Richard Mille: The Emperor Has No Clothes

[RealMadrid1988]

Like many on here, I’m a big fan of Rolex watches. But I also appreciate watches from a number of other brands — from FP Journe and Patek to Panerai and IWC, and almost everything in between.

For the life of me, though, I can’t figure out Richard Mille. Why do people want these watches? They look like toys that one would find in a McDonald’s Happy Meal. In many ways, their watches remind me of items from Balenciaga in how garish they are — but at 100x+ the price of your typical Balenciaga piece, they make even less sense when contextualizad.

Is it just me, or is this an emperor has no clothes situation? Why are people fascinated by this brand — or at least, why do they pretend to be?

[HMHM]

There is definitely a lot of hype with RM but at the same time I do respect what they are doing and the boundaries they are pushing. I don’t think many ‘sport watches’ can withstand the force exerted by Nadal stroke after stroke on the tennis court like the RM27-04. Their thin watches like the RM67-02,67-01 and 72-01 are really well done. It’s on the very high end of the spectrum, but their target customers are people who are not worried about money…

[Aquaholic_user]

When you need somewhere to park your money for a while.

Sent from my balloon knot

[Tavli3]

They look like Leggo watches and I’ll put my 66 Speedmaster on any tennis players wrist without a nano ounce of worry.


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[athens7]

RM has effectively flipped the script on the Swiss watch industry. Unlike most modern industries, Swiss watches are generally sold on historical legitimacy and gravitas (in this case the value and weight of precious metals). Most other industries charge a premium for advanced technology and light weight. RM has brought that model to haute horology. Whether or not it is a valid strategy on a larger scale, it appears to be a valid strategy for RM in relation to an available and willing target market. YMMV.

[GB-man]

They faked it until they made it and guess what…they made it.



Some of their early base model stuff was laughable and now there’s idiots on moda paying 250k for garbage. But their current catalogue…put one on your wrist if you can. They are damn nice.

Is it what I would buy? Probably not, but you have to hand it to them.

[Pw92676]

IMHO the innovation is there but the look is ghastly. The concept seemed as to to one watch to go anywhere and do anything mixed with “I’m so rich I don’t bother with social norms.”

I briefly contemplated the brand. It could be my one and only, end of collection watch. But it just didn’t resonate with me to do that.

As an aside, I once met the man and had a brief chat with him. A true gentleman. Not what I expected but in a very good way.

[SoylentGreenChi]

I was skeptical at first, but when I first saw some in person I was impressed - deeply, deeply impressed, by the level of design, engineering, and technical execution of the pieces. The style and marketing strategy of Richard Mille may not be to everyone’s taste, but to execute on those designs within those tolerance levels? Honestly impressive, big time stuff.

To answer your question: they may not be to your tastes, but the emperor is very much wearing clothes. !

[WatchEater666]

Their case work is cool but yeah for less money you can get a Kari or Gauthier and that is 100x the watch.

[GreenLantern]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

I was skeptical at first, but when I first saw some in person I was impressed - deeply, deeply impressed, by the level of design, engineering, and technical execution of the pieces. The style and marketing strategy of Richard Mille may not be to everyone’s taste, but to execute on those designs within those tolerance levels? Honestly impressive, big time stuff.

To answer your question: they may not be to your tastes, but the emperor is very much wearing clothes. !

I agree.

I hate their marketing strategies. I hate their pricing strategies and policies.

But the watches are solid.

[Malum]

Definitely not my style and way out of my price range .

[Bezelworld]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

I agree.

I hate their marketing strategies. I hate their pricing strategies and policies.

But the watches are solid.

Isn't their marketing strategy to have their sponsored athletes actually wear the piece while they are playing their sport rather than to just sling it on for a photo shoot at an event? What's not to like about that?

[Fredrik]

Originally Posted by HMHM

I don’t think many ‘sport watches’ can withstand the force exerted by Nadal stroke after stroke on the tennis court...

That's probably why he is wearing his RM on the other wrist...

