Way of the samurai: Introducing the Richard Mille RM 47 Tourbillon 

Always looking for the bold and unusual…. It’s Richard Mille. And here’s the brand with its latest offering – a $1 million tourbillon encased in Japanese history.

But if you do fancy a bit of samurai action you’ll need to be quick off the mark as there are only 75 of these watches available globally!

Samurai code of ethics

The RM 47 Tourbillon explores Bushido  –  the samurai code of ethics whose values still prevail in Japanese society – through a famous historical time in the 18th century, when the 47 Ronin set out to avenge the death of their chief Asano Naganori, before following him into the afterworld.

The idea for the theme stemmed from a chat between Richard Mille and Formula 1 world champion Fernando Alonso, who is a fan of Japanese traditional arts and the samurai principles.

Fine details 

Rather than dedicate space to a calibre, this watch offers its case room to house a mini hand-engraved 18ct yellow gold suit of armour, which took 16 hours to etch the 11 components making up the Samurai and nine further hours to paint. The finest details have been included such as the expression of the mask, which had to convey the samurai’s warrior spirit. 

The manual-winding tourbillon, bearing the Asano clan – a family originating from Hiroshima and said to symbolise the bushido spirit – is a true work of art.

Each samurai clan had their own kamon – a clan sign – which they wore on their clothes, sabres and any banners they carried in battles. Two crossed falcon feathers can be found at the six o’clock position. The bird was considered a symbol of strength in war. 

The crown is made of titanium, Carbon TPT, and polished yellow gold, features a Japanese maple leaf. A motif symbolising beauty, grace, and brevity of life, it’s the autumnal equivalent of cherry blossom, a symbol of rebirth during spring. Every November, the maple leaves change colour before detaching from the boughs to fall in a tourbillon-like movement. 

Robust alloy  

The skeletonised baseplate and bridges are made from grade 5 titanium, a highly corrosion-resistant alloy, which allows the gear train to function well. The alloy is created from 90% titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium which enhances its mechanical properties, hence its frequent use in the aerospace and automotive industries.

Here to help

With a power reserve of 72 hours, this would be a great addition to any watch fanatic’s haul. Looking to bolster your collection?

If you’d like any advice on selling your watch, or indeed you’d like us to track down your dream watch, give us a call on 0203 397 1596 today. We have buying teams in the UK and abroad so have great chances of picking up some great pieces. We can also offer part-exchange or a variety of finance deals.