Posts filed under Richard Mille

Insider: Richard Mille RM052-01 Skull Tourbillon Nano-Ceramic. The Most Unique Grain on a Ceramic Composite Case.

Not long ago we reviewed and photographed one of Richard Mille's latest creations, the RM052-01. The Richard Mille RM052-01 takes its inspiration from a previous model, the RM052. Opposed to its predecessor, the RM052-01 features a TZP ceramic bezel and case back with a middle case of carbon nano-tubes —measuring 42.70mm in width, 50mm in length and 15.95mm in thickness— and a solid red gold skull on the dial that includes a tourbillon strategically located inside its jaws.

This watch featuring the newest material in the Richard Mille line-up has the most fascinating finish that we've ever seen on any other ceramic composite watch due to its unique grain —product of the 95% yttrium-stabilized zirconium used in its production.

News: Presenting the Richard Mille RM011 Flyback Chronograph 'Red Demon'. A 30-Piece Limited Edition for the Americas.

Richard Mille introduces the new RM011 Automatic Flyback Chronograph 'Red Demon' in a 30-piece limited edition to be exclusively sold through the Americas. Fitted with a sizzling red inner flange, hands, strap and crown protector the red gold top and bottom bezels get amplified in this new strikingly beautiful Richard Mille. Following the success of the RM011 'White Demon', the 'Red Demon' is fitted with the usual Richard Mille tripartite case measuring 50.00 mm x 40.00 mm x 16.15 mm with the front and back made of 5N red gold, a middle case made of titanium and with a crown and pushers set in NTPT carbon. Fitted with a skeletonized black dial, the 'Red Demon' features scarlet numerals, hands, date aperture and inner flange. The crown also features a red rubber ring to match the red rubber strap on this watch.

Posted on June 5, 2014 and filed under Richard Mille, News.

News: Introducing the New Richard Mille RM 030 Le Mans Classic 2014. The Fourth Limited Edition Timepiece Honoring Le Mans.

The 7th Le Mans Classic will take place on July 4, 5 and 6 of 2014. Richard Mille has been the Main Partner and Official Timekeeper of the race since the first event in 2002. This retrospective of the “24 Heures du Mans” is the chance for thousands of car enthusiasts to meet around the Bugatti track. Le Mans Classic revives more than 80 years of automobile sport history by bringing back the cars and the pilots who created the legend of the most famous race in the world on the great 13 kilometer Le Mans circuit.

Posted on May 31, 2014 and filed under Richard Mille, News.

News: Presenting the New Richard Mille RM011 Flyback Chronograph 'White Demon'. A 30-Piece Limited Edition.

Richard Mille introduces the RM011 Flyback Chronograph 'White Demon' as a 30-piece limited edition exclusively available at the Richard Mille boutiques in Las Vegas, Beverly Hills and authorized dealers in North and South America. Devilish red details add a fiery glow to a new limited edition white ceramic timepiece from Richard Mille. The RM011 White Demon, a 30-piece limited edition, combines precious metal, high tech materials and an aggressive devilish styling effect.

Fitted with the usual Richard Mille tripartite case measuring 50.00 mm x 40.00 mm x 16.15 mm, the front and back are made of a white ATZ sand-blasted ceramic in the new RM011 White Demon. The white bezels and matching rubber strap contrast with a 5N red gold caseband, crown and chronograph pushers set in NTPT carbon, as well as a dial that features scarlet numerals, hands, date aperture and inner flange.

Some of the RM011’s main features, which include major technical innovations, are its skeletonized automatic winding movement with adjustable rotor geometry; the usual skeletonized dial in black and red features a 60-minute countdown timer at 3, a 12-hour chrono-register at 6, running seconds at 9 o'clock, a month aperture between 4 and 5 o'clock and an oversize date display at 12 o’clock.

This beautiful limited edition of 30 pieces in white ATZ ceramic and red gold is fitted with a white rubber strap with 5N red gold and titanium clasp.

Sticker Price $170,000 USD. For more info on Richard Mille click here.

News: Richard Mille RM38-01 Tourbillon G-Sensor Bubba Watson. Limited Edition of 50 Pieces.

After the success of the Richard Mille Limited Edition RM 038 Golfer’s Tourbillon released in 2011, Richard Mille has undertaken the development of yet another specific tourbillon watch for Bubba Watson with added functionality to complement his powerful drives on the course. The result is the RM 38-01 Tourbillon G-Sensor Bubba Watson, a timepiece that combines a patented G-sensor with a tourbillon mechanism, thus providing new insights for golfers during their game. The mechanical G-sensor, a Richard Mille world first containing more than 50 moving parts within a mere 17mm, allows the user to see the accumulated motion of their swing in G’s. The sensor, placed under 12 o’clock, is able to record the force generated by a golfer’s swing, specifically during the last segment. Now, this new watch is not the watch that Bubba Watson was wearing while playing The Masters this weekend and while winning his second green jacket at this tournament. Instead, Bubba was wearing the Richard Mille RM038 released in 2011.

