Richard Mille's new skeletonized watch honors Colnago bikes
Richard Mille's new skeletonized RM 64-01 Tourbillon Colnago translates Tour de France-winning bicycle architecture into a 50-piece luxury tourbillon, pairing Italian frame design with a 274-component movement built for lightness, transparency, and wrist-worn spectacle. The collaboration marks Richard Mille's return to pro cycling through Colnago, the Italian manufacturer whose bikes carried Tadej Pogačar to four Tour de France titles.
Key Takeaways
- Richard Mille and Colnago jointly developed the RM 64-01 Tourbillon Colnago, limited to 50 pieces worldwide.
- The skeletonized grade 5 titanium movement evokes bicycle tubes, drivetrain geometry, and Colnago's 1980s Master steel bike.
- Four-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar, who races on Colnago bicycles, presented the new timepiece.
- The release underscores how ultra-luxury collectibles increasingly borrow engineering language from elite sport.
What Is Richard Mille's New Skeletonized Timepiece?
The RM 64-01 Tourbillon Colnago is Richard Mille's newest tourbillon, created with Italian bicycle manufacturer Colnago. According to Robb Report, the watch essentially transfers signature features of Colnago's sleek racing bikes onto the wrist.
Its tubular silhouette recalls the earlier RM 012 Tourbillon while deliberately echoing the frame of a competition bicycle. That visual logic runs through the entire design, making Richard Mille's new skeletonized creation as much a mechanical sculpture as a precision instrument.
How Does the Watch Mirror a Tour de France-Winning Bike?
The manually wound movement comprises 274 components engineered around lightness, transparency, and volume. A microblasted grade 5 titanium baseplate and bridges are fully skeletonized, exposing the gear train at the center of the dial.
A barrel at 1 o'clock delivers 65 hours of power reserve, while a variable-inertia tourbillon sits at 7 o'clock in a layout that mirrors a bicycle drivetrain. Star-shaped sections on the titanium upper bridges pay homage to Colnago's Master steel bike from the 1980s—one of the marque's most recognizable design signatures.
Why Does the Colnago Partnership Matter Now?
Richard Mille is no stranger to sport, but this release cruises back toward cycling—a category the brand knows well. Four-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar, who has claimed his titles aboard Colnago machines, was tapped to showcase the watch.
Legendary sprinter Mark Cavendish also has a long association with Richard Mille, having worn the brand's technological marvels throughout a career that set the all-time record for Tour de France stage wins. For collectors browsing luxury real estate and dream homes, pieces like this sit alongside trophy properties as headline assets in the high-net-worth lifestyle.
Who Will Want the RM 64-01 Tourbillon Colnago?
With production capped at just 50 examples, the RM 64-01 targets serious horology collectors and cycling enthusiasts who value engineering pedigree over mass appeal. The fusion of Swiss watchmaking and Italian frame architecture offers a narrative few marques can replicate.
As Richard Mille deepens its cycling ties through Colnago, the release signals that Richard Mille's new skeletonized tourbillons will remain conversation pieces at the intersection of sport, design, and elite craftsmanship.