Category: Richard Mille

If there is one phrase synonymous with luxury in the watch industry, it’s got to be the words ‘Richard Mille’. Richard Mille’s timepieces hold the record for being amongst the most exciting, exclusive, and extravagant time-telling devices in the world.

The very raison d’être of these ultra-high-end timepieces appears to be to break world records, grasp the attention of elite collectors and sunder out millions from Hollywood A-listers and other billionaires. 

The watches, which are multi-million dollar creations foredoomed to wind up in specially guarded private collections, represent a perfect example of horological brilliance. 

Dubbed the ‘billionaire’s handshake’, Richard Mille watches are “racing machines on the wrist”, with staggering prices even by today’s ultra-luxury watch standards.

How on earth can a time-telling device cost over a million dollars? Why do celebrities, athletes, and watch aficionados with deep pockets even buy them? Why are Richard Mille watches so expensive, and are they even worth the money?

Find out answers to these questions and everything you need to know about this famous brand and its uber-popular timepieces below.

About Richard Mille Watches

Avant-garde watchmaking is often associated with a long-standing heritage, but there are always exceptional exceptions, and Richard Mille is one such. Although only founded in 2001, the Swiss luxury watch company has earned its place in the confined territory of haute horlogerie, or high watchmaking. 

Despite being a comparatively young contender, Richard Mille enjoys global fame in the ranks of other high-end watchmakers like Patek Philippe and Rolex. 

And no, this is not one of those sensational momentary successes and fame that is here today and gone tomorrow. Richard Mille watches are renowned for their avant-garde designs, exceptional craftsmanship, and use of cutting-edge materials and technologies. 

The brand combines traditional Swiss watchmaking techniques with modern engineering and contemporary aesthetics to create unique, high-performance timepieces.

One of the key features of Richard Mille watches is their lightweight construction. The brand utilizes materials like carbon fiber, titanium, and other advanced composites to reduce the weight of its watches while maintaining strength and durability. This lightweight design philosophy is inspired by the world of motorsports and aerospace engineering.

The watches are often characterized by their distinctive tonneau-shaped cases, which have become a signature element of the brand’s designs. The cases are ergonomically shaped to provide comfort on the wrist and are typically made from a combination of materials for visual interest and technical performance.

In addition to their striking designs, Richard Mille watches are known for their intricate movements. The brand collaborates with renowned Swiss movement manufacturers, such as Audemars Piguet, Renaud et Papi, and Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier, to create highly complex and precise mechanical movements.

The brand’s Commercial Director, Alex Mille, said, “If I have to describe our watches, I would say that we stop at no limit. There’s no compromise”. Apart from the state-of-the-art materials, the astronomical rise to the top in a very short period by the brand was possible due to the exclusive, futuristic designs of its watches.

Richard Mille watches are predominantly produced in limited editions and are often associated with high-profile individuals and athletes. The brand has partnerships with various sports figures, including tennis player Rafael Nadal, sprinter Wayde van Niekerk, and golfer Bubba Watson, who wear Richard Mille watches during their respective competitions.

Due to their exclusivity, craftsmanship, and innovative design, Richard Mille watches are considered highly collectible and command premium prices in the luxury watch market. 

The brand’s timepieces are sought after by watch enthusiasts and collectors who appreciate their technical prowess, unique aesthetics, and association with high-performance sports.

The History of Richard Mille

To understand the history of this watch brand, we must first unravel the man behind it. Entrepreneur Richard Mille was a man deeply fascinated by technology. He developed a prolific career in the watch industry and has decades of experience in diverse wristwatches and elite jewelry brands. 

In 1974, he began working at a small French watchmaking company, Finhor. Seven years later, Mantra, a French industrial conglomerate, bought it, and Mille ascended to a management position.

It was during his time at Matra Horlogerie that Mille gained valuable experience and developed his passion for pushing the boundaries of watchmaking. He also supervised a myriad of high-profile projects but moved on in 1992 to spearhead a watchmaking business for Mauboussin. 

Mauboussin was a fashion jewelry brand, and Richard Mille was a shareholder. Again Mille left his position as general manager to start up his own company. 

In late-1998, he revealed his plans to his friend Dominique Guenat, owner of Montres Valgine. A year later, Mille and Guenat began laying the foundation for the Richard Mille brand in partnership with Montres Valgine and Audemars Piguet.

Richard Mille’s philosophy was to bring the same level of engineering and craftsmanship found in high-performance sports cars and the aerospace industry to watchmaking.

By 2001, the RM 001 Tourbillon, the first Richard Mille timepiece, was released. The nearly indestructible watch features a barrel-shaped case with a profoundly skeletonized dial, state-of-the-art materials, and a very futuristic design. 

