Richard Mille: The Impossible Collection, Time Machines For The New Millennium

In barely twenty-five years, Richard Mille, the “bad boy” of contemporary high horology, has succeeded in building one of the world’s most highly prized watch brands. Rare and costly, these mechanical gems possess an unusual ability to unleash an almost visceral attachment in their owners. Today Richard Mille watches have become the absolute symbol of success for global entrepreneurs and megastars.

Endowed with a love of technology, Richard Mille has changed the face of Swiss watchmaking by infusing new materials, techniques and concepts. Uniting the three fields Mille loves most—aeronautics, automobiles and watchmaking—the brand’s timepieces are not only visually stunning but also each one is a true work of art. Cultivating creative partnerships with top athletes (Rafael Nadal, Bubba Watson) and automotive names (McLaren, Ferrari), Richard Mille watches push the boundaries of lightness, thinness and shock resistance with technologically advanced materials found in no others.

From a prototype of the original RM 001 circa 2001 to the newly unveiled RM 16-02 with its mesmerizing labyrinthine skeletonized movement, the 79 models in this book, selected by luxury watch and jewelry expert Fabienne Reybaud, showcase all the technical ingenuity and meticulous craftsmanship the brand exemplifies. The cover and clamshell of this handcrafted Ultimate Collection volume are fabricated in a textured rubber reminiscent of a Richard Mille watch band.

The Ultimate Collection is an homage to the art of luxury bookmaking. Hand-bound using traditional techniques, with color plates hand-tipped on art-quality paper, each edition tome of this series bears the unique imprint of the artisan.