RM 052 Red Skeleton: an open tourbillon without the skull

The Richard Mille RM 052 Red Skeleton (reference RM 52-01) is the skeleton-only member of the RM 052 tourbillon line — the variant that keeps the open flying tourbillon but drops the carved skull. Where the rest of the family turns its grade-5 titanium baseplate into a tete de mort, this edition exposes a lattice of red skeletonised bridges so the whole movement reads as pure architecture. It is the RM 052 super clone for a buyer who wants the tourbillon theatre of the collection without the memento-mori motif.

The clone tourbillon at six o’clock

This RM 052 replica runs a manual-winding clone tourbillon, with the cage turning in an open aperture at 6 o’clock exactly as the genuine piece displays it. It shows hours and minutes only — there is no seconds hand and no date, matching the original’s deliberately pared-back layout. The red openworked tonneau bridges frame the rotating cage, giving you a true tourbillon skeleton watch rather than a printed dial faking the effect. Beating at 28,800 vph, the clone holds roughly 42 hours of reserve against the genuine manual tourbillon’s ~48 hours.

Black ceramic tonneau and blue rubber strap

The case is black ceramic in the signature ~42.7 x 50 mm tonneau, scratch-resistant and noticeably lighter than steel on the wrist. A blue rubber strap gives the mostly-monochrome piece its single hit of colour and keeps this manual winding tourbillon comfortable for daily wear. Water resistance is a dress-watch 30 m — splash-safe, not for swimming — and a sapphire crystal covers the openworked tonneau tourbillon front. The Red Skeleton Blue Strap colourway is the quiet, graphic alternative to the louder skull editions.

Red Skeleton against the RM 052 Skull family

Within the RM 052 Skull replica collection this skeleton sits opposite the carved pieces: the RM 052 Black Skull red strap super clone shares the same tourbillon but builds the baseplate into a skull, while the themed RM 52-05 Pharrell Williams Mars super clone swaps the whole dial for a space scene. If you want a different Richard Mille tourbillon architecture entirely, the RM 53-01 tourbillon super clone suspends its movement on cables — a common rm 052 vs rm 53-01 cross-shop.

Price, value and buying the RM 052 super clone

At $839 this Richard Mille replica is one of the cheapest routes into a working tourbillon, a complication that costs five or six figures on the genuine RM 052. For the money you get the real rotating cage, the ceramic case and the full skeleton build rather than a quartz imitation. Read our best Richard Mille super clones guide to compare it with the rest of the line, or browse the wider Richard Mille super clone catalogue for other references for sale.

Specifications

• Model: Richard Mille RM 052 Tourbillon (Red Skeleton)
• Reference: RM 52-01
• Case: Black ceramic tonneau
• Case size: ~42.7 x 50 mm
• Dial: Red skeletonised bridges with open tourbillon at 6
• Strap: Blue rubber
• Crystal: Sapphire
• Movement: clone tourbillon (manual winding)
• Power reserve: 42 hours (genuine manual tourbillon: ~48 hours)
• Water resistance: 30 m
• Functions: Hours and minutes
• Frequency: 28,800 vph

RM 052 Red Skeleton FAQ

How much does the RM 052 Red Skeleton super clone cost?

This RM 052 Red Skeleton super clone is priced at $839, among the cheapest Richard Mille tourbillons you can buy and a tiny fraction of the genuine skull watch price. That buys a real rotating tourbillon cage, a black ceramic case and a full red skeleton build, not a printed quartz lookalike.

How can you spot a fake RM 052 Red Skeleton tourbillon?

On this RM 052 Red Skeleton the tourbillon cage genuinely turns at 6 o’clock and the dial shows hours and minutes only, so a static cage or an added seconds hand marks a bad fake — the same checks that catch a fake Richard Mille skull apply here. Confirm the red bridges are openworked titanium-tone metal, not a flat printed panel.

What’s the difference between the RM 052 Red Skeleton and the RM 052 Skull?

The RM 052 Red Skeleton shows red openworked bridges and an exposed tourbillon, while the RM 052 Skull turns the same titanium baseplate into a carved skull skeleton watch with crossbones bridges. Both carry the identical manual clone tourbillon; only the architecture over it changes.

Does the RM 052 Red Skeleton super clone have a real working tourbillon?

Yes — this RM 052 Red Skeleton carries a genuine working clone tourbillon that rotates continuously in the opening at 6 o’clock. It is manual winding, runs at 28,800 vph and holds about 42 hours of power reserve against the genuine manual tourbillon’s ~48 hours.