Introducing The Richard Mille RM S14 Talisman Origine for Only Watch

Offered at the Only Watch auction,will be held on May 10, 2024, at the Palexpo congress center in Geneva, under the hammer of Christie’s the RM S14 Talisman Origine stands out in the rich history of the Richard Mille brand, transcending the conventional concept of a wristwatch. It emerges as an homage to Switzerland, celebrating the country’s culture, values and traditions.

In the construction of this unique piece, Richard Mille opted for a bezel and caseback made of 18-carat 5N red gold, while the centre part of the case uses grade 5 titanium. The case dimensions are 46.77 x 77.25 x 13.10 mm. 

The delicate task of crafting these symbols by hand was entrusted to Pierre-Alain Lozeron, a renowned Swiss engraver who has collaborated with the brand on some of its most extraordinary artistic models. The designs evoke a duality between day and night, as well as geometric patterns reminiscent of Swiss farmhouse roofs.

The hand-engraved symbols on the bezel and the rhodonite stones set into the sides of the case lend the three-part case the sentimental air of times long gone. 

The bezels are securely fastened by fully polished grade 5 titanium claws, which themselves incorporate hand-cut rhodonite elements. There are 16 of these claws, each anchored by spline screws with patterns reminiscent of flowers.

The duality extends throughout the watch, notably with the unconventional crowns flanking the movement. Crafted from gold and polished titanium, the crown at 3 o’clock features a cabochon rhodonite, representing the sun, and serves to set the time and wind the movement. Positioned at 9 o’clock, the strictly ornamental second crown, symbolising the moon, helps balance the overall aesthetic of the timepiece and is capped with a marble stone cabochon

The openworked dial of this masterpiece has skeletonised plate and bridges made of 18-carat 3N yellow gold, both microblasted and bevelled by hand. winding barrel positioned at 12 o'clock, tourbillon at 6 o'clock.

Powering the RM S14 Talisman Origine is the in-house automatic movement CRMT5, which can also be found in the RM 74-02. This is surprising in that wristwatches naturally promise a better starting position for an automatic movement (due to the frequent changes of position) than a watch that is worn on the neck, therefore likely not moving enough to wind it sufficiently. To counteract this obstacle, the movement integrates a variable geometry rotor that adapts the efficiency of the automatic winding mechanism to the wearer’s movements in order to optimise winding. With this in mind, the power reserve of the movement amounts to 50 hours.

The setting is modified by adjusting the two moveable weights into the correct position and fixing them in place with spline screws. The inertia of the movement is increased when the two weights are closer together; the barrel then rewinds more quickly. If the weights are positioned at the extremities of the rotor, the inertia is decreased and the barrel winds more slowly.

The RM S14 is designed to be worn as a pendant around the neck, the first time that Richard Mille has created a necklace. Made of briar wood, red gold, titanium, and rhodonite beads, strung on a metal and rubber cord it has a pressure-adjustable clasp reminiscent of the insert at 6 o’clock that incorporates 5N red gold, polished titanium balls and wood of the same species.

The watch is a unique piece exclusive to Only Watch, with an estimated value of CHF 600,000 - 800,000.

For more information, please visit the official website of Richard Mille. or Only Watch.