In the high-tech world of Richard Mille, beauty and innovation go hand in hand. This is proven once more by two new tourbillons, RM 74-01 and RM 74-02, which combine a manufacture automatic tourbillon movement with a luscious tonneau-shaped case made of innovative materials.

Even among McLaren's impressive collection, the Speedtail is a class of its own. It redefined the term supercar, and with a breathtaking 250 miles per hour top speed, it is the fastest car McLaren ever built. It is also one of the most spectacular, as its aerodynamic profile is stunning from every angle. There are many similarities between McLaren and Richard Mille, the two brands that have been partners for over a decade, and prove this once again with the new RM 40-01 Automatic Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail.

With Richard Mille, many people instantly think of ultra-light creations made from ground-breaking new materials fitted with complex mechanical movements with unprecedented toughness. Although already impressive by itself, that alone isn't enough for Mille, as he also has very high standards for the aesthetic appeal of his watches. The new RM 21-01 Tourbillon Aerodyne is the perfect example of this. Featuring an entirely new case design, the watch brings together the high-tech look of Carbon TPT, with the warm, precious color of red gold, in elegant yet imposing lines.

Carbon is a material that holds no secrets anymore for Richard Mille. The brand that loves to push the envelope with its technical and material innovations has mastered it completely and utilizes it in ways that were previously thought impossible. This becomes especially clear with the two new models in the RM 07-01 Automatic collection. Here, Carbon TPT® is not only used for the case but also for the bracelet, taking not only the wearing comfort to a new height but also its style.

Richard Mille is known for its technically advanced models, but that doesn't exclude that its creations cannot be elegant. The RM 037 already proved this point previously and does so again in its latest interpretation. This time Mille choose a white ceramic to highlight the smooth lines of the tonneau case. Combined with a white rubber strap, does it give the RM 037 a new sense of purity. It has a certain elegance to it, yet also doesn't deny its sportive DNA.

One trend that remained in 2020 is that ladies' watches are no longer smaller men's watches with diamonds. More and more brands continued to strengthen their line-up in this category, often with vast amounts of creativity. The quartz movements are also not the standard anymore, as mechanical movements are becoming increasingly more popular in this category. The following watches are among our favorites of this year.

Despite the pandemic, many brands did not hold back when it came to releasing new models. What usually would be launched at one of the fairs or during a special event was now presented by Zoom- and Skype-meetings. Fortunately, this doesn't make the watches any less impressive, as the following five prove;

One hallmark of Richard Mille is that he always likes to explore the boundaries of watchmaking and preferably push them a little bit further back. With the new RM 65-01, he did just that again. With over 600 components, is this one of the most complicated watches the brand has made to date. This is mainly thanks to the split-second chronograph, for which Mille reinvented the complication.

In an ode to color, Richard Mille is presenting the successor of the RM 71-01. Inspired by the 1970s, the disco era, and Studio 54, the new RM 71-02 Automatic Tourbillon Talisman's showcase their craftsmanship in technicolor. Its collection consists of no less than ten different pieces, of which only seven will be made of each, which have all been given names that were fashionable in that era. Bianca, Donna, Grace, Diana, Jessica, Gloria, Liz, Jane, Carmen and Paloma, all feature intricate patterns of colored gemstones set on the dial, crown, and curved tonneau case of the watch.

Richard Mille is not a brand that lacks impressive watches in its line-up. In fact, it is hard to pick a highlight out of such an imposing collection. However, when pressed, the RM 53-01 Tourbillon Pablo Mac Donough comes to mind, with its unique movement, suspended by tiny metal cables. It was introduced in 2018 and one of the highlights of that year's edition of the SIHH. But as a brand that likes to push the envelope just a little bit further, Mille now introduces an even more incredible version of this watch, the RM 53-02 Tourbillon Sapphire.

Few brands have such long and strong relationships with their ambassadors as Richard Mille. The bond between the brand and Rafael Nadal, currently ranked world No. 2 in men's singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals, is already in its tenth year and has resulted in quite a few breathtaking watches in the last decade. Another one will be added to this as well, as Mille and Nadal teamed up once again for the RM 27-04 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, a 50-piece limited edition costing $1,050,000 each, which is available exclusively at Richard Mille boutiques worldwide.

An important moment in the history of Richard Mille, as with the RM 72-01 Lifestyle In-House Chronograph, they launch the brands' first chronograph with it made entirely in its workshops in the Swiss town of Les Breuleux. It is a technical masterpiece that comes with quite a few novel features. While it does feature a traditional column wheel, it lacks a vertical clutch. Instead, it uses two oscillating pinions to transfer power to the chronograph. This comes with considerable advantages. One of them is that even when the chronograph runs, it has hardly a negative effect on the overall power reserve. Secondly, does this construction also require much less space. The height of the RM 72-01 Lifestyle In-House Chronograph can, therefore, be kept under 12mm, at a very impressive 11.68mm.

When you work with some of the world's most accomplished athletes, you can count on it that they will take your watches through their paces. For Richard Mille, this is exactly how he likes it, as it challenges him time after time again to take things to the next level. Nadal, who won 19 Grand Slam Singles titles, wears his Richard Mille also on the court. This means that the RM 35-02 not only needs to be very light but also very strong.

A new model by Richard Mille is always exciting but gets even more impressive when the brand makes it in entirely new material. Grey Cermet, as it is called, is as light as titanium and yet almost as hard as a diamond. It took Richard Mille, working closely together with the IMI Group, years to develop this material. It consists of a metallic zirconium matrix with ceramic inserted in it. As these are very different elements, combining them in a single material was particularly challenging. Especially since the use of nickel and cobalt, often used to combine these materials in a homogeneous matter, was not an option as they wanted to conform themselves to the REACH Standards. This ensures safety in production and the use of chemicals in the European industry.

The times we are currently facing are challenging for many of us, and for a variety of different reasons. Yet no matter what the reason is, it is essential to maintain hope. Only then can we find the strength to come together, be creative, and work our way productively through the problems. Watches can then be seen as a trivial thing, but apart from being an industry by itself which fuels our economies, can they also serve as an inspiration. When we are capable of making mechanical watches that can measure time with an accuracy of 99.994% (the worst rating with which a watch can still be Chronometer-certified), it serves as a testimony that human ingenuity knows no bounds and that we can persevere. Therefor four mechanical timepieces that can not only inspire but also brighten our day with their colorful appearance.

While a tourbillon is, in general, a complication that will put most watch connoisseurs in awe, there is quite a difference among them. The most traditional ones feature a bridge on both sides, in between which they do their mesmerizing dance. A flying tourbillon lacks the front bridge, which allows you to see more of the intricate parts that make a tourbillon work. As the tourbillon is such a popular complication, many brands have made it a focal point for their technical creativity, which has resulted in watches that truly take your breath away.