Every timepiece he’s inspired for his brand since the very beginning has been mandated by zero compromise and a pursuit of the extreme. Be it in the realms of finishing, of material, of the ultra-light, or the simple mindset of what a watch should be. But not just for watchmaking, this mantra seems to apply for Richard Mille for everything the brand’s ever pursued. Allow us to highlight such a non-watch instance: Richard Mille Cufflinks. How could cufflinks be made any different? Functionally they just need to hold French cuffs together and jewelers are known to make beautiful artisanal ones in precious metals, sometimes with precious stones for an extra dash of personality. Conceptually, what more could anyone bring to the table?

How about making them in grade 5 titanium and engineering a security mechanism with no less than 38 components that keep the cufflink secure no matter how long or wild your day might be. These are essentially t-bar cufflinks with one push piece on the topside that opens two prongs on the bottom of the T to secure your cuffs. To release the prongs, you have two push pieces on the ends of the top of the cufflinks, which when pressed, retract the prongs. For anyone who can appreciate technical wizardry, the patented securing mechanism is already impressive. But add to this the fact that the brand finishes and decorates these in the same way they would one of their watches or movements; the fact that these use the same spline screws, and suddenly we have a better understanding for how Richard Mille makes no compromises.

In a recent article Wei Koh, founder of The Rake & Revolution, probably has said it best, as to just how much of a force of change Richard Mille’s ethos has been in the past two decades of watchmaking. Wei writes, “But more importantly, in the world today, Richard Mille watches have transcended their status as timepieces to fulfill a different role. His watches have ascended to become the symbols of something much more: a limitless life, an uncontainable dream, passion, resilience, performance under all conditions, individualism and fearlessness. The reason his watches are the subject of innumerable songs is that owning a Richard Mille has become that emblem of success that is unattained by most but dreamed of by everyone. In other words, it has become the fabric of optimism itself.”

See in this matter what has to be appreciated is that Richard Mille, through his watchmaking, has transformed to become a force of influence that has transcended past horology. Richard Mille has evolved to become a lifestyle. Which has further opened the brand to explore objects of desire outside of watchmaking, such as the afore mentioned Richard Mille Cufflinks or even the RM S05 Mechanical Fountain Pen. The question that we’d like to pose on that note is, could this influence be wielded to address a deeper, more human, conversation? And in answering our own question, believe it or not, Richard Mille already has.

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