After studying marketing in Besançon, Richard Mille (born 13 February 1951) started work at Finhor, a local watchmaking company in 1974. The company was bought by Matra in 1981 and Richard Mille rose to manage Matra's watchmaking business, which then included the brands Yema and Cupillard Rième. Matra's watchmaking activities were sold to Seiko, who Mille left in 1992 to start a watchmaking business for jewelry firm Mauboussin. In 1999 he founded the company Richard Mille SA with Dominique Guenat, CEO of Valgine Watches, and in collaboration with Audemars Piguet. Its first product, the RM001 went on sale in 2001. Currently, all Richard Mille's watches are a sophisticated and complex mechanical device, designed and constructed using the most modern watchmaking techniques and materials that exist. These watches have been assembled and optimized by master watchmakers. Each piece is finished and assembled by hand, reflecting what is best in the culture of ‘Haute Horlogerie’.

Key Dates

2012: The RM 056 is presented, the first tonneau-shaped watch in the world with a case made of solid sapphire. With the presentation of the RM 039 Aviation EB-6 Flyback Chronograph, the brand enters the world of aviation for the first time. This new aviation watch is also one of the most complexes that exist in haute horology (+1,000 components).

2013: Richard Mille participates to the first edition of Watches and Wonders in Hong Kong. The Italian golfer Diana Luna becomes the first sportswoman partner and driver Sebastian Loeb joins the Richard Mille family.

2014: A year dedicated to the feminine worlds within the collection and proclaimed as Richard Mille’s ‘Year of the Women’ with the introduction of the RM 07-01 and RM 037 automatic calibers, the RM19-01 Tourbillon Natalie Portman and the RM 51-01 Tourbillon Michelle Yeoh. Two new sports partners join the RM Family with the skier Alexis Pinturault and the golf woman Cristie Kerr. Increasing of boutiques network development; a total of 22 is planned before the end of the year.

2015: The RM 19-02 Tourbillon Fleur and the RM 51-02 Tourbillon Diamond Twister are presented at the SIHH along with a new Open Link strap for women and a titanium strap for owners of the RM 011 series.

2016: In creating this mechanical pen for his clientele, Richard Mille has revisited an emblematic object that, like the brand itself, has transformed its world. The piece is aimed at all those who harbor a love of beautiful handwriting and great Swiss watchmaking mechanisms.

2017: Two new athletics sports partners join the RM Family with Wayde Van Niekerk and Mutaz Essa Barshim.

2018: Opening of Flagship Boutique in New York City located at 46 East 57th Street, in the heart of Manhattan, the 4,200-square-foot flagship becomes the ninth Richard Mille boutique in the Americas.