Description

The Richard Mille RM26-02 Tourbillon Evil Eye is a mesmerizing timepiece that draws inspiration from one of humanity’s most ancient and universal symbols of mysticism. Limited to just 25 pieces, this extraordinary watch represents Richard Mille’s nonconformist approach to haute horlogerie, transforming timekeeping into an art form that both intrigues and captivates.

At the heart of this masterpiece lies a hand-crafted Evil Eye, meticulously designed and executed by renowned Geneva craftsman Olivier Vaucher. The eye and surrounding flames are hand-carved from 3N red gold using specially created chisels to achieve exceptional detail. The eye’s remarkable depth and realism come from the ancient art of grand feu enameling, where rare oxides are painted onto the gold dial and fired multiple times at temperatures between 800°C and 900°C. This painstaking process, followed by layers of transparent lacquer that undergo the same firing technique, creates an unparalleled visual depth. The flames surrounding the eye feature intricate micro-lacquerwork applied by hand, enhancing the dramatic effect.

The Evil Eye is housed within a manual-winding tourbillon movement with a power reserve of approximately 50 hours, indicated by a red line on a differential-driven rotating disk positioned between 10 and 11 o’clock. The movement’s plate and bridges are crafted from PVD-coated grade 5 titanium, ensuring exceptional durability and corrosion resistance. Extensive skeletonization of the baseplate reveals the reverse side of the Evil Eye through the caseback, creating a mesmerizing visual experience from both sides.

The timepiece is protected by a black TZP ceramic case with a meticulously crafted matte finish that plays with light along its hand-polished chamfers, highlighting the case’s curves and accentuating the vibrant colors of the Evil Eye’s flames. The 5N red gold case middle features a torque-limiting crown to prevent overwinding. Water-resistant to 50 meters, the tripartite case is secured with 12 grade 5 titanium spline screws and 316L stainless steel washers.

The RM26-02 Tourbillon Evil Eye represents Richard Mille’s ability to blend ancient symbolism with cutting-edge watchmaking, creating a timepiece that is as technically impressive as it is visually captivating.

Richard Mille – Bio

Richard Mille (born 13 February 1951, in France) started work at Finhor, a local watchmaking company in 1974. The company was bought by Matra in 1981 and Richard Mille rose to manage Matra’s watchmaking business, which then included the brands Yema and Cupillard Rième. Matra’s watchmaking activities were sold to Seiko, who Mille left in 1992 to start a watchmaking business for jewellery firm Mauboussin. In 1999 he founded the company Richard Mille SA in collaboration with Audemars Piguet. Its first product, the RM001 went on sale in 2001