Richard Mille - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIX Hong Kong Saturday, November 23, 2024 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Richard Mille
    Year: Circa 2013
    Reference No: RM59-01 AN CA
    Movement No: 27
    Case No: 30/50
    Model Name: Tourbillon ‘Yohan Blake’
    Material: Translucent composite composed of injected carbon nanotubes
    Calibre: Manual, RM59-01, 19 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Rubber
    Clasp/Buckle: Titanium Richard Mille double deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 42mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Richard Mille warranty dated 8th October 2013, instruction letter, leather folio, Adidas spike shoes signed by Yohan Blake, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Sharing a namesake with Jamaican sprinter Yohan Blake, who secured silver medals in the 100m and 200m events at the 2012 London Olympics, the Richard Mille RM59-01 epitomizes their motto of "a racing machine for the wrist" by seamlessly blending the speed of motor racing with the agility of athletics.

    Yohan Blake, born in 1989, made history as the youngest 100m world champion at 21 during the 2011 World Athletics Championships. Dubbed "The Beast" akin to his training partner Usain Bolt, the world's fastest man in the 100m, who affectionately used this moniker in an interview, the nickname also served as inspiration for a design feature in the watch.

    The RM59-01 stands out as a masterpiece, enthralling with its dynamic bridges that stretch across the movement. Crafted meticulously from anticorodal aluminium—a blend of aluminium, magnesium, and silicon—the bridges not only support the tourbillon carriage and center-wheel pinion but also unite the grade 5 titanium baseplate assembly with the case. The watch's hand-painted green and yellow hues, inspired by the Jamaican flag and Yohan Blake, infuse a distinctive flair into this exceptional timepiece.

    In true Richard Mille fashion, the RM59-01 is engineered to excel in all conditions, even enduring grueling 100m sprint races at elite levels of competition. Its lightweight yet durable construction, employing a composite featuring carbon nanotubes for shock absorption, guarantees resilience in the face of rigorous competition. Additionally, the asymmetric case design, tapered on the left side for enhanced aerodynamics, further elevates its functionality.

    Produced in a limited edition of just 50 pieces, this present set, one of the few to resurface on the secondary market includes personally signed Adidas running spike shoes by Yohan Blake. This rare offering not only adds to its allure but also presents a truly unique opportunity to own a piece of Richard Mille's avant-garde designs, paying homage to one of the star sportsmen in track and field of this generation.

  • Artist Biography

    Richard Mille

    Swiss • 1999

    Established in 1999, Richard Mille's ultra-modern timepieces combine cutting-edge materials from high performance worlds such as Formula 1 racecars with high-end traditional watchmaking. The brand's revolutionary designs, technical breakthroughs and exceptional hand-finishing excite even the most discriminating collectors, and have positioned Richard Mille alongside the top makers of the modern luxury watch world.

    Innovative watches, such as the RM 027 Tourbillon, which was the world’s lightest mechanical watch when introduced in 2011, have helped the brand invert the concept of the luxury watch. Key models include the RM 009 Tourbillon cased in Aluminum Silicon Carbide (AlSiC), the RM 027-02 Tourbillon made for tennis star Rafael Nadal with a case made from quartz and carbon fiber and the RM 008 split seconds chronograph.

    View More Works

Property of the Original Owner

860

Ref. RM59-01 AN CA
A very rare and fascinating limited edition green translucent composite skeletonized tourbillon tonneau-shaped wristwatch with certificate, signed spike shoes by Yohan Blake and presentation box, numbered 30 of a limited edition of 50 pieces

Circa 2013
42mm diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$2,350,000 - 4,700,000 
€275,000-550,000
$301,000-603,000

Sold for HK$5,080,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2030
WatchesHK@phillips.com
 

Gertrude Wong
Head of Sale, Hong Kong
+852 2318 2045
gertrudewong@phillips.com
 

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XIX

Hong Kong Auction 23 - 24 November 2024