RM HJ-02: Richard Mille Celebrates 20 Years of Ladies Watches

The RM HJ-02 marks a major milestone for Richard Mille as the brand celebrates 20 years of designing watches for women. Combining high jewelry craftsmanship with advanced mechanical watchmaking, the RM HJ-02 In House Automatic Tourbillon is one of the most colorful and technically ambitious Richard Mille watches introduced to date.

Limited to just 12 unique timepieces worldwide, the RM HJ-02 collection is divided into four distinct color worlds: pink, violet, blue and green. Each RM HJ-02 features an extraordinary combination of precious and ornamental gemstones, transforming the watch into a wearable work of art while retaining the technical character that has made Richard Mille one of the most recognizable names in modern luxury watchmaking.

Rather than simply adding gemstones to an existing watch design, Richard Mille developed the RM HJ-02 around the relationship between color, jewelry and mechanical architecture. The result is a timepiece where the gemstones, case and movement are designed to function as part of one cohesive structure.

What Is the RM HJ-02?

The RM HJ-02 is a new Richard Mille high jewelry watch powered by an in house automatic tourbillon movement. Created to celebrate the brand's 20 year history of designing watches for women, the RM HJ-02 combines Richard Mille's technical approach with an elaborate gem setting process.

Only 12 RM HJ-02 watches will be produced, making the collection exceptionally rare from the outset. Each example has its own combination of colors and gemstones, giving the individual watches a unique personality.

The collection represents another evolution of Richard Mille's approach to high jewelry. Instead of treating gemstones as purely decorative elements, the RM HJ-02 incorporates them directly into the architecture of the watch.

That philosophy can be seen across the case, buckle, dial and movement, where gemstones become part of the overall construction and visual identity.

RM HJ-02 and Its Four Color Themes

One of the defining characteristics of the RM HJ-02 is its use of color.

The 12 watches are organized into four chromatic universes: pink, violet, blue and green. Each color theme combines different precious and ornamental stones to create a distinct visual effect.

The RM HJ-02 uses gemstones including rubies, sapphires, diamonds, emeralds and Paraíba tourmalines. These are combined with ornamental materials such as malachite, chrysoprase, turquoise and mother of pearl.

The objective is not simply to cover the watch in gemstones. Instead, the geometry, opacity, saturation and reflection of each stone determine how light travels across the RM HJ-02.

This creates changing visual effects depending on the angle from which the watch is viewed.

The Gem Setting Behind the RM HJ-02

Gem setting is central to the RM HJ-02, and Richard Mille has pushed its traditional techniques into highly technical territory.

The brand's artisans use techniques including pavé, snow and bezel setting across the watch's complex surfaces. This is particularly challenging because Richard Mille frequently works with materials that are considerably harder and more unconventional than the precious metals traditionally used in jewelry.

Materials such as sapphire, Carbon TPT and colored ceramics can be extremely difficult to work with when conventional gem setting methods are involved.

For the RM HJ-02, Richard Mille developed specialized processes that include dedicated laser machining to create gemstone housings. Custom gold prongs are then integrated into the structure to securely hold individual stones.

The result is intended to create a seamless visual transition between the gemstones, metal and sapphire components of the watch.

1,399 Stones and More Than 700 Hours of Craftsmanship

The scale of the craftsmanship involved in producing the RM HJ-02 is remarkable.

Each watch contains 1,399 precious and ornamental stones and requires more than 700 hours of work. That is equivalent to approximately 88 full working days for a single RM HJ-02.

The stones are arranged according to carefully calculated compositions rather than simply being placed across the surface. Changes in size, color, texture and setting technique help create depth and movement throughout the watch.

Some areas feature dense arrangements of stones, while other sections use contrasting materials and colors to emphasize the underlying architecture.

This approach allows the RM HJ-02 to maintain the technical, sculptural appearance associated with Richard Mille while introducing the visual richness of a high jewelry creation.

The RM HJ-02 Case Takes Richard Mille in a New Direction

The case of the RM HJ-02 is another important part of its design.

Richard Mille's signature tonneau shaped case has been reinterpreted using sharper transitions, layered planes and asymmetrical elements. Instead of following one uninterrupted curve, the case incorporates changes in geometry that give the watch a more architectural appearance.

