Richard Mille RM 88 Automatic Tourbillon Smiley White Ceramic

“Well-behaved watchmakers rarely make history.”

That’s not exactly how the saying goes, but maybe it should. Students of horology’s history can tell you it’s the disruptors who show us the way forward. Among those disruptors prepared to shock and surprise, Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille (richardmille.com) knows precisely how to fire up his fan base (and his haters). At first glance, this watch might look like a fanciful toy. But underneath the rainbows, cocktails, cactus, sun, flowers, pineapple and pink flamingo lies an incredibly serious timepiece. How serious? $1.2 million serious.

Taking more than three years to develop, the intricate CRMT7 in-house automatic tourbillon caliber incorporates various decorative elements, including painstaking hand finishing. No shortcuts here.

“What we have achieved is completely new in the watchmaking world. The watch is more than exceptional,” explains Olivier Kuhn, Richard Mille’s master engraver. “Being able to carry out preparatory work in 3D on a computer made it possible to take the details to their limits while respecting watchmaking codes.”

Now celebrating 50 years of Franklin Loufrani’s Smiley symbol, the Smiley Company has come to represent a universal modern language of pictorial, emotional icons—the emoticon. This wildly prophetic vision sparked interest in Richard Mille. A watch concept was born, ready to spread its good vibes to 50 lucky buyers.

Whether it’s breaking technical records or selling out limited editions faster than they reach stores, following up the jaw-dropping ultraslim RM UP-01 Ferrari with a frivolous Smiley tourbillon is the last thing anyone could have predicted. Isn’t that great? One thing is for sure—with the debut of the RM 88 Automatic Tourbillon Smiley, Richard Mille is guaranteed to put a grin on your face.