The bar was thus set very high from the onset, and the technical innovation and artistry propelled the dominance of the young Swiss brand in the industry.

Following the success of RM 001, Richard Mille continued to develop and release a series of groundbreaking watches. The RM 002 was launched in 2002 and incorporated a baseplate made of titanium and a crown mechanism integrated into the case.

A year later, we have the RM 004, which featured a split-seconds chronograph mechanism, also known as a rattrapante. In 2004, the RM 006, which was the first Richard Mille watch to incorporate a carbon nanofiber baseplate, providing enhanced strength and rigidity, was added to the RM collection.

The RM 008, which was the first Richard Mille watch to receive the prestigious Geneva Seal certification, was introduced in 2006. It featured a split-seconds chronograph and a tourbillon mechanism, combining two high-complications in a single timepiece. 

Richard Mille continued to innovate and introduce new timepieces that constantly pushed the boundaries of watchmaking with its technical prowess and avant-garde designs.

One of the brand’s most complicated watches is the Richard Mille RM 56-02 Tourbillon Sapphire. It has a movement made of grade 5 titanium. It is suspended within the sapphire crystal case by a system of cables and pulleys, eliminating the need for a traditional movement holder.

Today, Richard Mille continues to push the boundaries of watchmaking, constantly introducing new materials, technologies, and designs into their collection. The brand remains committed to creating exceptional timepieces that embody the fusion of art, technology, and high-performance engineering.

7 Reasons Why Richard Mille Watches Cost So Much

Richard Mille watches are often priced in the range of hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Entry-level RM watches start at around $60,000 and can go up to several million dollars for the most complex and exclusive pieces.

The following factors contribute to the high price tags associated with the brand.

1. Brand Status

Richard Mille enjoys a prestigious and sought-after status in the luxury watch industry. The brand has gained a reputation for producing highly innovative, technologically advanced, and visually striking timepieces. The Swiss Marque’s reputation for exclusivity and innovation attracts many high-profile individuals. 

Mille’s clientèle are true connoisseurs of haute horlogerie timepieces, and celebrity endorsements and associations have significantly impacted consumer perception about the brand.

Several celebrities have been spotted wearing Richard Mille watches, including Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, American rapper and business mogul Jay-Z, musician and fashion icon Pharrell Williams, Jackie Chan, etc.

A Richard Mille watch on the wrist has come to represent an ostentatious lifestyle of the super-rich and extremely famous, almost more than any other watch in the world.

Since the majority of the brand’s clients are A-listers, this profoundly boosts the brand’s visibility and reputation. The exposure from these well-known and admired figures results in widespread coverage and publicity for the brand, reaching a larger audience than traditional advertising methods.

2. Research & Development

All Richard Mille watches are made by the Guenat SA – Montres Valgine (GMV) Manufacture in Les Breuleux, Switzerland.

It is here that all the secrets to creating revolutionary timepieces are kept. The Research and Development (R&D) process at Richard Mille involves a combination of traditional watchmaking expertise and cutting-edge technology. 

The founder embraces technological advancements to enhance the functionality and performance of their watches. For example, they use advanced computer-aided design (CAD) software and simulation tools to optimize the movement components and ensure optimal performance. 

They also incorporate innovative shock-resistant systems to protect the movement from external impacts.

Richard Mille frequently collaborates with renowned watchmaking experts, designers, athletes, and organizations from different fields to push the boundaries of watchmaking. Each watch undergoes a rigorous testing process to ensure reliability and performance. Various endurance tests, including shock resistance, water resistance, and accuracy tests, are carried out. 

The brand also collaborates with professional athletes and motorsport teams to test the watches in extreme conditions.

It is important to note that Richard Mille and his company have achieved several technical milestones and innovations in the luxury watch industry, but they have not necessarily invented entirely new mechanisms or movements. 

Their contributions primarily lie in the application of advanced materials, techniques, and design principles to create groundbreaking timepieces.

3. High-End Materials

Richard Mille incorporates materials such as titanium, carbon nanofiber, and ceramic into Its timepieces, making them lightweight, durable, and resistant to extreme conditions. Richard Mille watches also feature precious metals like gold and platinum and the brand hardly ever uses stainless steel. 

Many of the watches from the brand are constructed using bizarre materials which are seldom (if ever) utilized in the world of horology. They collaborate with leading material experts from various industries to develop and test novel materials, such as Graph TPT® (Graphene and Carbon TPT®), Quartz TPT®, and NTPT® Carbon. 

