Introducing the Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 19-01 Natalie Portman in Black Sapphire and Black TZP Ceramic Limited Editions. They were designed in collaboration with Richard Mille Ambassador, Natalie Portman, an Academy Award winning actress.
She set her mind on an image combining strong associations and complex undertones expressed by a diamond studded and encrusted tracery based upon the image of a spider.
For the Altaic peoples of Central Asia and Siberia, it represents the soul released from the body, and on the mystical level, the thread of the spider is a support in spiritual development.
Among the peoples of West Africa, the spider, called Anansi is seen as the originator of the first humans and creator of the Sun, Moon and stars.
Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 19-01 Natalie Portman Black Sapphire
For the Black Sapphire edition the spider is in white gold.
The Black Sapphire version comes on a satin strap. It has a 46.40mm case.
The specific tonneau shape of the RM 19-01 requires 47 stamping operations including 21 only for preparation. Tooling takes 4 hours and the RM 19-01 is obtained after 250 milling operations. The finishing process requires a full day for grinding, glazing and polishing. The tripartite case is water resistant to 50 meters, ensured by two Nitril O-ring seals. The case is assembled with 12 spline screws in grade 5 titanium and abrasion resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.
Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 19-01 Natalie Portman Black Sapphire
Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 19-01 Natalie Portman Black Sapphire and Black TZP Ceramic
In the TZP Ceramic version the spider is red gold. It has a 50mm ceramic case.
Black ceramic was chosen for bezel and caseback. This low-density material (6g/cm3) is highly scratch-resistant and has a low thermal conductivity coefficient. Constituted of 95% yttrium-stabilised zirconium, TZP has a pronounced grain that provides the perfect finish. A long and difficult machining and grinding process using diamond tools is necessary to create the complex forms of the bezel and caseback, which are given a final matt surface finish.
The TZP Ceramic version comes on a black rubber strap.
Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 19-01 Natalie Portman Black Sapphire and Black TZP Ceramic
The movement
]The RM 19-01 manual winding tourbillon caliber is assembled around a black rhodium-plated, 18K white gold black sapphire set baseplate. The spider within the movement, also in gold and delicately set with diamonds, forms an integral part of the movement, with the abdomen of the spider actually supporting the bridges of the tourbillon, and its legs supporting the two winding barrels.
Final Details
The Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 19-01 Natalie Portman Black Sapphire and Black Ceramic are limited editions of three and five pieces respectively and Asia exclusives and are only available at Richard Mille boutiques in Asia.
Technical Specifications
Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 19-01 Natalie Portman Black Sapphire: Limited to 3 Pieces
Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 19-01 Natalie Portman Black TZP Ceramic: Limited to 5 Pieces
CALIBER RM19-01: manual winding tourbillon movement with hours, minutes and power reserve indicator.
– Movement dimensions: 30.20 x 28.60 mm
– Thickness: 4.97 mm
– Tourbillon diameter: 12.30 mm
– Balance wheel diameter: 10 mm
– Jewels: 21, set in white gold chatons
– Balance: Glucydur, 2 arms and 4 setting screws, inertia moment 11.5 mg.cm2, angle of lift 53°
– Frequency: 21’600 vph (3 Hz)
– Balance spring: ELINVAR by Nivarox®
– Shock protection: KIF ELASTOR KE 160 B28
– Barrel shaft: in nickel-free Chronifer (DIN x 46 Cr 13 + S), with the following characteristics: stainless – antimagnetic –
suitable for tempering.
POWER RESERVE
Circa 48 hours (±10%).
This function is displayed using a newly designed differential power reserve system, with a printed red line on a
moving disc located between 10 and 11 o’clock.
FINISHING
MOVEMENT
– Anglage and polishing by hand
– Locking sections hand polished
– Sapphire blasted milled sections
– Lapped and polished contact points
– Burnished pivots
– PVD treatment
STEEL PARTS
– Sapphire blasted surfaces
– Satin finished surfaces
– Anglage and polishing by hand
– Drawn outer faces
GEAR WHEEL
– Concave chamfering with a diamond tool
– Circular finished faces
– Surface treatment or rhodium-plating (before cutting the teeth)
– Minimum correction applied to the wheels in order to preserve
geometry and performance
CRYSTAL
Bezel side: in sapphire (1,800 Vickers) with anti-glare treatment (both sides).
Thickness: 1.20 mm
Caseback: in sapphire with anti-glare treatment (both sides).
Thickness: at the center 1.00 mm and outer edges 1.73 mm
