Marked by the rise of club culture, as well as the birth of electronic and disco music, this decade saw an urban tribe of night owls emerge, creatures that donned their most beautiful plumage at nightfall. Cécile Guenat, Creative and Development Director at Richard Mille, revisited the unapologetic individualism of the disco era. She has captured the play of light, sound and colour in a synthesis of the various strata that together make up 1970s culture: from the haunting rhythm of the era’s hits, to the theatrical decor of Studio 54, to say nothing of the period’s fashion predilection for shiny lamé, rhinestones and sequins... Ten watches, each exhuberently flaunting their own strength and beauty.
 

A profusion of colour and a combination of stones never seen before at Richard Mille. Tsavorites, flamboyant spessartites, amethysts, diamonds, spinels, rubies and sapphires conjure a magnetic alchemy. An energy and talismanic spirit is linked to the ornamented dials: hematite is associated with strength, malachite with inner balance, lapis lazuli with vision, sugilite with protection, pink opal with healing... The new Talisman collection showcases the singular qualities of these pieces through highly symbolic choices of precious stones, set in geometric motifs over the entire case as well as the dial.
 

A supreme work of craftsmanship, for which more than six months were needed to validate the stones’ positioning to achieve the precise effect sought. ‘The intense glamour of the disco era resided in a multiplication of colours and textures,’ explained Cécile Guenat. ‘I had to find a way to make this idea tangible. Working with the stones themselves proved to be a considerable challenge. Because stones of very similar hues can end up looking completely different depending on their size and the type of setting.’
 

The ten models differ in the arrangement of their stones, their setting pattern, their engraving and the central decoration of the 0,90 mm thickness dial. They all, however, share the same CRMT1 calibre. Presented for the first time as part of the RM 71-01 Automatic Tourbillon Talisman collection in 2018, the CRMT1 is Richard Mille’s eighth in-house movement but its first automatic tourbillon calibre. A feat requiring 1,000 hours of development, it is a true technical achievement, given that the tourbillon mechanism is integrated into the heart of a movement only 6.2 mm thick and weighing just 8 grams. Developed for daily wear, this calibre reaffirms Richard Mille’s unwavering commitment to the pursuit of extreme mechanical innovation.
 

Both artistic and mechanical know-how are perfectly reflected in this new collection, accompanied by a complete series of bracelets specially designed for each model. Bracelets - embossed with discreet vegetal motifs at 12 o’clock and geometric lines at 6 o’clock - each featuring two different shades, and whose metallic treatment on the patent leather enhances the visual impact of the stones.
 

Each component of the RM 71-02 Automatic Tourbillon Talisman collection thus radiates bewitching raw energy, carrying on the spirit of this era, whose lasting cultural legacy is universal.
 

(Images Richard Mille / ©Lila Le Quellec)