These materials offer exceptional strength, lightness, and resistance to external factors. They are also usually found in the aviation and racing industries and offer tremendous value, thus escalating the prices.

For instance, Felipe Massa, a Brazilian racing driver, crashed ahead of the 2009 Hungary Grand Prix and suffered a skull fracture. Mind-blowing fact: The Richard Mille watch on his wrist came out unscathed! That’s the kind of high-end material that commands six figures.

4. Assembly

Richard Mille claims it takes over 6,000 man-hours of around-the-clock machining to create some of its most exquisite models.

While the specific assembly process of Richard Mille watches is proprietary information, the process usually begins with manufacturing various components such as the case, dial, hands, movement parts, and screws. 

Highly skilled watchmakers meticulously assemble the movement, which includes tiny gears, springs, jewels, and other intricate components. Made of components like the middle case, bezel, and case back, the case is carefully fitted together and secured, often using screws or specialized techniques like spline screws. 

Sometimes the case may also incorporate elements like sapphire crystals, such as that of the RM 12-01 Tourbillon. The dial, which displays the time and other indicators, is carefully mounted onto the movement. The hands, responsible for indicating hours, minutes, and seconds, are also attached with great precision. Once the watch is assembled, it undergoes rigorous testing and quality control procedures.

5. Finishing

The finishing process in watchmaking refers to the final stages of manufacturing a watch, where attention is given to the details and aesthetics of the timepiece.

Richard Mille greatly emphasizes the finishing process by applying various techniques and treatments to enhance the appearance and quality of the watch. Skilled craftsmen spend considerable time meticulously finishing each component, beveling and polishing edges, and adding perlage or côtes de Genève finish by hand.

The watches often feature polished surfaces that exhibit a high degree of luster and shine. During polishing, imperfections are removed, surfaces are smoothened, and a flawless, reflective finish is created.

In addition to polishing, certain parts of the watch may undergo brushing techniques to achieve a distinctive texture. 

Brushing involves creating fine parallel lines or patterns on the surface using abrasive tools or brushes. This technique is often applied to areas like the case sides or bracelet links, resulting in a contrasting visual effect when combined with polished elements. 

The amount of time, meticulous craftsmanship, and attention to detail invested into each watch contribute to escalating the price.

6. Movements

The movement, or heart of a mechanical watch, is responsible for the accurate timekeeping and other functions of the watch. Richard Mille develops its in-house movements or collaborates with specialized manufacturers to create unique, high-performance calibers. 

Their movements often incorporate innovative features like skeletonized designs, tourbillons, and complex chronograph mechanisms. The brand also popularized the concept of skeletonized movements, where the internal mechanical parts of the watch are intricately exposed and visible through the dial or case back. 

This technique, which comes at a high cost, not only adds visual appeal but also allows for a deeper understanding and appreciation of the watch’s intricate mechanics. Another area where the brand dominates is in the making of Tourbillon watches. A tourbillon is a mechanism that compensates for the effects of gravity on the watch’s accuracy. 

In September 2018, the first international Horology Forum occurred in the heart of London. One of the trendy topics among A-list aficionados was their fascination with and desire to own a Richard Mille watch. 

Some of the leading watch manufacturers at the meeting said they would want to buy a Richard Mille watch because of the high quality of the movements.

7. Low Supply & High Demand

Richard Mille produces fewer than 5,000 watches for its global customers annually. There are only 41 Richard Mille boutiques around the world where new watches from the brand can be obtained.

The limited supply and the brand’s reputation for exclusivity and craftsmanship have created a strong global demand for Richard Mille watches. This holds for watches on the secondary watch market as well.

As a result, many of their models have long waiting lists, and some even have waiting periods of several years. Alex Mille reportedly complained that he doesn’t wear a Richard Mille watch himself because they’ve got hundreds of clients on the waitlist but have less than one watch per boutique in stock.

The scarcity of Richard Mille watches adds to the hype and prices of their timepieces. Again the watches are often produced in limited editions, further enhancing their exclusivity and desirability.

What’s The Most Expensive Richard Mille Watch?

The retail prices of Richard Mille watches are at the edge of the spectrum, even within the realm of haute horlogerie. Currently, the most expensive Richard Mille watch is the RM 56-02 Tourbillon Sapphire, with a retail price of around $2 million. 

There are only 10 models available, and it is crafted using a sapphire crystal for the case, making it transparent and providing a unique view of the intricate mechanical movements inside. Holding the title of the most expensive Richard Mille watch ever sold is the RM 56-01, which was sold at Christie’s in Geneva for a staggering $3,661,673.

What’s The Cheapest Richard Mille Watch?

