. As with the original RM055, each material was chosen for both its robustness and lightweight qualities. Aside from the case, RM added subtle silver accents to the crown, rehaut, and hands, providing an elegant pop of color and a welcome contrast to the now all-black case. While these changes may sound subtle, they make a truly dramatic and meaningful impact on the overall look of the watch—especially when compared to the standard production model. Displaying strong character and demonstrating Richard Mille’s relentless pursuit of the finest materials for extreme use, this very rare RM055 Bubba Watson Asia Exclusive would be a significant addition to any collection.