In reality this means that the RM 38-01 can record up to 20-G’s of acceleration, a very important insight for golfers such as Bubba Watson, renowned for his ability to hit a ball at more than 310 kilometers per hour. Resetting the sensor back to zero for the following swing is done by simply pressing the aerodynamically formed pusher at 9:00 once.

The G-sensor mechanism is integrated into the heart of a manual winding tourbillon movement calibre RM38-01 which provides a 48-hour power reserve when fully wound while beating at a frequency of 21,600 vph. The movement is a technological marvel with its highly skeletonized, asymmetrical flying bridges and plates machined from grade 5 titanium with PVD treatment. The display case back allows for full view of the movement that almost resembles the grooves on the sweet spot of a golf clubface.

On looking at the RM 38-01 Bubba Watson, one’s attention is immediately drawn to the unique green case —Bubba’s favorite color— which upon closer examination again demonstrates the mastery and insight of Richard Mille in the revolutionary application of industrial materials for 21st century watchmaking. Additionally, the watch also features a crown cap with the unmistakeable dimples and glossy finish of a golf ball.

The front and back bezels of the tripartite case measuring 42.70 x 49.94 x 16.15 mm are created in TZP-G, a ceramic class of material based on microscopic tubes of alumina oxide powder injected with green colorant at a pressure of 2,000 bars. This is followed by a long and difficult machining and grinding process with diamond tooling in order to obtain the exact complex curves and arcs typical of Richard Mille’s designs. The result is a material that offers 20-30% more stiffness in comparison to traditional ceramics. These qualities make this the ideal material for a bezel that is commonly highly exposed to impact. In the last stage, the material is then delicately worked in order to create an attractive matte surface finish and further complemented with a central caseband in grade 5 titanium molded with white rubber, thus providing comfort and lightness for the user under all conditions. The tripartite case is water resistant to 50 meters, ensured by two Nitril O-ring seals and it is assembled using 20 grade 5 titanium spline screws and abrasion-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.

Released in an edition of 50 pieces worldwide, the RM 38-01 Tourbillon G-sensor Bubba Watson provides all golfers with new insights about the strength of their swing and thus allows them to better adapt the power of their technique accordingly to the playing requirements of each course they compete on. It represents the perfect synthesis of haute horlogerie with 21st century innovation, comfort and usefulness for today’s golf enthusiasts worldwide.

Sticker Price $820,000 USD. For more info on Richard Mille click here.

Insider: Richard Mille RM 60-01 Flyback Chronograph Regatta. A Technical Watch for Navigating the Seven Seas.

With the RM 60-01 Regatta Flyback Chronograph, Richard Mille presents his first technical watch for navigating the seven seas. Powered by the grade 5 titanium RMAC2 caliber with its 55 hours of power reserve, variable inertia balance, complete flyback chronograph functions, annual calendar with oversize date and UTC function, the RM 60-01 adds navigational capabilities thanks to its special rotating bezel with indications of the four cardinal points combined with a graduated 360° and a 24-hour scale disk.

The massive titanium grade 5 case measuring 50 mm in diameter and 16.33 mm in thickness, features a unique four-part structure. The system is completed by the incorporation of horns in the case assembly. The four-part case of the RM 60-01 is very difficult to make. After a turning operation lasting 1 hour and 40 minutes, no less than 800 milling operations are required, taking several hours. Machining demands nearly 11 hours of separate operations. It is followed by a meticulous quality control procedure that takes a full day for each case. The 3 pushers, their components and the crown of the RM 60-01 require 10 days of machining, during which they undergo numerous tests for water-resistance and quality control, followed by the manual brushing and polishing of the entire case. All of these stages are vital in producing the characteristic ergonomic quality of Richard Mille watches.

Using the RM 60-01 is based on two factors: knowledge of local time and the position of the sun. To calculate one’s location, the UTC indicator is directed towards the sun using the UTC pusher located at 9 o’clock and then the bezel is turned so that that the UTC hand lines up with the actual local time engraved on the bezel’s circumference.

When set in this manner, the compass headings North, South, East and West on the bezel will be correctly aligned with the actual direction on the Earth’s surface. What differentiates the RM 60-01 form other similar types of watches is its ability to orientate within the northern as well as southern hemispheres without any additional calculations. As an additional safety precaution, the chronograph pushers have a special quick locking and releasing mechanism. Locking —red arrow— and unlocking —green arrow— the flyback chronograph pushers requires only a quick turn of the secondary crown, thus avoiding possible accidental changes of the chronograph readout.

The beating heart inside this new timepiece presented at the SIHH 2014, is the Richard Mille Calibre RMAC2 automatic movement with hours, minutes, running seconds at 3 o’clock, oversize date, month, annual calendar, Flyback chronograph with central seconds counter, and 30 minute countdown timer at 9 o’clock, 24 hour totalizer at 6 o’clock, UTC function and adjustable rotor geometry. When fully wound the calibre provides a power reserve of 50 hours. The components of the movement are in grade 5 titanium with black PVD coating and the movement features 62 jewels, an Elinvar balance spring and Rubifix transparent escapement wheel jewels. As usual, the beautiful calibre is fully visible via the display case back.