The cheapest Richard Mille watch you can buy is the RM 016 Automatic Winding Extra Flat, priced at $60,000 MSRP. The entry-level RM watch has an extremely flat stainless steel and titanium case with a skeletonized automatic winding movement visible through the open-worked dial.

Are Richard Mille Watches a Good Investment?

Yes, Richard Mille watches are good investments. The limited production, high-quality with exotic materials, and complex manufacturing processes guarantee good value retention.

Richard Mille has gained a strong reputation for its innovative technology, avant-garde designs, and association with high-profile individuals, including athletes and celebrities. We all know how much brand reputation can influence the desirability and value of watches over time.

When considering a Richard Mille watch as an investment, you should note that the condition and authenticity of the timepiece are crucial. Mint-condition watches with original documentation and boxes generally have a higher value than those with signs of wear or missing documentation.

While most Richard Mille watches (especially limited editions) have seen significant appreciation in value over time, I advise you to consult with a professional financial advisor or expert in the watch market before making any investment decisions.

Don’t put your life savings into buying a Richard Mille watch as an investment. It’s best to diversify your investment portfolio across different asset classes so that the risk can be properly managed and gains potentially increased.

Conclusion

We’ve seen that Richard Mille watches can cost over a million dollars, and now we know why. It might still seem unnecessarily extravagant for regular folks like us, but remember that there are 2,640 billionaires and 56 million millionaires in the world right now. They need something special. Not some ‘cheap’ $30,000 time-telling device, so cut Richard Mille some slack.

The fake watch industry is huge. In fact, the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights estimates that nearly 1.9 billion Euros of annual revenue for legitimate manufacturers is lost to counterfeit watches and jewelry on the European market (nearly 13.5% of total sales for the sector), with counterfeiting causing an estimated 3.5 billion Euros worth of sales lost for the European economy.

It’s likely you’re even just as aware within your personal life that fake watches exist, so their proliferation in markets and social settings is common. Wear a branded watch, and you might get asked, “Is it real?”; Ask the same question to a peer, and the response, “It’s a fake…”, is just as likely. 

And with watches being increasingly present in the public consciousness today than ever before, it’s no wonder that their counterfeit counterparts are increasing in quality and numbers than ever before as well, copying brands the full spectrum from Seiko to Rolex and even Richard Mille.  

About Richard Mille Watches

Richard Mille is a Swiss high luxury watchmaker founded in 2001 by Richard Mille and Dominique Guenat. The brand is known for its innovative designs, cutting-edge materials, and high-performance movements with advanced technologies. 

Richard Mille watches are some of the most expensive watches in the world, with prices ranging from $100,000 to well over $1,000,000, and are worn by celebrities and world-class athletes the world over (You may have heard of Jay-Z, Michelle Yeoh, Kevin Hart, Drake, or Rafael Nadal for starters). 

With their unique designs, manufacturing, and celebrity endorsements, Richard Mille watches have come to represent among the highest tiers of achievement and attainment within the watch industry. Unfortunately, this popularity and status have also made them a target for counterfeiters.

Fake vs Real Richard Mille Watches: What to Look For

Counterfeit Richard Mille watches are often made with inferior materials and craftsmanship and may not even have the correct features or functions. As a result, it is important to be able to tell the difference between a real and a fake Richard Mille watch before you buy one. 

While this is not a “be all, end all” guide on how to spot a fake Richard Mille, these are a few helpful tips that can help you on your way, or at the very least raise a few immediate red flags to help you get out of dodge. Let’s jump in.

Watch Price

Is the deal “too good to be true”? Trust your gut; it’s probably a fake. If you see a Richard Mille watch for sale for a price that is too good to be true, it probably is; remember, the entry level pricing for a Richard Mille is nearly $100,000. 

If you see a watch at a fraction of the cost, ex: $20,000 for an RM 07-04, it’s likely a fake. Counterfeiters often sell their watches at a fraction of the retail price to lure unsuspecting buyers. This goes without saying that RM 11-03 on eBay for $450.00 is also…not legit.

Build Quality & Materials

Inspect the materials. Richard Mille watches are made from high-quality materials, such as titanium, carbon fiber, and sapphire crystal. If the watch you are considering buying is made from something technically “inferior” or low-tech, like steel or plastics, it is likely a fake. 

Additionally, look for flaws in the craftsmanship. Richard Mille watches are made with meticulous attention to detail and should be precise in execution. If you notice any flaws in the craftsmanship, such as uneven lines or misaligned screws, incorrect fonts, engravings, or even the wrong movement type (many fakes will use quartz batteries in place of mechanical movements), you’ll know it’s counterfeit.