[edo]

Originally Posted by Fredrik

That's probably why he is wearing his RM on the other wrist...

As he plays two handed backhand he makes cca 40% shots in the match with the watch hand, in his case the right one...

[Andad]

Originally Posted by HMHM

There is definitely a lot of hype with RM but at the same time I do respect what they are doing and the boundaries they are pushing. I don’t think many ‘sport watches’ can withstand the force exerted by Nadal stroke after stroke on the tennis court like the RM27-04. Their thin watches like the RM67-02,67-01 and 72-01 are really well done. It’s on the very high end of the spectrum, but their target customers are people who are not worried about money…

Has he really had it serviced eight times since they gave it to him?

Or do they just swap out the movement?

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern

I agree.

I hate their marketing strategies. I hate their pricing strategies and policies.

But the watches are solid.

You should walk into their boutiques it's like walking into a morgue.

[Armis]

Originally Posted by myporsche

You should walk into their boutiques it's like walking into a morgue.

LOL…why do you say that??

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

I was skeptical at first, but when I first saw some in person I was impressed - deeply, deeply impressed, by the level of design, engineering, and technical execution of the pieces. The style and marketing strategy of Richard Mille may not be to everyone’s taste, but to execute on those designs within those tolerance levels? Honestly impressive, big time stuff.

To answer your question: they may not be to your tastes, but the emperor is very much wearing clothes. !

Agree 100%. I was lucky to try one a few years ago and was really impressed by the quality of the piece. I can't comment about pricing etc. as it's way out of my league and I would never be able to buy one.

[brandrea]

There are a number of brands I’d rather own, especially at that price point

To each their own

[Krash]

I have to admit, I really dig them.


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[kunlun]

Originally Posted by HMHM

I don’t think many ‘sport watches’ can withstand the force exerted by Nadal stroke after stroke on the tennis court like the RM27-04. :

As people have pointed out, Nadal's RM can't withstand the force of his tennis stokes, either.

RM is useful to give APRP some work and to boost AP's bottom line (a 25% owner).

A watch basically free of hand-finishing made of common materials used industrially isn't my thing, but a Hublot is equally well made and engineered, so although I'm also not a fan of Hublot, I think in this case they are a valid competitor.

[dannyp]

To me, it's the Mercedes-Benz G63 of watches: An engineering masterpiece on many levels, but combined into something so monstrously gaudy in a way that manages to defeat the purpose of many of those feats of mechanical genius.

[QueueCumber]

Originally Posted by dannyp

To me, it's the Mercedes-Benz G63 of watches: An engineering masterpiece on many levels, but combined into something so monstrously gaudy in a way that manages to defeat the purpose of many of those feats of mechanical genius.

Much like some racecars/sportscars. I think that is sort of the point. Having a flashy racecar on your wrist. It isn't for everyone, much like a Green Hell Magno AMG GT R isn't for everyone.

Before COVID-19 it was a racecar that crashed head on into walls right out of the starting gate for the most part in terms of price. It seems COVID-19 and Watchbox have improved that outcome for now.

[vitalsigns]

The non-highly complicated pieces are nice $15K watches. They could easily be mass-produced (so no credit given for not mass-producing them).

[enjoythemusic]

Keep secondary prices high by any and all means and it becomes a form of tradeable investment. Patek P is a master at this practice for decades.

[Poruchik]

I think this a combination of a very robust speculative second hand market and signalling, people who wear RM want to show off that they wear RM.

[Dancing Fire]

I don't understand RM watches ...

[Malum]

A lot of money and very little taste .

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by Armis

LOL…why do you say that??

Cold, dark, empty, sales lady with thousand mile stare zero words blank face looks like ready to take my soul. I turned around and walked out. I think there was 1 or 2 watches total in the entire large boutique.

[WatchEater666]

Originally Posted by myporsche

Cold, dark, empty, sales lady with thousand mile stare zero words blank face looks like ready to take my soul. I turned around and walked out. I think there was 1 or 2 watches total in the entire large boutique.

Haha this was my experience walking into three of their boutiques too. Just completely depressed.