Sticker Price $150,000 USD. For more info on Richard Mille click here.

SIHH 2014: Richard Mille Presents the Yohan Blake RM 61-01. Live Pictures and Pricing.

The RM 61-01 Yohan Blake takes all of its cues from the RM 59-01 tourbillon launched last year for the Olympic medalist and 2nd fastest man over 100m and 200m. It combines the caliber RMUL2 with its highly skeletonised grade 5 titanium movement treated with PVD and Titalyt® to provide maximum performance. The bezel and the back of the RM 61-01 are created from TZP-N. This ultra-tough black ceramic material has a low density (6g.cm3) combining extreme resistance to scratches with a very low coefficient of thermal conductivity. Composed of 95% Zirconium compound stabilized with Yttrium, TZP-N provides a perfect finish with blasted and hand polished anglage in combination with a caseband created from light and highly resilient NTPT® carbon. Its drawn-out shape between 2 and 5 o’clock stops the crown from rubbing against the sprinter handle.

The skeletonised RMUL2 movement with 55 hours power reserve is built in grade 5 titanium treated with PVD and Titalyt® using a free sprung balance beating at 4Hz. Developed with sporting applications in mind, Richard Mille has consciously aimed for exceptional impact resistance, with validation testing for the RM 61-01 carried out in excess of 5000 G’s.

Accentuating the tough character of this novel timepiece are the large crown protectors, offering full security to the crown during sports and other activities. The green flying bridges, woven into the front of the movement, are anodized and painted by hand, bringing to mind the colors of his Jamaican homeland, together with Yohan Blake’s nickname ‘The Beast’, a name imparted to him during his amazing record breaking perfomances on athletics tracks around the world.

Sticker Price $120,000 USD. For more info on Richard Mille click here.

SIHH 2014: Richard Mille Presents Ten New Watches and a Bracelet for the Ladies Collection. Live Pictures and Pricing.

This week at the SIHH 2014, we witnessed ten new creations from Richard Mille as well as the premiere of the first metal bracelet ever developed by this manufacture. The bracelet was developed for the two new ladies' watches the RM 07-01 and the RM 037. This new bracelet —strap as Richard Mille refers to it— is entirely made out of gold. The bracelet is composed of dozens of links, requires 65 hours of programming and several hours to manufacture. In perfect harmony with the lines of the case, it is an extension of the watch’s design, constantly evoking the curves of the bezel and the case back but also the characteristic profile of the
Richard Mille watch. Each link is micro-blasted, satin-brushed and polished. The ensemble is held together by 36 spline screws in grade 5 titanium and completed with a double-fold clasp in gold. As for all the models, the finishes are entirely handcrafted. Comfort has always been one of the brand’s top priorities. Many years of development and testing concerning the development of this strap has resulted in a very ergonomic ensemble that is a pleasure
to wear. It is a combination of aesthetic appeal and perfect integration. The new Gold Richard Mille strap is available in 5N red gold or in white gold.

New Richard Mille integrated bracelet in 5N Red Gold.

New Richard Mille integrated bracelet in White Gold.

While we were at Richard Mille's pavillion, we had the opportunity to run into Richard Mille himself and exchange a few words. Here are some pictures of him during our visit. This year the number of live pictures of the new timepieces will be very limited as Mr. Mille didn't want for the press to take too many pictures of his watches. Fortunately we were able to photograph several of them after talking to him about it.

Here is a combination of live pictures and a few stock images of the new watches unveiled this year. The new watches are the RM 07-01 Ladies, RM 19-01 Natalie Portman, RM 35-01 Rafael Nadal, RM 30-01 Competition G Sensor Sebastien Loeb, RM 037 Ladies, RM 50-01 Lotus F1 Team Romain Grosjean, RM 51-01 Tiger & Dragon Michelle Yeoh, RM 60-01 Flyback Chronograph Regatta, RM 61-01 Yohan Blake and the RM 63-01 Dizzy Hands.

Richard Mille RM 07-01 Ladies in ATZ White Ceramic and Red Gold. Sticker Price $100,000 USD.

Richard Mille RM 037 Ladies on Bracelet. Sticker Price Not Confirmed Yet.

Richard Mille RM61-01 Yohan Blake. Sticker Price $120,000 USD.

Richard Mille RM 63-01 Dizzy Hands. Sticker Price $120,000 USD.

Richard Mille RM 19-01 Tourbillon Natalie Portman. Sticker Price Not Confirmed Yet.

Richard Mille 35-01 Rafael Nadal. Sticker Price Not Confirmed Yet.

Richard Mille RM 36-01 Competition G Sensor Sebastien Loeb. Limited Edition 30 Pieces. Sticker Price $655,000 USD.

Richard Mille RM 50-01 Lotus F1 Team Romain Grosjean. Sticker Price Not Confirmed Yet.