Watch Weight

A watch’s weight can be a tricky tell for watch authenticity without experience handling many watches or understanding how weight should translate on the wrist; however, it can certainly be a factor when determining if one is real or fake.

In the case of fake Rolex watches for example, the legitimate watch will often feel much heftier and solid than the fake. However, due to their use of advanced materials, Richard Mille watches are inherently lightweight, so quite the opposite can be said.

If the watch feels too heavy, as if made of steel, etc., then it’s safe to doubt the authenticity. Indeed, watches such as the RM 035 “Rafael Nadal” are purpose-built to be as lightweight as possible for use on the tennis court, so be sure to do your research to gauge accordingly.  

Case Finishing

With pricing into $100,000 and beyond, it’s easy to understand that case finishing should be of the utmost importance for a manufacturer such as Richard Mille to meet the expectations of the prices being asked. 

On the other hand, manufacturers of fake watches are not going to be spending nearly as much time or effort in finishing their watch cases, as their intent is to pump out as many fakes as they can with as close to acceptable finishing as possible to maximize their profit margins. With a fake Richard Mille in hand, you may often find rough edges or surfaces that aren’t finished correctly (ex: brushed when it should be polished).

Movement

Is the watch ticking or does it have a visible battery? Unfortunately, that’s a fake. Is the movement finishing on par with the cost of the watch, or are there bare bridges, poor decoration, and missing jewels? 

All are tell-tale signs of a counterfeit watch (which isn’t to say there aren’t high-end quartz watches; rather, cheaply made quartz movements are often placed in fake watches). Do your research and get familiar with the functions of the particular model you’re aiming to buy. If it’s a chronograph, make sure the functionality is present. Oftentimes, a fake won’t be able to do it all.

How to Avoid Fake Richard Mille Watches: 

We’ve listed a few basics that should help you along the way. But even for the most hardened watch experts, it can still be difficult to tell a really good fake from a legitimate timepiece, particularly as the fake manufacturers continue to get better and better at what they do. It’s scary how close the counterfeits are getting these days, so what more can you do to ensure your safety?

Do Your Research

It goes without saying, but when spending over $100,000 on a timepiece (or any luxury purchase for that matter), do your research. A friend once told me you should be able to describe the face of the watch in perfect detail, at a minimum, before you even consider buying it. 

More than that, immerse yourself in the details of the watch; its dimensions, features, and functions, heck, make it your cell phone wallpaper so that you see it every day and know what a proper example should look like. When the example you’ve been waiting for comes to sale, do your research on that! This leads us to the next point…

Ask Questions

A legitimate and worthy seller should be willing to answer any question you have about the watch they have for sale. Ask to see the warranty card; every Richard Mille should have a unique warranty card with a holographic seal embedded. 

It should be signed and dated by a Richard Mille employee and should have a serial number that should match the serial number engraved on the bottom of the caseback of the watch. Ask about the history of the watch, its provenance, return policy, and more pictures of the details (ex: the movement, watch condition, etc.) as needed.

Take Your Time

Don’t be a victim of FOMO (fear of missing out); making a rash decision to purchase a watch without taking your time and due diligence can land you in a tough spot. You also shouldn’t feel pressured by the seller to make the purchase.

Get An Expert Opinion

Social media and local watch groups like Instagram and Red Bar are great resources for finding like-minded collector communities. Technology has brought us together in ways that can benefit you when making a purchase decision. 

You’ll find that, more often than not, people are willing to help. Reach out to other collectors or specialists, and they’ll be able to speak to a watch’s legitimacy or at least raise red flags if anything looks off. I’ve even personally saved a friend from being victimized by watch fraud when I noticed the URL of the watch he wanted to purchase was a fake eBay listing. 

Always Buy from a Reputable Seller

Which brings us to the final point: Always buy from a trusted dealer. There’s an adage in the watch community, “Buy the seller, not the watch”. A trusted, reputable dealer has nothing but their reputation and will go to great lengths to protect it.

They will do their due diligence to ensure a watch is legitimate, often with employed watchmakers on hand to confirm this, even down to the watch’s construction and movement analysis. They may even be certified to work on/with the brand, or at the very least, should be able to provide a post-purchase warranty and a flexible return policy, with authenticity guaranteed.

They should have experience dealing with watches of this caliber and be able to accommodate all of your questions and concerns detailed above. At the end of the day, your best ticket to guaranteeing an authentic watch is to purchase from a reputable dealer.

Conclusion

Richard Mille is a young brand, but it has quickly made a name for itself in the world of luxury watchmaking. The company’s watches are known for their innovative designs, cutting-edge materials, and high-performance movements. Its quick ascent has made it a target for criminal activity and the production of fakes. 

