Richard Mille RM 68-01 Tourbillon Cyril Kongo
Carbon TPT · hand-painted movement · manual tourbillon
A graffiti artist painted directly onto the movement bridges, by hand, one watch at a time. There is no transfer and no decal.
- Reference
- RM 68-01
- Case
- Carbon TPT
- Movement
- Manual tourbillon
- Artist
- Cyril Kongo
- Introduced
- 2016
Paint applied to a moving part, which is the hard bit.
The RM 68-01 is a collaboration with the French graffiti artist Cyril Kongo, and the conceit is more difficult than it sounds. The paint is applied by hand directly to the skeletonised bridges and the tourbillon cage components, in Richard Mille's workshop, using a miniature spray technique developed for the project. Every element has to stay within its mass and balance tolerance afterwards, because these are parts of a running movement rather than a canvas.
The result is that no two are identical. The colours land differently on each set of bridges, which is unusual even by Richard Mille standards, where series are small but consistent. The case is Carbon TPT, the layered carbon composite that gives the flanks their grain.
It was produced in a very short series, so this is a secondary-market search from the start, and the specific watch matters: what you are choosing is a particular arrangement of paint on a particular movement.
- Movement bridges hand-painted by Cyril Kongo, not transferred
- Manual-winding tourbillon with a skeletonised baseplate
- Carbon TPT case with the composite's characteristic grain
- Very short series; no two examples carry identical paintwork
As it leaves the manufacture
- Case
- Case
- Tonneau, Carbon TPT
- Crystal
- Sapphire, front and back
- Crown
- Richard Mille crown with integrated seal
- Water resistance
- Confirmed for the individual watch
- Movement
- Type
- Manual winding tourbillon, skeletonised
- Decoration
- Bridges and cage components hand-painted by Cyril Kongo
- Power reserve
- Approximately 70 hours
- Functions
- Hours and minutes
- Strap and series
- Strap
- Rubber, in the colour of the series
- Series
- Produced in a very short run
- Note
- Paint placement varies between examples
Other Richard Mille watches requested
Each page is a guide to the reference and how we source it, not a listing. If yours is not here, ask anyway.
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Richard Mille RM 47 Tourbillon, The Sword of the Samurai Read more -
Richard Mille RM 52-01 Tourbillon Skull Read more -
Richard Mille RM 57-01 Tourbillon Phoenix and Dragon, Jackie Chan Read more -
Richard Mille RM 72-01 Lifestyle In-House Chronograph Read more -
Richard Mille Tourbillon Sapphire case Read more
Sourced to your brief, itemised before you decide
Nothing on this page is stock. On a hand-painted movement the individual watch is the specification.
The brief
Whether the RM 68-01 specifically is the requirement, or whether the other Richard Mille art pieces are open to you. Say if the strap colour matters.
Availability and timing
Confirmed for each request from our network. Richard Mille art pieces are made in tiny series and rarely come to market on demand; we say what is realistic rather than promise a date.
What accompanies the watch
Richard Mille box, warranty card, booklets, spare straps and any service records are itemised for the individual watch we propose.
Condition and documents
Condition of the carbon case and the crystal, the state of the paintwork under magnification, service history, and any verification arrangements are set out before you decide.
Four steps, no pressure
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Brief
Send the reference by WhatsApp or the form, with the dial, set and timing that matter to you. A collection or a style is enough to begin.
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Source
We go to our network rather than a boutique list, and come back with what is realistic on availability and timing before you commit to anything.
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Verify
Condition, documents and what accompanies the watch are set out in writing for the individual piece we propose. You decide with the details in front of you.
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Settle and deliver
Bank transfer in any major currency, or crypto. Collection in London or fully insured delivery, agreed for the watch and the destination.
Looking for a different watch?
Any brand, any reference, whether or not it appears on this site. Tell us what you have in mind and we take it from there.
Frequently asked questions
Is the paint really applied by hand?
Yes, to the actual movement components, in Richard Mille's workshop, using a technique developed for the collaboration. It is not a printed or transferred decoration, which is why the examples differ from one another.
Does the paint affect the movement?
Each painted component still has to meet its mass and balance tolerance, which is the constraint the project was built around. We confirm the timekeeping and service history of the individual watch.
Can a specific colour arrangement be requested?
Only by choosing a specific watch. Nothing is made to order here; we find what exists and show you the actual piece before you commit.
How long does it take to source one?
It depends on the configuration and how specific the brief is. We tell you what is realistic at the start rather than quote a number we cannot keep.
Can I pay in crypto?
Yes. Bank transfer in any major currency, or crypto; Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum, USDT and other major coins and stablecoins are accepted. The coin, network and amount are confirmed with you before any transfer.
Tell us the watch you have in mind
An exact reference or an idea is enough to start the conversation. We will take care of the search and discuss the options with you.