Richard Mille Rm 51-01 Tiger & Dragon Michelle Yeoh. Sticker Price Not Confirmed Yet.

Richard Mille RM 61-01 Flyback Chronograph Regatta. Sticker Price $155,000 USD.

Richard Mille RM 61-01 Flyback Chronograph Regatta. Sticker Price $155,000 USD.

For more info on Richard Mille SIHH 2014 Novelties click here.

Insider: Richard Mille RM011 Le Mans Classic. Enough Blue and Yellow Accents to Make it Stand Out.

How often do you run into a Richard Mille watch in the wild? The most probable answer is, never. Now, the chances of running into a RM011 Le Mans Classic Limited Edition in the wild, are even more slim. The new Richard Mille RM011 Le Mans Classic Limited Edition is truly an amazing timepiece now fitted with a 24-hour chronograph instead of the traditional 12-hour chronograph on other Felipe Massa RM011s. As it is the norm with Richard Mille watches, the dial is skeletonized featuring white Arabic numerals, a 60-minute chrono-register at 9, a 24-hour chrono-register at 6, running seconds at 3 o'clock and month aperture between 4 and 5 o'clock as this watch is an annual calendar as well. The iconic big date display on Richard Mille watches at 12 o'clock provides a very unique touch to the skeleton dial and the blue and yellow accents on the registers provide a perfectly balanced dial with enough contrast to make the watch stand out. The 24-hour chrono register features a special yellow marker at the 16th hour to immortalize the time at which — traditionally until 2008— the race used to start on Saturdays at 16:00 hours. Only 150 pieces are available of this limited edition watch.

The Richard Mille Le Mans Classic Limited Edition is a very advanced time measuring device. Fitted with a tripartite titanium case measuring 50x40mm and a thickness of 16.15mm, the RM011 Le Mans Classic Limited Edition provides an amazing wrist presence with lightness and comfort that is just unbeatable. Richard Mille created this special chronograph to commemorate their involvement with the 2012 Le Mans Classic event as sponsor and official timekeeper. With its white carbon fiber flange around the edge of the dial, the white and green checkered Le Mans Classic logo located at 12 o'clock, the blue rubberized crown ring and the light blue and yellow accents, this watch is just exceptional.

This watch is fitted with the Richard Mille calibre RM011-S—an automatic movement with a rotor with variable geometry and power reserve of 55 hours— that is fully visible via the double-coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal on the case back. The details on the case are just exceptional and a real treat for the eyes. With a case assembled with 16 spline screws—in grade 5 titanium— and abrasion resistant washers—in copper-nickel-zinc alloy—, this piece is literally every watchlifestyler's dream.

 As you can see, every single detail on this watch has been meticulously taken care of and you definitely can't go wrong buying one. On the wrist, the watch wears extremely comfortably and with a wrist presence that is unparalleled. After reviewing several Richard Mille Felipe Massa watches, we think this is the nicest of all Felipe Massa RM011s ever made.

Sticker Price $125,000 USD. For more info on Richard Mille click here.  

Insider: Richard Mille RM030 Americas Limited Edition. Another Superb Creation by This Manufacture in a 30-Piece Limited Edition with Declutchable Rotor.

On August 2, 2013, we published the news about the launch of the Richard Mille RM030 Americas Limited Edition. Today, we bring you a hands-on review with live pictures of this amazing watch fitted with a declutchable rotor.

Following the success of the RM011, RM016, and RM028 limited editions created exclusively for sale in the Americas, Richard Mille created the RM030 Americas Limited Edition. The RM030 Americas Limited Edition is very different from all the other models due to its bright orange flange and its case measuring 50 mm x 42.70 mm x 13.95 mm made of carbon nanotubes —like those used on the RM27-01 or the RM052-01.

The watch features a beautiful sapphire dial with white Arabic numerals, a power reserve indicator at 9, a vertical date aperture at 7, and an On/Off Rewinding indicator at 12 o'clock right above the central pinion. As you can appreciate in these pictures —taken under natural light—, the orange accents are brighter than what the stock images depict and way more appealing.

The beating heart inside the RM030 Americas Limited Edition is the new calibre RMAR1, which features a rotor that declutches automatically and that provides a power reserve of 55 hours while beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph. When the power reserve reaches 50 hours, the rotor is declutched automatically thanks to a specially developed gear system. As a result, the rotor is disengaged from winding the barrel. Conversely, when the power reserve decreases to 40 hours, the rotor is automatically clutched and the watch starts the winding phase until the indicator reaches 50 hours. It is possible to check these phases thanks to the rewinding indicator located at 12 o’clock that points to the 'On' position when the rotor is operating in winding phase and 'Off' when it is disengaged.

The calibre fully visible via the display case back, features an orange insert on its rotor that along with the flange and crown also in orange, creates an exceptional palette of colors and the ideal contrasting touches.

The RM030 Americas is a limited edition of 30 pieces, available exclusively at Richard Mille boutiques and authorized Richard Mille retailers throughout North and South America. The watch is fitted with a very comfortable perforated rubber strap with double folding deployant clasp.