Purchasing a fake Richard Mille is costly. Not only will you be paying for an inferior product, but you may also be supporting criminal activity. By following the tips in this article and purchasing only from reputable sellers, you can help to ensure that what you’re getting is the real deal. Godspeed.

When big names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Jay Z flaunt a high-end watch with pride, the world pays attention. From movie stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger to star sports players like Odell Beckham, Richard Mille and Franck Muller have become a go-to watch brand for celebrities who want to collaborate on designs and stylish timepieces.

As a rabid demand for Richard Mille watches continues to escalate among top figures, many watch enthusiasts are left disillusioned by the long waiting list, and shocking price. This has led many buyers to explore other high-end brands, one of which is Frank Muller.

Considered the original Richard Mille, Franck Muller has become the one brand that offers high-end, unique, and stylish timepieces that are analog to certain Richard Mille models such as the Cintrée Curvex which has a tonneau (or barrel-shaped) case with ergonomic doming. But is Franck Muller better than Richard Mille? This in-depth and insightful comparison & review will help you choose the right timepiece between these two.

Franck Muller vs Richard Mille: Brief history of Franck Muller

Swiss watchmaker Franck Muller was born in 1958. The brand takes its name from its founder who is a  trained master watchmaker from the town of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. His passion to produce timepieces unlike any other started after he graduated from Ecole d’Horlogerie de Genève, a watchmaking school in Geneva.

He began by repairing top-quality complicated timepieces, which were mostly pocket watches from the collection of Patek Philippe and Vacheron Constantin. In 1984, he designed his first tourbillon wristwatch, and following its success, he launched his watch brand in 1991 where he began designing limited ultra-complicated timepieces for private clients.

His collections immediately became famous in Europe and the United States and since its inception, the Geneva-based House of Franck Muller has shocked the watch world with a string of “world premieres” and many other intricate timepieces earning him the ‘Master of Complications’ titles. 

Today, the Franck Muller brand has become world-famous for its Luxury and Grand Complications produced with a quality skillset and watchmaking expertise. The brand’s headquarters, also called Watch land, is located in Genthod, north of Geneva with other production sites in Lajoux, Les Bois, Plan-les-Ouates, and Meyrin.

Richard Mille

Just like Franck Muller, Richard Mille is relatively new to the luxury watch market. The brand was founded in 2001 by Dominique Guenat and Richard Mille, in Les Breuleux, Switzerland, and is known for successfully using extreme luxury pricing. His watchmaking career began after he started working at Finhor, a local watchmaking company in 1974.

Finhor was bought by Matra in 1981 and Richard Mille rose to a managerial position which he held for about ten years until a disagreement about commercial strategy at Mauboussin, where he was a shareholder, made him leave his position as General Manager of the watchmaking division and launch his range of watches.

 Together with Dominique Guenat, he drew up plans and founded the Richard Mille watchmaking brand in collaboration with Swiss watchmaking manufacturer Audemars Piguet. It all started with Richard Mille dreaming of combining the worlds of cars and aeronautics with Haute Horlogerie.

From the use of extraordinary components like space-age materials such as Carbon TPT to grade 5 titanium and graphene, Richard Mille has blazed the trail in the watch world of innovation and Technology. Richard Mille is also the first watch brand to develop new movements for every model and utilize materials from the racing and aerospace sectors.

 From the unveiling of Its first watch, the RM 001 Tourbillon in 2001 was made from titanium and carbon nano-fiber to the RM 65-01 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph, a highly complex sports timepiece with a skeletonized automatic winding movement with extraordinarily shock-resistance, Richard Mille has made headlines in the luxury timepiece industry. You should also look for some of the Richard Mille Alternatives.

Unique Design: Franck Muller vs. Richard Mille

Both Franck Muller and Richard Mille have effectively incorporated the watch world of luxurious design with dazzlement that is uniquely attractive even to the untrained eye. The watches produced by these brands have unique designs that are far from conventional, but each has a distinct look and feel. Franck Muller timepieces are easily identifiable thanks to their Cintrée Curvex shape and sporty elegance. 

The brand is known to encapsulate artistic flair with unique aesthetics and beautiful designs of the numerals, crystallizing the glamorous culture of the late 1990s and the high-tech aspects of the 21st century. Inspired by automotive designs, Richard  Mille is world-renowned for producing high-end timepieces that are futuristic and revolutionary.

