Enjoy a risqué encounter with these sexually explicit timepieces
Sex sells, even in the world of haute horology. Want proof? Take a look at the Richard Mille Erotic Tourbillon RM 69, commonly known as the RM sex watch, which pop sensation Drake flashed at the NBA Playoffs in 2019. With three monochrome panels on the watch face resembling vintage billboards that used to show film titles at the cinemas, the timepiece rotates through erotic messages—and Drake’s was set to “I’d love to kiss your p***y”.
Other celebrities have also embraced the trend, such as rapper Travis Scott who wore the same provocative piece to a public event, revealing himself to be one of the 30 owners of this very limited-edition RM 69 watch. The timepiece, which was first launched in 2015, is said to have been inspired by a desire to express passion, and pays tribute to the erotic watches of the 16th century that were banned for being too overt.
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Indeed, sexually explicit timepieces are not a modern concept. They gained momentum in France during the reign of Louis XV in the 1700s, and were etched onto the caseback of pocket watches commissioned by the nobility and affluent socialites of that time. However, as their popularity grew, they came under the wrath of orthodox Christian clergymen who decreed that these items be banned for their lewdness.
These watches were all but forgotten by the 20th century, but watchmaker Ulysse Nardin used their allure to flee the quartz crisis of the 1970s, a notorious period in watch history. The demand for mechanical watches, which were traditionally produced by the Swiss watchmaking industry, fell precipitously after quartz movements became commonplace for use in watches. An X-rated twist on Ulysse Nardin’s Classico model was one of the items that supported the company during this difficult period. The 18-karat rose gold caseback of the watch was embossed with depictions of acts of pleasure. Following its success, Nardin launched a number of erotic models, including the Classic Voyeur watch and the Classico Manara series inspired by watercolour paintings created in collaboration with Milo Manara, an Italian artist of erotic graphic novels.