We don't want to sound like a broken record, but just like all the other Richard Mille watches we have reviewed, the RM030 Americas Limited Edition also feels great on the wrist. This is another exceptional creation from this manufacture that one needs to experience in person in order to fully understand the amount of work that goes into designing and crafting these watches. Well worth every single penny of its price.

Sticker Price $135,000 USD. For more info on Richard Mille click here.

News: Richard Mille Introduces the RM055 Bubba Watson Limited Edition for the Americas. 30-Pieces Available of Each Red Drive and White Drive.

Press Release

Richard Mille expands his line of watches created in collaboration with Bubba Watson, the PGA golfer with the longest drive on the tour, with the introduction of two new limited edition versions of the RM055 available exclusively in North and South America.

All of the previous watches created with Bubba Watson—RM038 Tourbillon Bubba Watson, RM038 Tourbillon Victory Watch, and RM055 Bubba Watson—feature stark white cases, bezels and straps. The new limited editions take a 180-degree turn, and are recognizable for their all-black cases and straps with few, bright details. A red flange forms a colorful frame around the skeletonized manual-wound movement of the RM055 Bubba Watson Red Drive limited edition, while a white flange provides a halo around the RM055 Bubba Watson White Drive limited edition’s movement.

Both timepieces feature a case made from black rubberized grade-5 titanium, and a bezel constructed from black ceramic. A black DLC titanium and rubber crown, black rubber strap and black PVD- and Titalyt-treated movement complete the stealth look of the watches. Inside the case of each RM055 beats the caliber RMUL2, which is capable of withstanding accelerations of over 500 Gs, allowing it to perform on the wrist of a golfer with a massive drive.

The movement is equipped with a variable-inertia balance wheel, which ensures reliability in the event of impacts and during assembly and dismantling, thus improving the long-term accuracy of the timepiece. The regulator index is eliminated, and a more accurate and repeatable inertia adjustment is possible thanks to four small adjustable weights located directly on the balance wheel. The double barrel mechanism helps to improve and equalize long-term torque stability: This is achieved by dispersing the stored energy within two winding barrels, equalizing torque as well as reducing pressure and friction on the bearings and pivots, resulting in improved long-term performance. The distinct construction of the RM055’s case is designed to meet the demanding requirements of sportsmen. The case middle and back are in grade 5 titanium with a protective black rubber casing. This rubber is injected at high pressure around the titanium components, thus insulating the movement from all vibrations. This special surface treatment also makes the watch very comfortable to wear.
 
Richard Mille will produce 30 examples of the RM055 Bubba Watson Red Drive and 30 examples of the RM055 Bubba Watson White Drive. The limited editions are available at authorized Richard Mille retailers in North and South America, as well as the Richard Mille boutiques in Beverly Hills and Las Vegas.

Sticker Price $115,000 USD. For more info on Richard Mille click here.  

News: Richard Mille Boutique Las Vegas Now Open. Aria Resort & Casino at City Center.

Press Release

On September 23rd, 2013 Richard Mille expanded its presence in America by opening the country’s second Richard Mille boutique: The Richard Mille Boutique Las Vegas.
 The new boutique is located within Las Vegas’ most exclusive luxury shopping venue —the Shops at Crystals— adjacent to the ARIA Resort & Casino at City Center on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.

Upon entering the boutique, guests encounter a 7 ft. tall sculpture modeled after a Richard Mille mechanical movement. The decor of the entire space adheres to Richard Mille’s warm and functional design identity, featuring such contemporary materials as Makassar wood, steel, stone and glass. A massive carved glass sculpture in the shape of Richard Mille’s most iconic watch draws the eye to the center of the store, while high-tech anti-reflective glass showcases provide ideal settings throughout the space for each timepiece on display.

The complete collection of Richard Mille watches for men and women is presented at the new boutique, including such limited editions as the RM 27-01 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, RM 038 Tourbillon Bubba Watson, RM 59-01 Tourbillon Yohan Blake, and RM 036 Tourbillon Jean Todt G-Sensor. Additionally, Richard Mille has created a series of one-of-a-kind RM 52-01 Tourbillon Skull Nano-Ceramic timepieces, for sale exclusively at the Las Vegas location.

The Richard Mille Boutique Las Vegas, within The Shops at Crystals, is located at 3720 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, Nevada, and is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to midnight.

For more on Richard Mille click here.

Insider: Richard Mille RM27-01 Rafael Nadal Limited Edition. Light as a Feather, Perfect as Perfect Gets.

Not often does one get to peruse such an amazing example of 'haute horlogerie' and a watch that costs as much as a two-bedroom condo in the River North neighborhood of Chicago. Holding this watch and photographing it gave us an adrenaline rush like no other watch we have perused or reviewed. Unlike the rest of the content around the web, our live pictures depict what the watch looks like in person. The stock images you see everywhere really have nothing to do with the watch in real life.

