The RM 07-01 in red and white gold with open-link bracelet.
A sophisticated mechanical device and a core collection in the Richard Mille ladies’ collection, the RM 07-01 remains one of the brand’s most popular models to date.
The watch with a highly adaptable character is beautiful beyond outer aesthetics, housing Richard Mille’s second in-house calibre – the CRMA2 – a skeletonised automatic winding movement with hours, minutes and variable-geometry rotor.
Rooted in the many facets of the brand’s expertise, the variable-geometry rotor promotes optimal energy production based on the wearer’s activity level.
Microblasted grade 5 titanium with electroplasma treatment gives great rigidity to the baseplate, as well as precise surface flatness which is essential for the perfect functioning of the gear train.
Bridges are also in grade 5 titanium, microblasted and electroplasma treated.
The RM 07-01 houses the CRMA2, a skeletonised automatic winding movement with hours, minutes and variable-geometry rotor. — Photos: Richard Mille
The skeletonised baseplate and the bridges were subjected to separate and extensive validation tests to ensure optimal strength requirements.
Its type of balance wheel – free-sprung balance with variable inertia – represents the ultimate in innovation as it guarantees greater reliability when subjected to shocks and also during movement assembly and disassembly, hence better chronometric results over time.
The regulator index is eliminated and a more accurate and repeatable adjustment is possible thanks to four small adjustable weights located directly on the balance.
A fast-rotating barrel (five hours per revolution instead of 7.5 hours) has several advantages: the phenomenon of periodic internal mainspring adhesion is significantly diminished, thereby increasing performance; and provision of an excellent mainspring delta curve with an ideal power reserve/performance and regularity ratio.
Seen on the Intergalactic collection, Carbon TPT is an exclusive material with a unique damascene appearance.
The RM 07-01 uses variable geometry which allows the rotor to be set according to the owner’s activity level. The setting is modified by adjusting the two weights which can be moved into the correct position and fixed in place by spline screws.
When the two weights are closer to each other, the inertia of the movement is increased and the barrel then rewinds more quickly.
If the weights are positioned away from each other, the inertia is decreased, resulting in the barrel winding more slowly.
The entire going train of the watch, the primary transmitter of power throughout the movement, utilises a pressure angle of 20˚ for the teeth of the wheel, a system that equalises any discrepancies that might arise between the centre of each wheel, for instance during thermal changes and normal use, and promotes an excellent transmission of torque to the balance wheel, thus supporting excellent chronometric characteristics.
Perfect harmony
The CRMA2 calibre works in symbiosis with the emblematic barrel-shaped case, with the perfectly balanced proportions of this combination acting as a playground for new technical or precious materials, from red gold, white gold, Carbon TPT and Gold Carbon TPT, to ATZ white and TZP black ceramic.
At the centre of the gold dials, diamonds, black sapphires, jasper, onyx, mother of pearl or Carbon TPT stand proud, with some white and red gold pieces lifted by way of the snow setting.
An incredible amount of work goes into the creation of every facet of the watch.
Carbon TPT, a proprietary material of Richard Mille with exceptional physical properties, was originally developed for the sails of racing yachts, F1 car chassis and in aeronautics.
An exclusive material with a unique damascene appearance, Carbon TPT is composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fibres.
These layers, with a maximum thickness of 30 microns, are impregnated with matrix then woven on a special machine that modifies the direction of the weft by 45° between layers.
Heated to 120°C at a pressure of 6 bars, the Carbon TPT is then ready to be processed on a CNC machine at Richard Mille’s case factory.
The material improves the rate of occurrence of breaking stresses by 25% and of micro-cracks by 200% compared to other technically advanced forms of carbon material.
Two other TZP black and ATZ white ceramic models are also set with diamonds. Red gold prongs are individually manufactured and meticulously polished to hold the set diamonds on the ceramic itself.
The RM 07-01 collection that offers ladies options that are on the same level of technicity as the collections for men.
An incredible amount of work goes into the creation of every facet of the watch, for example, the bracelet of the RM 07-01 Starry Night (full Carbon TPT bracelet) took 15 months of development, with more than 360 components.
The setting of the diamonds is another involved process – each of the prongs are individually manufactured and meticulously polished to hold the diamonds on the ceramic.
The bracelet, more than a mere accessory, is the intimate bond between case and skin, with all options ensuring unrivalled comfort on the wrist while expressing a unique sense of style.
It fits snugly into the watch case for seamless integration within the fluid lines of the RM 07-01.
The full Carbon TPT bracelet of the RM 07-01 Starry Night took 15 months of development.
Ergonomics meet safety in a double deployment buckle, and each link is bead blasted, satin finished and polished.
Open link bracelets for this collection, developed by expert developers, come in three combinations: snow-set for both white and red gold and red gold with Carbon TPT.
With its ability to comply to individual demands and hopes, the RM 07-01 is a collection that offers ladies options that are on the same level of technicity as the collections for men, effortlessly modern and resolutely timeless.
