Richard Mille RM 17-02 Tourbillon: Specs and Price

The Richard Mille RM 17-02 is a manually wound tourbillon in Richard Mille's 40 mm tonneau case, built around a skeletonised movement with a Grade 5 titanium baseplate, a power-reserve indicator and a crown-function indicator that shows whether the crown is in the winding, neutral or hand-setting position. It is offered in several case materials, from TZP and ATZ ceramics to titanium, each with an openworked dial that leaves the tourbillon carriage and the bridge architecture fully visible. This guide covers the specifications, what the 02-generation case and movement changed from the earlier RM 17-01, how the ceramic and titanium versions compare on price, how the watch wears, and what to check before buying. Bizak & Co. sources the RM 17-02 to order; the Richard Mille collection lists the configurations we can seek.

Last reviewed on September 27, 2026 by Filip Biczak. Prices are dated observations, not quotes.

Richard Mille RM 17-02 specifications

Source: Richard Mille, RM 17-02 Tourbillon collection page.

What changed from the RM 17-01?

Richard Mille's tourbillon line has carried the "17" model number across more than one generation, and the 02 suffix marks a revised case and baseplate architecture rather than a change of complication: both generations are hand-wound tourbillons with an hour and minute display, a power-reserve gauge and a function indicator at the crown. The 02 generation broadened the range of case materials well beyond the titanium and carbon composites used earlier, adding TZP and ATZ ceramics with openworked dials that show more of the movement's bridge structure than before. The underlying idea, a tourbillon you can read at a glance without opening a case back, has not changed; what has changed is the material the case is cut from and how much of the calibre is visible through the dial.

TZP ceramic, titanium or ATZ ceramic: which case?

All four share the same calibre RM17-02 and the same functional layout; the difference is case material and finish. Ceramic cases resist surface scratching better than titanium but are more prone to chipping on a hard impact at an edge or lug; titanium is the more forgiving material day to day. Those figures are Bizak's sourced catalogue asks on the date above and will move; each watch is sourced to order rather than kept on our premises.

How does the RM 17-02 wear?

Richard Mille's tonneau case is designed to sit close to the wrist despite its size, with a case profile that curves to follow the wrist rather than sitting flat. At 40 mm across the case reads larger than the number suggests because of the tonneau shape and the exposed movement, but the ceramic and titanium versions are markedly lighter than a steel sports watch of comparable dimensions. The rubber strap is built for daily wear rather than dress use, and the crown-function indicator and power-reserve gauge are legible without needing to angle the wrist toward strong light, which is not true of every skeletonised watch. The lug-to-lug span of a Richard Mille tonneau case tends to run longer than its width would suggest, so it is worth trying the case on rather than judging fit from the 40 mm figure alone; on a slim wrist the case can overhang slightly, while on a larger wrist it sits centred and does not look oversized.

Why does a tourbillon like this cost so much?

A tourbillon is a rotating cage that carries the escapement and balance wheel, turning once a minute so that the errors gravity introduces in a single vertical position are averaged out as the watch moves through the day. It was devised for pocket watches that sat still in a waistcoat far more often than a wristwatch does, so the practical accuracy gain on the wrist is modest; the appeal is mechanical, not purely functional. Building and regulating a tourbillon cage by hand, fitting it into a skeletonised movement without weakening the baseplate, and finishing every visible bridge to a standard that will be looked at rather than hidden under a dial, is slow, specialist work, and Richard Mille's cases add machined ceramic or titanium construction on top of that. The RM 17-02's price reflects that combination: a hand-finished complication, a small production run, and a case built from materials that are harder to machine than steel.

None of that is unique to Richard Mille. What is distinctive about the brand's approach is putting the tourbillon on display through an openworked dial rather than a solid one, and pairing it with practical read-outs, the power-reserve gauge and the function indicator, that most tourbillon watches leave out. Whether that combination is worth the price over a tourbillon from a traditional Swiss manufacture is a matter of taste in case design and materials rather than of one being better engineered than the other.

How much is a Richard Mille RM 17-02? Price context in 2026

• Retail. Richard Mille does not publish retail prices; new pieces are allocated through the brand's boutiques and authorised retailers, and pricing is confirmed at the point of sale.
• Bizak catalogue asks. On 27 September 2026 our sourced catalogue listed the TZP ceramic reviewed here at US$883,499, the titanium RM17-02T at US$929,999, the ceramic skeleton RM17-02 at US$929,999, and the ATZ ceramic white at US$999,999, all sourced to order.
• What moves the price. Case material, completeness of the box and papers, and whether the piece has an unbroken service history at an authorised Richard Mille service centre.

Those figures describe what we saw and will move. Ask for a dated quote for the exact case material, year and set; our Richard Mille price guide explains how to compare quotes.

Is the RM 17-02 a good investment?

Buy it because the tourbillon and the crown-function indicator are what you want to look at and wear, not as a trading position. Outside a small number of ultra-limited Richard Mille references, the secondary market for the brand's tourbillon models has generally traded at a discount to what a comparable piece cost new, and a manually wound tourbillon requires servicing that a simpler watch does not. A complete box-and-papers set with a documented service history is the one that holds its value best within the range; a watch-only example without service records is priced accordingly.

Buying an RM 17-02: what to check

• Case condition. Inspect ceramic cases closely at the lugs and case back edges for chips, which do not polish out the way a metal case scratch does.
• Function indicator. With the crown pulled to each position, the indicator should point clearly to winding, neutral or hand-setting; a sluggish or misaligned indicator suggests the movement needs attention.
• Power-reserve gauge. The gauge should move visibly as the watch is wound and should read close to full after a full manual wind.
• Strap and clasp. Rubber and fabric-lined straps age faster than the case; check for cracking, stretch and clasp wear.
• Service history and papers. Ask for the last service date and receipt from an authorised Richard Mille service centre; a tourbillon without service records should be priced to account for an upcoming service. Richard Mille's own service page outlines the authorised network.
• Box and papers. Confirm the warranty card serial matches the case, and that the full set of boxes and documents is included if advertised as a full set.

Our authentication process describes what we inspect before dispatch.

Quick answers

Is the Richard Mille RM 17-02 automatic?

No. The calibre RM17-02 is a manually wound tourbillon movement with a power-reserve indicator, not an automatic.

How much is a Richard Mille RM 17-02?

Bizak's sourced catalogue listed the TZP ceramic at US$883,499, the titanium RM17-02T at US$929,999, and the ATZ ceramic white at US$999,999, sourced to order on 27 September 2026.

What does the RM 17-02's function indicator show?

It identifies which of the crown's three positions is engaged: winding, neutral, or hand-setting.

What is the difference between the RM17-02TZP and RM17-02T?

The case material and finish. TZP is a zirconia-based ceramic; the RM17-02T is titanium. Both use the same calibre RM17-02 tourbillon movement.

How often does a Richard Mille tourbillon need servicing?

Richard Mille recommends servicing through its authorised network on a schedule confirmed at purchase; ask for the specific interval and cost when you buy, and always request the last service date on a pre-owned example.

Request an RM 17-02 sourcing quote

Tell us the case material, condition and whether the full box and papers are required, plus your budget and timing, through our sourcing enquiry form. We confirm the specific watch, photographs, papers and final price before you commit. Catalogue entries: RM17-02TZP ceramic skeleton, RM17-02T titanium skeleton, RM 17-02 ATZ ceramic white; browse the Richard Mille collection, or sell or trade your Richard Mille.

Related reading: Richard Mille price guide · Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15500ST review · Rolex Daytona 126500LN guide · Authenticity guarantee.