The Richard Mille RM27-01 Limited Edition Rafael Nadal is not only perfection but the lightest mechanical watch in the world. This watch is available in a limited edition of only 50 pieces and is fitted with a manual winding tourbillon movement with hours, minutes, and 19 jewels. The 'tonneau' shaped case, measuring 45.98 mm x 38.90 mm x 10.05 mm, is made of an extremely strong anthracite polymer injected with carbon nanotubes and it features a monocoque construction for improved lightness and firmness. To the touch, the watch almost feels between a hard piece of plastic and a bar of soap. The weight of the movement is approximately 3.5 grams and when fully wound, it provides a power reserve of 45 hours.

The movement is made of titanium and Lital —a lithium alloy containing aluminum, copper, magnesium, and zirconium— which provides the mechanism with more flexibility and greater shock resistance. The skeletonized baseplate is attached to the case via four braided steel cables and suspended in the interior by pulleys to withstand accelerations of over 5,000Gs. The cables are held by a mechanism of tensioners at 3 and 9 o'clock and once the watchmaker has threaded the cables, he tensions them by rotating the central tensioner ring using a special tool. 

The watch features no dial as it is unnecessary. One can contemplate the beauty of this calibre and its tourbillon for hours while time can be told by looking at the hands with their red tips. The flange is made of aluminum with hour markers filled with luminescent material in yellow and the Richard Mille name is written in red letters with a yellow border reminiscent of the colors of the flag of Rafa Nadal's home country, Spain. The red ring on the crown rounds out the sporty look of this watch and provides exceptional contrast along with the red tips on the hands and the red on the Richard Mille writing. 

The crystal is a Grilamid TR-90 with anti-reflective coating on both sides and a thickness of 1.20mm and 4.01mm at the edges and is perfectly clear and resistant enough to protect the advanced calibre inside this timepiece.  

The Rafael Nadal Limited Edition RM27-01 is fitted with a very unique nylon strap lined with a rubber composite that is fitted with a velcro fastener on the 6 o'clock side. The strap seems very comfortable just like on any other Richard Mille watch.

In summary, this timepiece is not only very unique but a true example of 'haute horlogerie' and extreme watchmaking. Right when we put our hands on this timepiece, we knew why it costs as much as it does. It's almost unfathomable that such a lightweight timepiece —weighing approximately 15 grams in total— could hold such tremendous horological advancements inside and have such a steep price tag. Now, if you have the money to buy one, all we can say is 'just do it'.  This timepiece is like nothing else you'll ever see.

Sticker Price $690,000 USD. For more info on Richard Mille click here.

News: Richard Mille Unveils New Material in Watchmaking. NTPT Carbon To Be Utilized on the RM011.

Press Release

This fall, Richard Mille announces a brand new material to watchmaking named NTPT® —North Thin Ply Technology— carbon to create the first RM011 NTPT® carbon case. Richard Mille will soon unveil a version of its popular RM011 Automatic Flyback Chronograph in an entirely new case using this material.

Originally developed for the sails of racing yachts, NTPT® carbon has quickly become a must-have material in nautical circles. Sails manufactured from this substance are highly resistant and light, and have thus enabled the giants of the seas to claim the finishing lines of the world’s greatest regattas. NTPT® carbon, which has become a reference in composite materials, has been used for Formula 1 car chassis for the last two seasons, and in aeronautics for the fuselage of the future Solar Impulse 2 aircraft. NTPT® carbon is an exclusive material with a unique appearance. Its remarkable surface displays extremely regular undulations, as NTPT® carbon is composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fibers. These layers, with a maximum thickness of 30 microns, are impregnated with resin then woven on a special machine that modifies the direction of the weft by 45° between layers, creating this distinctive visual effect that is reminiscent of precious wood. Heated to 120°C at a pressure of 6 bars, the NTPT® is then ready to be processed on a CNC machine in Richard Mille’s Proart case factory.
 
When compared to composite materials, whose exceptional physical properties are already well known, NTPT® carbon improves the rate of occurrence of breaking stresses by 25% and of micro-cracks by 200%. The NTPT® fully protects the RMAC1 automatic caliber, which is recognizable by its large date at 12 o’clock, its month display at 4 o’clock and its flyback chronograph. The movement, made entirely of titanium, has a 55-hour power reserve provided by its double-barrel system wound by a variable geometry rotor.

The new RM 011 Carbon NTPT® introduces innovative technical solutions that are essential to modern watchmaking. This new material has never been used in watchmaking before.

For more info on Richard Mille click here.  

News: Richard Mille Congratulates Rafael Nadal. Second US Open Title.

Press Release

The Spaniard Rafael Nadal defeated top-ranked Novak Djokovic in four sets. After missing last year's US Open during a seven-month absence due to a knee injury, Nadal is now poised to regain the number one ranking. Nadal has won 13 Grand Slam singles titles, and he plays all of his matches with the Richard Mille RM 27-01 Tourbillon on his right wrist.

For more info on Richard Mille click here.  

Image: Getty Images. 

