Richard Mille is paying homage to Japanese culture with the RM 47 Tourbillon Time of the Samurai.
The limited edition of 75 watches emerged as an idea after a conversation between Richard Mille and two-time Formula 1 world champion and brand partner Fernando Alonso, who is a passionate enthusiast of Japanese traditional arts and the Samurai principles.
It features gold Samurai armor, which has been hand-carved by the engraver Pierre-Alain Lozeron and painted by his wife Valérie Lozeron.
It takes a Samurai expert to entirely appreciate the symbolism in the Richard Mille watch.
Many details make reference to the Asano clan, a family said to symbolize the bushido spirit.
The chief of the family domain in the 18th century, Asano Naganori, was also the lord of the 47 ronin who avenged his death before following him into the after world.
Their Kamon, or clan heraldic sign of two crossed falcon feathers, is featured on the tourbillon, at six o’clock.
The watch uses a manual-winding calibre RM47 with baseplate and skeletonised bridges
made of grade 5 titanium.
