This is definitely not your grandfather’s pocket watch. The Neo-Victorian aesthetic of the Richard Mille RM 020 Tourbillon Pocket Watch sees the luxe Swiss watchmaker perform a glitzy update on what has slowly become a relic. It has the classic Richard Mille look that’s jaw-dropping enough to be coveted by elite athletes, music luminaries, movie stars, and celebrity tastemakers alike — but this time, the watch comes on a titanium chain instead of a bracelet. Absolute time and infinite space are the thematic inspirations for this striking 21st-century pocket watch. The latter concept is expressed by chain links that evoke the sculptor Brancusi’s famed Endless Column.
Supported by an ultra-stable carbon nanofiber baseplate, the RM 020’s manual-winding tourbillon movement is on full display courtesy of the see-through sapphire case and caseback, and the cambered profile makes for an elegant side view. The manual movement embodies its heritage by making it a joy to wind and set courtesy of the function indicator. Richard Mille’s sole pocket watch — which boasts a 10-day power reserve — comes with a fancy desk stand as well.