News: Richard Mille RM030 Americas Limited Edition. Only 30 Pieces Available at Richard Mille Boutiques in North and South America.

Press Release

Following the success of the RM011, RM016 and RM028 limited editions created exclusively for sale in the Americas, Richard Mille unveils the RM030 Americas limited edition.
 
The RM 030 Americas stands apart from all other models thanks to its bright orange upper flange, crown protector, and hands, complemented by white numerals and date aperture. The timepiece is encased in black carbon nanotube and presented on a black rubber strap.
 
Inside the case of the RM030 beats the novel calibre RMAR1, which features a rotor that declutches automatically. With this system, the winding barrel is automatically disconnected from the rotor’s winding mechanism at the moment when the spring is fully wound. Additionally, this new mechanism is linked to the power reserve indicator to provide optimal control. This allows both the movement and the oscillator to work with the best ratio of constant torque/power to provide the best chronometric performance.
 
The RM030 Americas is a limited edition of 30 pieces, available exclusively at Richard Mille boutiques and authorized Richard Mille retailers throughout North and South America.
 
Technical Specifications of the RM030 Americas Limited Edition Automatic with Declutchable Rotor:
 
Dimensions: 50 mm x 42.70 mm x 13.95 mm
Power-reserve circa 55 hours
Declutchable and adjustable rotor geometry
Winding indicator
Date display
Free sprung balance with variable inertia
Double barrel
Baseplate, bridges and balance cock made of titanium
Torque limiting crown in titanium
Balance: Glucydur, 4 arms
Inertia moment 4.8 mg.cm², angle of lift 53°
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Baseplate and bridges in grade 5 titanium, wet sandblasted, Titalyt® treated
Barrel bridges PVD coated
Sapphire blasted and hand-drawn surfaces

Sticker Price $135,000 USD. For more info on Richard Mille click here.  

Insider: Richard Mille RM016 Automatic. An Ultra-Thin and Ultra-Light Richard Mille That Needs Very Little Introduction.

The Richard Mille RM016 Automatic is a watch very well known by watchlifestylers. The RM016 was launched in 2007 as the first rectangular watch in the Richard Mille collection. This amazing watch fitted with a black kevlar-lined leather strap is simple, elegant and iconic in the Richard Mille line-up. The RM016 is made of an ultra-thin titanium case that depending on the lighting conditions almost looks like stainless steel due to its slight silvery color. There are several limited editions of the RM016 with different dials and case finishes, but this one is our favorite.

While this Richard Mille appears to be a very simple watch, it is not. Its ultra-light case —weighing only 64 grams— is made of three parts in titanium and measures 49.80 mm in length by 38.00 mm in width. The ends of the case are 'tonneau' shaped providing a perfect wrist fit and the kevlar-lined leather strap is extremely comfortable. There are four polished star-shaped screws that keep the case together and four different shaped screws that attach to the kevlar-lined leather strap that is fitted with a double-folding deployant clasp. One thing worth mentioning about the strap, is that the strap gets marked easily around the area where it meets the case. This is really not a big deal considering that if you can afford this watch, a strap change should be the least of your worries.

The crown is one of our favorite design elements on this timepiece with its alternating brushed and polished areas and the tip ending in a cone shape that resembles a turbine. The crown is black as it is DLC treated and it is very easy to use and grip.

The sapphire crystal dial features bold Arabic numerals —limited edition RM016s come with an outlined hollow font instead of a solid bold one—, a vertical date aperture at 7 o'clock and sword-shaped hands with superluminova. The contrast between the white bold numbers and the black skeletonized movement is just stunning.

This watch is powered by the Richard Mille's automatic calibre 005-S with adjustable rotor geometry. As with any other Richard Mille, the display case back allows for full view of the movement that is a work of art and screams 'haute horlogerie'. Looking at this movement is something we can do for countless hours as it is just amazing.

Just as other Richard Mille watches we have featured here, this watch is extremely  comfortable and one that goes well with everything no matter what you are wearing. Additionally, this watch is one of the lightest watches we've ever perused and one of our favorite Richard Mille watches due to its understated look and versatility. 

Sticker Price $75,000 USD For more info on Richard Mille click here.   

News: Richard Mille Partners with Golfer Diana Luna and Lacoste Ladies Open Tournament.

Press Release

Richard Mille is moving into the world of women’s golf with the Italian champion Diana Luna and by becoming the Major Partner in the Lacoste Ladies Open tournament.

Richard Mille wished to support a technical feminine sport. He was impressed by the personality of Diana Luna, the RM family’s first women’s sporting partner, and by her promising career.

Number 1 in her country, proette since 2002 to the Ladies European Tour which she marked with 5 victories, the trans-alpine golfer has gone from strength to strength since her career took off. Her story begins in 2000, when she won four Italian championships and one European championship as part of a junior team. In 2004, she won her first title at the Tenerife Ladies Open, before going on to win two major tournaments in 2009 – the AIB Ladies Irish Open and the SAS Ladies Masters in Norway. That same year, she scored again, becoming the first Italian in the history of golf to qualify for the Solheim Cup European team. Victory came once more in 2011 at the Ladies German Open. During the competition, Diana Luna achieved a first in the history of women’s golf, playing 72 holes over four days with no bogeys. Again in 2011, she won the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open, before coming second the following year at the French Open —Lacoste Ladies Open. In her young career, 31 top 10 finishes, 5 victories on the European circuit, 5 victories in the PGA of Italy.

