Takes a Licking: Richard Mille RM 53-01 Tourbillon Pablo Mac Donough
Collaborating with champion polo player Pablo Mac Donough, Richard Mille sought to create a watch that could withstand the violence of this equestrian sport. It addresses a major concern—the critical damage potentially caused to the sapphire crystal by a mallet or a ball—with a custom-made laminated crystal: two sheets of sapphire separated by a thin polyvinyl film. The glass might crack, but it will not shatter. The case is Carbon TPT, a very rugged form of carbon fiber that resists cracks and tears. And to combat the shocks the watch will inevitably suffer during a match, Mille suspended the tourbillon movement with two cables, 10 pulleys and four tensioners. Limited to 30 pieces. ($900,000) Wael El Saadi, Beverly Hills boutique director, 310.285.9898, richardmille.com