The design takes inspiration from the geometric vocabulary of Art Deco but interprets it through Richard Mille's contemporary technical language.

Developing the RM HJ-02 case took more than a year, while the complete watch required more than three years of development.

That extended process reflects the complexity of integrating the jewelry and mechanical components from the beginning rather than designing them separately.

The RM HJ-02 Movement: CRMT2 Automatic Tourbillon

Beneath the extraordinary gemstone work, the RM HJ-02 contains an equally impressive mechanical engine.

The watch is powered by the new in house automatic CRMT2 tourbillon calibre. The skeletonized movement exposes much of its mechanical architecture, allowing the movement to remain an important part of the visual experience.

The CRMT2 features a gem set white gold baseplate and bridges finished with microblasted, beveled and rhodium plated surfaces.

Among its most notable technical elements are the fast rotating barrel and variable inertia tourbillon. These components provide the mechanical foundation of the RM HJ-02 while also contributing to its distinctive appearance.

Richard Mille has also decorated the automatic rotor with gemstones. This turns a functional part of the winding system into another element of the watch's overall artistic design.

The jewelry therefore does not conceal the movement. Instead, it works alongside the mechanical components.

Why the RM HJ-02 Is Important for Richard Mille

The RM HJ-02 is particularly significant because it arrives as Richard Mille celebrates two decades of designing watches for women.

Over the past 20 years, the brand has taken a different approach to the traditional concept of a ladies luxury watch. Rather than simply shrinking existing men's watches or relying exclusively on conventional jewelry designs, Richard Mille has developed watches that maintain its distinctive technical identity while introducing new colors, proportions and materials.

The RM HJ-02 takes that philosophy to an entirely new level.

Its combination of a high complication, highly technical case construction and extensive gemstone setting makes it both a serious mechanical watch and a high jewelry creation.

How Rare Is the RM HJ-02?

The RM HJ-02 is among the rarest Richard Mille watches because production is limited to only 12 unique examples worldwide.

For collectors, that scarcity is a significant part of the appeal. Each RM HJ-02 requires hundreds of hours of specialized craftsmanship, while its movement and case represent years of development.

The combination of limited production, complicated mechanical construction and individual gemstone compositions means the RM HJ-02 is aimed at collectors looking for something far beyond a conventional luxury watch.

It also demonstrates how Richard Mille continues to blur the boundaries between haute horlogerie and haute joaillerie.

Where to Buy Richard Mille Watches

While the RM HJ-02 is an exceptionally rare creation, collectors interested in Richard Mille have a wide range of other references to consider, including tourbillon models, sports watches and limited editions.

When searching for a Richard Mille watch for sale, factors such as reference number, production year, condition, provenance and rarity can all have a major impact on pricing. The pre owned market can also provide access to discontinued Richard Mille watches that are no longer available through traditional retail channels.

For collectors looking for a trusted source for luxury watches, Happy Jewelers is a leading destination to explore pre owned and collectible timepieces. The family owned Orange County jeweler offers access to sought after luxury watch brands including Richard Mille, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Cartier.

Whether you are searching specifically for an RM HJ-02 or looking for another rare Richard Mille reference, Happy Jewelers is worth considering when comparing availability and pricing.

The RM HJ-02 Is Richard Mille at Its Most Colorful

The RM HJ-02 represents a particularly bold chapter in Richard Mille's history.

With only 12 examples being created, 1,399 gemstones incorporated into each watch and more than 700 hours of craftsmanship required per piece, the RM HJ-02 is much more than a colorful luxury watch.

Its Art Deco inspired case, CRMT2 automatic tourbillon movement and highly integrated gem setting demonstrate the level of technical and artistic experimentation that has become synonymous with Richard Mille.

Most importantly, the RM HJ-02 celebrates 20 years of the brand's approach to women's watches by refusing to separate high jewelry from high horology. Instead, the two disciplines become part of the same design.

For collectors searching for an exceptionally rare Richard Mille watch, the RM HJ-02 stands out as one of the brand's most distinctive and visually ambitious creations.