Richard Mille makes a grand entrance in Qatar
For the very first time, renowned Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille opened its doors in Qatar, in partnership with Ali Bin Ali Watches & Jewellery, the country’s leading retailer for Haute Horlogerie. To celebrate this amazing feat, Richard Mille also presented the global unveiling of the first full sapphire cased timepiece dedicated entirely to women: The RM 07-02 Pink Lady Sapphire
The 2nd of December 2015 marked a special occasion in the history of Richard Mille. This unforgettable date cemented the Swiss luxury watch brand’s expansion in the Middle East region with the opening of its first boutique in Doha Qatar that will be operated in partnership with retail giant, Ali Bin Ali Watches & Jewellery.
Richard Mille hyped its entrance to the country with a grand celebration that included a glamorous reception and dinner at the recently opened Nobu in Four Seasons Hotel Doha. Hosting more than 150 of Qatar’s most notable watch collectors, enthusiasts and prominent social figures, the night began with a welcome from Adel Ali Bin Ali, Chairman & President of Ali Bin Ali Group, Nabeel Ali Bin Ali Vice Chairman & Executive Vice President of Ali Bin Ali Group, Richard Mille, CEO & Founder of Richard Mille, and Peter Harrison, CEO Richard Mille Europe, Middle East & Africa.
French DJ Claude Challe, creator of the renowned Buddha Bar music, opened and rounded off the evening with his legendary lounge music. Guests enjoyed a rooftop cocktail reception followed by dinner, during which models presented a selection of the latest Richard Mille watches.
Furthermore, the guests were also given the tour around the first Richard Mille boutique in Qatar. This new boutique designed by Mélanie Treton-Monceyron plays on multiple variations of shape, material and colour. The gentle curves that enliven the softly illuminated ceilings coordinate with the interplay of colours on the walls. The cream tone of Sophie Mallebranche’s contemporary woven metal and the surprising material of broken glass form an interesting contrast with the brown shades of the traditional Macassar ebony. Comfortable and spacious, the main salon features the large 3D watch in engraved glass, emblematic of Richard Mille. In this elegant setting, clients of the brand will be able to discover the diverse range of sport, women’s, lifestyle, limited edition and tourbillon timepieces.
The highlight of the evening, however, was the world exclusive launch of the RM 07-02 Pink Lady Sapphire. Featuring the pioneering case technology that was first used in the men’s RM 056 Tourbillon Sapphire, the RM 07-02 Pink Lady Sapphire features a new in-house CRMA5 caliber assembled around a skeletonized plate in microblasted 5N gold set with diamonds, protected by a pink sapphire crystal case and is dedicated to women who are becoming increasingly fascinated by the complexity and technicality of watchmaking.
The RM 07-02 Pink Lady Sapphire brings a feminine approach to technique, cloaking it in the pink tones of this renowned drink. Crafted from sections of pink sapphire taken from a single block, the case of the RM 07-02 is extremely difficult to machine. Observing the manufacturing process of a pink sapphire case highlights the challenge its creation entails, from both an engineering and technical standpoint. There is no room for even a single cutting error. The case requires almost forty days of machining and finishing to meet the uncompromising specifications of Richard Mille. Numerous tests then follow to verify that the brand’s resistance and comfort requirements have been met.
Beneath its pink exterior, this original and ergonomic tripartite case reveals a unique automatic movement beating at its heart. The new in-house CRMA5 calibre is assembled around a skeletonized plate in microblasted 5N gold set with diamonds. The same 5N gold is used for the flange and the bridges, whose hand-chamfered and hand-drawn angles and edges capture even more light at the heart of the calibre.
Like the RM collection, the RM 07-02 features exceptional technical characteristics such as hand-decorated and gem-set gold bridges, a variable inertia balance wheel designed to ensure optimum performance in the long term, and a variable geometry rotor in 18K 5N red gold set with diamonds, which adapts the winding of the watch to the movements of the wearer.
The central dial in onyx and diamonds, the crown in 5N red gold and the strap in white alligator skin add the perfect finishing touches to this exceptional creation. With the RM 07-02 Pink Lady Sapphire – a calibre boasting an extremely technical design as well as a highly sensual appearance – Richard Mille is opening his sapphire collection to women