And on the green, an RM 007 Titanium graces the wrist of Diana Luna notably in the Lacoste Ladies Open held 26th to 29th of September. The Richard Mille brand will be for the first time the Major Partner of the French Ladies Open.

Golf is a sport of precision, technique, endurance and concentration. It is thus quite naturally that Richard Mille drew again the parallel with the calibers of extreme performance and wished to join the French Open that is held every year at the Golf of Chantaco in Saint Jean de Luz —France. Richard Mille will also be lending his name to the pre-tournament Pro-Am on the 25th of September. For the 3 days of the event, the 78 best European female players will be competing, with the winner taking home a ladies’ RM 007 Titanium watch, a one-off piece crafted with a white crown and white rubber strap, engraved with the ‘Lacoste Ladies Open 2013’ name tournament on the middle case.

Richard Mille has been eagerly ushered into the world of women’s sport, accompanied by one of Europe’s top female golfers. As with other sporting partnerships, this alliance will allow the watch company to test and develop a product that has been designed with adaptability under extreme conditions in mind. Diana Luna will work with Richard Mille engineers to develop a watch caliber with ergonomics, elegance and performance as key elements.

For more info click here.  

Experience: Hôtel Costes Red. As Parisian as Any Fragrance Gets.

If you consider yourself a real watchlifestyler, it is very likely that you love lounge music and especially the Hôtel Costes music collection mixed by Stéphane Pompougnac. This fantastic hotel is located in the epicenter of Paris along Rue St.-Honoré and around the corner from the Place Vendôme— right where the Richard Mille flagship boutique is located.  

If you are visiting Paris, make sure you stop by the Hôtel Costes at night and enjoy one of their amazing cocktails at their bar. Right around the corner, you'll stumble upon the Richard Mille boutique.

The Hôtel Costes Red fragrance is as Parisian as any cologne gets and is a perfect reflection of the Parisian lifestyle with notes of gin and tonic and exotic spices including coriander, white pepper and juniper berries amongst others. The red accents on the Richard Mille RM028 Americas Limited Edition Diver, inspired us to write about the Red fragrance.

The fragrance is very manly with similar notes to some of Tom Ford's fragrances with strong character. The most noticeable notes include rosewood, incense, musk, laurel and lavender. This fragrance is not only very unique and sophisticated but one that only a handful of watchlifestylers wear. It's refined scents are magnetic, virile and captivating. A perfect fragrance for a crazy night out.

Hôtel Costes Red Fragrance Sticker Price starts at 50,00 € —Richard Mille RM028 not included in the price.

Richard Mille RM028 Americas Limited Edition Sticker Price $82,000 USD.

For more info on the Hôtel Costes click here.

Macros: Richard Mille RM011 Felipe Massa Carbon. Even More Fascinating Under the Macro Lens.

One more time we are presenting you live pictures of another fantastic Richard Mille watch. This time, we decided to dust off our macro lens and take some very close and personal shots of the Richard Mille RM011 Felipe Massa Carbon. A watch that is already quite amazing, but even more fascinating under the macro lens.  

As you can see in these pictures, the attention to detail in every component and part of this watch is just remarkable. Looking at this watch is mesmerizing and thinking about the amount of work that went into it from beginning to completion is unfathomable.

The 50 mm ultra-light carbon composite case —weighing only 90 grams— has a very unique finish that can only be fully appreciated under a jeweler's loupe or a macroscopic camera lens. The open-worked dial, the movement, the hands and every single component in this watch is definitely product of the love for watchmaking. This level of perfection, can only be attained by the finest 'Haute Horlogerie' brands and Richard Mille is definitely one of them.    

Now, enjoy the watch eye-candy! 

The calibre inside this timepiece is the automatic RM011-S fly-back chronograph movement with centrally mounted hands for the minutes and seconds and hours/minutes chrono-register at 6 o'clock. The month is indicated between the 4 and 5 o'clock markers and the date indicator is located above the central pinion towards the 12 o'clock marker.

The calibre comes with adjustable rotor geometry and a power-reserve of approximately 55 hours. According to Richard Mille, the exclusive design of the calibre allows the rewinding of the mainspring to adapt to the user’s activity level. By adjusting the setting of the rib’s placement, the rotor’s inertia is modified to either speed up the winding process in the case of leisurely arm movements, or slow it down when sporting activities are performed. As a result, this invention allows the movement’s winding mechanism to be optimized and personalized to the owner’s lifestyle.

If you want something less than conventional to suit your busy lifestyle, the Richard Mille RM011 Felipe Massa is the perfect watch. 

Sticker Price $133,000 USD. For more info click here.