The brand has established the production of iconic tonneau-shaped cases that are unique yet classic in appearance as its main feature when it comes to unique designs but looking back at history, we see that unique tonneau-shape watches with large numbers and indices had always been a great representation of the Franck Muller’s central theme and design so both brands have similar watches, the only difference is the flair and technical twist that Richard Mille adds to his which ultimately increases the appeal of his timepieces.

Reputation: Franck Muller vs. Richard Mille

When it comes to reputation, it’s hard to generally put one brand ahead of another. Both brands have reputable careers in horology and have risen to global fame, but Richard Mille’s bold aesthetic details have positioned It among the most important brands in the world that are sought after by elite members of society. This is not the case with Franck Muller watches. 

Richard Mille’s high reputation among the rich is renowned, so much so that the term “Billionaire’s Handshake” has been attributed to those who wear Richard Mille’s timepieces. In addition to impressive design, engineering, and high-tech innovation, Richard Mille’s marketing strategy is pure genius. The brand produces less than 5,000 watches per year, making Its timepieces highly exclusive, which soars its reputation because more elites continue to crave it. 

Franck Muller on the other hand has been dubbed the “Master of Complications” in the watch world. A name that reflects confidence in the intricacy and ultra-complicated designs of the brand’s watches. He rose to fame when he produced the world’s most complicated wristwatch called the Aeternitas Mega ( a timepiece that houses 36 complications and was manufactured from a total of 1,483 components) but doesn’t use extreme luxury pricing like Richard Mille.

While Franck Muller’s appeal remains strong among watch enthusiasts, Its reputation has also faded a bit from the mainstream watch-buying segments. Wearing a Richard Mille timepiece today says things to other people about you in a way that no other watch brand can. Typically it indicates that you’re among the first class in society who is doing very well financially and that you have a level of good taste for luxurious items.

More recently, it also shows that you have connections with dealers and though Franck Muller is a rockstar in the world of Swiss unless you hang out with some hardcore watch enthusiast who knows about Franck Muller, his watches simply won’t have the same effect Mille’s watches have on people.

Movements

Franck Muller watches mostly use the modified ETA movements but they are exemptions. The Casablanca 5850 Chronograph for instance is powered by the manual-winding FM cal. 1870, which is based upon the Lemania cal. 1872  (Lemania was a historic Swiss ebauche movement manufacturer famed for their chronograph movements.

It is now called Manufacture Breguet) and some men’s watches come with mechanical in-house movements that are all tried and tested, making them strong performers. Richard Mille in opposition uses in-house movements for all Its timepieces. This means the movements are made by the brand themselves and everyone knows that in-house movements are generally of higher quality than any of the mass-produced movements that are being used by other watch brands.

Prices

Richard Mille’s watches are extremely popular and are also considered to be one of the most expensive timepieces in the world. As of the time of writing this article, prices for Richard Mille watches range from $80,000 to $2 million. The cheapest is the new RM 005, which costs around $80,000. The reason Richard Mille’s watches are so expensive is partly due to the manufacturing process being complex and very time-consuming in addition to the image and reputation that the brand’s watches bear. 

Unlike Richard Mille, Franck Muller’s catalog is immense, resulting in a wide range of prices. A simple women’s watch can be gotten for about 3,000 USD, while modest men’s models cost between 5,700 and 7,500 USD. Watches with diamonds or other precious stones, and those that feature a tourbillon in addition to a perpetual calendar cost around 70,000 USD upwards.

The more complicated the watch, the higher the price but they are relatively affordable, especially when you compare them to Richard Mille’s watches. When it comes to Franck Muller’s watches, only the highly complicated masterpieces like the Aeternitas Mega 4 typically demand some more cash beyond the two million USD mark.

Is Richard Mille and Franck Muller the same

No, but the two brands have a lot in common. Both Richard Mille and Franck Muller show off high-tech watches with amazing designs and movements that are typically out of this world. The unique tonneau-shaped watches with large numbers and indices were first introduced by Franck Muller and were a noble representation of the brand’s central theme and design.

Many of Muller’s first watches were quite unconventional, looked fun and quirky, and sometimes large and over the top but always fashionable and beautifully finished. Unfortunately, (as with all fashionable items), a new wave of fashion shadowed Franck Muller’s fame as similar timepieces with more technical twists and aesthetical appeal hit the watch market.

Guess the major competitor? Richard Mille! With his profound technical experience and progressive mindset, Richard Mille quickly gained global acceptance with the creation of revolutionary timepieces, high-profile endorsements, and marketing ingenuity.

Resale Value And Warranty

To people with an eye on investment, good resale value is critical in purchasing any watch especially when it’s a watch that costs tens of thousands of dollars. It’s very rational to ensure that your purchase will appreciate over time.

