WORLDTEMPUS - January 20th 2010
Kristian Haagen
Richard Mille greeted Worldtempus with a big smile and very positive attitude, when we sat down for an interview on January 20th. When asked why he decided to attend SIHH instead of showing his novelties from hotel suites like the prior years, he responded: I get more orders (red: for my watches) than I can produce, hence not really having the big urge nor need to attend watch shows.
This might read as a somewhat arrogant remark, however this was not at all the case. Mille is far from an arrogant person. He is rather refreshingly different is his communication approach. He seems honest, proud and genuinely curious towards the press. Being here at SIHH gives me a novel opportunity to meet the press and get to know the medias that write about my watches.
Richard Mille really does enjoy a lot of attention for his innovative and spectacular watches. I am not a trained watch maker, nor a designer, Mille admits when asked about his entrance to horology in 2001 after working as president for Maboussin Watch Company. But I am crazy about technology. And quite a good illustrator Worldtempus would like to add. I do the original drawings by hand myself. Always drawing in 3D.
The first watches that were launched in 2001, RM01 and RM02, introducing titanium as a luxurious material and offering tourbillon, main plates of German silver and other strikingly different approaches to traditional horology, quickly created a demand. Today, nine years later, Mille is enjoying not only demand but also respect from both costumers, press and not least competitors.
Richard Mille also embrace the feminine fans of his watches. © Kristian Haagen/Worldtempus
The distinct design of the tonneau shaped cases, skeleton dials and incredible wearing comfort the latter is of greatest importance for Mille, he says has seen competition. This is why he has introduced new shapes i.e. the round Grand Prix dHorlogerie de Genve awarded RM025 50 millimeter Diver Chronograph Tourbillon and square RM017, the latter also equipped with a tourbillon. Even though these are novel shapes for Mille, the wrist fitting curvature is the same as the tonneau collection.
I introduced these new and unexpected shapes in order to avoid my brand being copied, Richard Mille admits. I know that copying is supposed to be flattering, but I need to show the strength of my watches and introduce more aspects of our love for unorthodox watch design, Mille told Worldtempus, before the conversation turned to his impressive collection of race cars. His personal collections contains Porsche 910, 907, a Ford GT from 1969 as well as other legendary four wheel wonders. His healthy interest in race cars shows clearly in the exotic use of materials that salutes the automotive sport, as well as his collaboration with F1 driver Felipe Massa.
When asked where he saw himself in ten years time, Mille answered: I would love to have more time to relax, make more designs. But I dont really have big demands in life. I am a simple man. Making complicated watches.
