Style Edit: Richard Mille’s latest RM 74-02 has a case made with its exclusive Gold Quartz TPT material, using red gold to achieve a unique and eye-catching striated effect

Mar 25 , 2025

Richard Mille’s RM 74-02 has a case made with Gold Quartz TPT or Gold Carbon TPT for a unique and eye-catching striated effect – both seen here with their predecessor, the RM 74-01. Photo: Handout

Richard Mille worked with Swiss composite expert North Thin Ply Technology on the material for the case, while inside lies the CRMT5 calibre, also produced in house

Richard Mille has always been all about pushing boundaries, and the RM 74-02 Automatic Tourbillon is proof of that. This watch blends cutting-edge materials with precision mechanics, making it as much a feat of engineering as it is a statement piece.

At the core of its white colourway is Gold Quartz TPT, a material exclusive to Richard Mille and developed with Swiss composite expert North Thin Ply Technology. It’s made by stacking ultra-thin layers of quartz fibres, heating them to 120 degrees Celsius while under high pressure, and interweaving delicate leaves of 22k 5N red gold. The result? A case that’s lightweight yet incredibly strong, with natural striations that shimmer under the light, giving the watch its signature look.

The Richard Mille RM 74-02 features a striated case. Photo: Handout

With this alchemical blend of white Quartz TPT striated with red-gold leaves forming the top and bottom plates, the RM 74-02 Automatic Tourbillon in Gold Quartz TPT sandwiches an 18k red gold caseband in its middle. The colour combination is unexpectedly indulgent – reminiscent of golden honey cascading over a vanilla bean sundae. Given that Richard Mille has flirted with candy-coloured watches before, this comparison feels right at home.

The white RM 74-02 achieves its unique look using Gold Quartz TPT, a material exclusive to Richard Mille. Photo: Handout

Inside, the in-house CRMT5 calibre takes performance seriously. This automatic tourbillon movement features an 18k 5N red gold baseplate and 18k 3N yellow gold bridges, providing strength as well as a contrast against the skeletonised design. A free-sprung balance with variable inertia keeps precision locked in, while the fast-winding barrel and involute gear teeth ensure energy flows seamlessly, delivering a solid 50-hour power reserve.

The black version of the RM 74-02 uses a case of Gold Carbon TPT, also a proprietary material. Photo: Handout

The bezel, with its integrated gold leaf, is another example of how Richard Mille fuses innovation with aesthetics. It’s not just for show – the platinum and red gold variable-geometry rotor adapts to your activity level, fine-tuning efficiency whether you’re on the move or at rest. Every element is meticulously finished, from the bevelled edges to the polished surfaces, ensuring that the RM 74-02 looks as good as it performs.

This white and gold model joins the existing black and gold RM 74-02, that uses another distinctive proprietary material – Gold Carbon TPT – to achieve a similarly unique striped effect.

The RM 74-02, white or black, is a bold fusion of materials, mechanics and craftsmanship. Photo: Handout

Clearly the RM 74-02 isn’t just another luxury watch – it’s a bold fusion of exquisite materials, mechanics and craftsmanship, proof that Richard Mille isn’t afraid to experiment, pushing traditional watchmaking into the future while staying true to its roots.