Richard Mille Sapphire Tourbillon

About this reference

The Richard Mille RM 56-02 Sapphire Tourbillon was released in 2014 as a limited edition of 10 pieces. This reference is distinguished by its tripartite case milled entirely from solid blocks of synthetic sapphire, a process requiring 960 hours of machining per case. It utilizes the manual-wind Caliber RM56-02, which features a baseplate crafted from grade 5 titanium suspended within the sapphire case by a functional 0.35mm cable-and-pulley system. This architecture creates a visual effect of the movement floating in space while providing enhanced shock resistance. Collectors value the reference for its transparency and its role in evolving the brand’s technical research into sapphire applications. On the secondary market, the RM 56-02 typically commands prices in the $3,500,000 to $4,500,000 range. A unique prototype version of this model was notably produced for the 2015 Only Watch charity auction.