Richard Mille RM033

In the world of watches, what makes an icon? In our eyes, it’s familiarity.

The Omega Speedmaster, Cartier Tank and Rolex Submariner –– all are easily discernible from across the room regardless of identifying the brand name or logo. It’s their distinct features and recognizable silhouettes that give the watch away instantaneously. Another brand following the same trajectory and known for its own discernible features –– Richard Mille.

In 1999, a nearly 50-year-old watchmaker with decades of experience struck out on his own. His creations would soon change the face of horology forever. Richard Mille’s timepieces have since garnered fame, stirred controversy, and been spotted on the wrists of actors, athletes, musicians, and celebrities around the world.

Technologically advanced, highly sophisticated, super limited, and priced like luxury automobiles, these watches are the face of a revolution that has followed in the brand’s wake. Indeed, the global success of the ‘high-end independents’ can, in part, be attributed to the embrace that RM has received over the past two decades by collectors, connoisseurs, and watch lovers around the world. 

The company’s first product, the RM001, was a revelation in contemporary watchmaking. Conceptually, this semi-prototype sought to bridge the automotive and horological worlds by incorporating lightweight aerospace industry sourced materials, innovative complications, and a design that spoke as much to the influence of hypercars as it did the history of the Vallée de Joux.

Since the resounding success of their inaugural piece, Richard Mille has continued to break the mould and challenge the norm of how a wrist watch should look and more importantly feel on the wrist –– we stress the latter because experiencing some of RM’s ultra-light casing material in the metal is a completely unique experience unto itself. 

This particular Richard Mille, a Reference RM033 AL RG, happens to be an anomaly amongst a collection primarily comprised of tonneau-shaped, highly technical machines. It speaks an entirely different design language than were used to seeing from RM, featuring a more trim round case silhouette and slim, dressier profile. That said, the foundational elements still remain — an openworked dial, high-grade material usage, and a side of design panache that we’ve come to expect from the manufacture.

The 45mm case is comprised of three-parts secured together by sixteen Grade 5 titanium screws and is made entirely out of 18k rose gold. Unlike its taller, sportier siblings, this refined piece sits just 6mm off of the wrist and features a winding cabochon crown with a rose gold inset, a sapphire crystal with printed Arabic quadrant indices, a matching ‘dauphine’ handset and of course their signature skeletonized dial displaying Richard Mille’s self-winding Calibre RMXP1 built with an off-center micro rotor and PVD-treated titanium bridges.

It comes fitted on a signed integrated rubber strap with a silky-smooth leaf-spring titanium deployant with signed 18k rose gold fold over buckle and is accompanied by its box set, papers and a warranty document dated 2018. 

The RM033 is not a technical demonstration, rather an elegant proposition – an off-the-beaten-path choice for those looking to add a Richard Mille to their collection.

In 1999, a nearly 50-year-old watchmaker with decades of experience struck out on his own. His creations would soon change the face of horology forever.

Richard Mille’s timepieces have since garnered fame, stirred controversy, and been seen on the wrists of actors, athletes, musicians, and other celebrities around the world. Technologically advanced, highly sophisticated, super limited, and priced like luxury automobiles, these watches are the new face of a revolution that has followed in the brand’s wake. Indeed, the global success of the ‘high-end independents’ can, in part, be directly attributed to the embrace that RM has received over the past two decades by collectors, connoisseurs, and watch lovers around the world.

The company’s first product, the RM001, was a revelation in contemporary watchmaking. Conceptually, this semi-prototype sought to bridge the automotive and horological worlds by incorporating lightweight materials, innovative complications, and a design that spoke as much to the influence of hypercars as it did the history of the Vallée de Joux. Housed in a large, tonneau-shaped white gold case, it incorporated a tourbillon — a complication then typically seen only in delicate pocket watches and the occasional oddball wristwatch.

More importantly the RM001 set the stage for the brand's future watches, establishing the aesthetic design language that the brand would adhere to over the following 20+ years.

Today, Richard Mille is known for inspiring a tidal wave of small production watchmakers who have all followed RM's lead on high performance, high complication timepieces designed to introduce a new type of audience to the world of high horology. RM services collectors that may not have ever found watches that appealed to them in the past. Similarly, the brand has shepherded in brand new collectors that find the unique designs and executions appealing.

RM continues to push the envelope developing more and more elaborate timepieces with higher performance movements, lighter weight cases, greater shock resistance, and more. We can only wait to see where the next few years takes the brand.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a one-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.