The RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Raikkönen can handle some serious pressure.
Motorsport champion Kimi Raikkönen will wear his eponymous watch, the new RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Raikkönen from haute horlogerie-meets-high on September 20, when he enters the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix -tech Swiss brand Richard Mille.
The 39-year-old racing veteran is known as the “Iceman” for his legendary ability to remain calm even in the toughest conditions at the Swiss Alfa Romeo Racing Team. He has won accolades (Räikkönen was crowned F1 world champion in 2007 and has won 103 podiums in his 18-year career, including 21 firsts) and has been with management since 2018. Chad Miller.
With the RM 50-04 on his wrist, the Finnish rider doesn’t have to worry about the watch’s ability to handle extraordinary gravity. Tested in-house to withstand impacts of up to 5,000 grams, this timepiece is a perfect example of Richard Mille’s signature horological complications and the fusion of ultra-technical materials.
The split-seconds chronograph tourbillon (reinforced by fine skeletonization) is powered by a movement weighing only 7 grams, thanks to its ultra-light construction: it is made of grade 5 titanium and an experimental carbon called Carbon TPT (Thin Layer Technology) composition.
The high-tech theme is not limited to movements. Working with Switzerland’s North Thin Ply Technology, Richard Mille best perfected the intricate manufacturing process of the white quartz material used to cover the bezel and caseback – the same color that appears on Alfa Romeo’s C38 single-seater. The process involves separating 600 silicon layers, each 45 microns thick, and impregnating them with a white substrate before heating them to 120°C. As a result, the material has a high resistance to weight ratio, non-allergic and excellent UV resistance.
To complement the bright red strap of the model, the Carbon TPT flanges, chronograph counters and power reserve, torque and function indicators are decorated in red.
RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Raikkönen, number 7 engraved on the dial.
NFL star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. recently showed off his Richard Mille watch during the Browns’ season opener. The watch he was wearing reportedly sold for $350,000. If that price tag wasn’t jaw-dropping enough, Richard Mille just recently launched a new model in partnership with the just-unveiled 2019 Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix. Before we dive into more details, the most eye-opening thing about this RM 50-04 model is its price tag.
The hand-wound tourbillon split-seconds chronograph Kimi Räikkönen (yes, that’s actually the model’s tirade) is limited to 30 pieces worldwide, paying tribute to the driver and the Alfa Romeo team for which it is named. To get a more specific look at its construction, it’s worth mentioning that the front and back of the watch are made of Quartz TPT®, a combination of 600 layers of 45-micron-thick silicon. Materials give the piece an alien technology-like design. The RM 50-04 features titanium and carbon TPT components and is also lightweight. We also have futuristic torque, function and power reserve indicators, as well as Raikkonen’s racing number 7.
In his own words, the champion driver said: “We Finns are known for our ‘guts’ and determination. We even have a word – sisu. However, in my sport sisu is not enough. I have to Relying on high-performance technology and teamwork, but above all, pure passion! Richard Mille has powered his engine over the years with these three things – grit, technical prowess , and above all fun. That’s why I’m so excited to wear the groundbreaking RM 50-04 on my wrist.”
The full specs are as follows:
Model Name: Richard Mille RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Räikkönen
Case/Dial: 44.50mm Diameter x 49.65mm Height x 16.10mm Thickness, Grade 5 Titanium
Water resistance: 50m (5 bar)
Movement: Caliber RM50-03, manual winding
Functions: hours, minutes, split-seconds chronograph, 30-minute totalizer
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Power reserve: 70 hours
Strap: Graphene and rubber