The good news is it is safe to purchase a Franck Muller or Richard Mille timepiece because both brands have a strong reputation for quality and craftsmanship. Both brands make high-end jewelry with some of the finest materials available, including gold, diamond, titanium, and platinum. 

Richard Mille watches hold their value well but not fantastically because they are rare and limited and unless you are in the inner circle of the billionaires club, selling them off when you’re ready might take a lot of time especially since the target market is niche.

The brand also offers a 3-year warranty plus an extra two years of free servicing which depends on if the watch owner had his watch adequately serviced within the first three-year warranty. Meanwhile, Franck Muller provides every owner with free services for their watch within the first two years of purchase.

Franck Muller Vanguard Vs Richard Mille

Though Franck Muller’s success has slowed a bit, all Its watches have remained over the top and complicated, especially the watches found in the Vanguard collection. The Franck Muller’s Vanguard collection sails in a sporty direction just like Richard Mille’s watches and showcases some of the Brand’s most extraordinary and groundbreaking timepieces. An obvious similarity shared by both watches is the resin-filled channel along the sides of the case and the tonneau shape. 

The finishing on the Vanguard timepieces is done to the highest possible standard and exudes sporting elegance but comes in a flexible design that can easily span the gulf between the beachside resort, boardroom, and anywhere in-between but Richard Mille’s watch concept of combining the worlds of cars, aeronautics and sailing with the high-tech aspects of innovation, resistant materials and accuracy to produce stunning timepieces makes us put the best collection of Franck Muller (namely the Vanguard), head to head with Richard Mille. 

When it comes to prices, you’ll see that prices for Franck Muller Vanguard timepieces cover a relatively wide spectrum. Starting prices begin from around 3,800 USD to over 100,000 USD depending on the material, watch movement, and added jewels and this makes it relatively affordable when compared to Richard Mille’s watches.

Let’s take a look at watches from the Vanguard collection and Richard Mille that both give a decent clear look at the in-house crafted mechanics within and put the tourbillon beautifully on display for a result that is both stunning and contemporary.

Vanguard V 45 Gravity

Wearing a Franck Muller watch is a statement in itself so fall in line if you’re tired of having your watch disappear with your outfit. Franck Muller makes two editions of the ref. V 45 T GR CS SQT BR (NR), both of which are stunning and recognizable, thanks to their intricately skeletonized dials that offer a beautiful view of the bold manual caliber and its tourbillon including the delicate finishing.

The tourbillon dominates the dial’s lower half, while the upper half features a set of conventional hour and minute hands. Among other features, what stands out is the tourbillon’s cage. Depending on the model, the cage comes coated with either red or blue lacquer.

Other profound accents worthy of being mentioned are the hands, minute scale, and of course the “Frank Muller” and “Gravity” that have been inscribed at 12 and 6 o’clock, respectively. The two editions released in the ref. V 45 T GR CS SQT BR (NR), is water-resistant to 30 m (3 bar, 98 ft).

Concerning the case, the Gravity comes with a sapphire crystal case back that allows the wearer to observe the movement from both above and below. Its titanium case has a matte black PVD coating. A black alligator leather strap with matching red or blue decorative stitching keeps this timepiece securely on the wrist. The starting price for this model is around 95,000 USD on Chrono24.

Richard Mille

RM 002 and RM 003

Released in 2001, the RM 002 comes with a distinctive barrel-shaped case that measures 45 x 38.5 mm and can be obtained in rose or white gold. Just like the Vanguard V 45 Gravity, a sapphire crystal offers an unimpeded view of the skeletonized movement below. The manual in-house caliber features a power reserve indicator at 10:30 and a torque indicator between 1 and 2 o’clock. A tourbillon spins at 6 o’clock to the left of a function selector while the dome-shaped sapphire crystal functions as a dial.

This display lets you know what mode the crown is in. “W” stands for winding, “H” represents hands (), and “N” for neutral indicates that the watch is ticking normally. When the display mode reads H, you can set the time yourself. You can also switch between modes using a button integrated into the crown.

The RM 002 comes in two versions namely the RM 002-V1 and the RM 002-V2. The former uses a plate made of grade 5 titanium while the latter has a plate made of carbon. Everything else is pretty much the same so the only difference is the material used for the base plate. RM 003 builds on the functionality of RM 002 by adding a second-time zone and is a great option for frequent fliers.

It does this via a sapphire crystal disc with printed black numerals. The numbers scroll over a small white insert at 3 o’clock, thus showing the time in another part of the world. You can reset this display using a button on the left side of the case at 9 o’clock.

Frequently Asked Questions