RM 69
A part of watchmaking history
Erotic timepieces are part of watchmaking history. Designers of yore played with the theme of libertinism by mechanically recreating suggestive scenes.
Because they broke with conservative moral, religious and political customs, these objects were often banned and confiscated. But like all forbidden love, their pleasure was enjoyed away from prying eyes. Thus by concealing the complications at the heart of watches in question, certain models have survived to this day.
On the RM 69, however, love and eroticism proclaim themselves proudly and clearly in words. Far from scenes brought to life by automatons, this creation plays on the desire to openly express passion, sensuality and even sexuality.
RM 69 Manual Winding Tourbillon erotic
CALIBRE RM69
Manual winding tourbillon movement with retractable hours and minutes, power-reserve indicator and ‘oracle‘ complication.
POWER RESERVE
Circa 69 hours (± 10%). The amount of power reserve is displayed in a aperture at 4 o’clock in the form of a gauge powered by a planetary differential.
BASEPLATE AND BRIDGES IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM
Grade 5 titanium is a biocompatible, highly corrosion-resistant and remarkably rigid alloy, which enables the gear train to function effortlessly. The alloy is 90% titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. This combination further increases its mechanical properties, which explains its frequent use in the aerospace, aeronautics and automobile industries.
The RM69 calibre features 505 components and 41 jewels, and is extremely compact thanks to its unique construction that enables the tourbillon and barrel to be aligned on the same axis.
The baseplate and bridges have been subjected to intensive and complete validation tests to optimise their resistance capacities.
ORACLE COMPLICATION
The RM 69 offers its wearers the pure pleasure of the new Richard Mille “Oracle” complication, a mechanism that sets off the rotation of three grade 5 titanium engraved rollers like Tibetan prayer wheels, displaying a random phrase.
A push-button located at 8 o’clock commands the hour and minute hands to momentarily retract and facilitate reading of the statements.
Activated on request by pressing a button at 10 o’clock, it plainly reveals the wearers’ deepest desires.
FREE-SPRUNG BALANCE WITH VARIABLE INERTIA
The free-sprung balance offers better reliability in the event of shocks, movement assembly or disassembly, and also guarantees better chronometric results over an extended period of time.
FAST-ROTATING BARREL
This type of barrel provides the following advantages:
• The phenomenon of periodic internal mainspring adhesion is significantly diminished, thereby increasing performance.
• Provision of an excellent mainspring delta curve with an ideal power reserve/performance and regularity ratio.
MOVEMENT CHARACTERISTICS
Movement dimensions: 32.80 x 30.90 mm
Thickness: 10.26 mm
Tourbillon diameter: 11.10 mm
Balance diameter: 10.00 mm
Number of jewels: 41
Balance: Glucydur, 2 arms and 4 setting screws Moment of inertia: 11.50 mg•cm2, angle of lift 53°
Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
Balance spring: elinvar by Nivarox®
Shock absorbers: KIF Elastor KE 160 B28
Barrel shafts: nickel-free Chronifer (DIN x 46 Cr13 + S), with the following characteristics: stainless - non-magnetic - suitable for tempering.
CASE
This tripartite tonneau-shaped case is fully curved, which enables the watch to be ergonomic and comfortable, but is time consuming to produce and requires a high level of quality control.
Both front and back curves are part of the Richard Mille watch case regardless of their shapes (tonneau, round, rectangular).
These curving bezels with their characteristic shape demand ultimate precision with no stress in the metal. These manufacturing specifications required a year of research and development.
Tooling takes 4 hours, and the RM 69 is obtained after 255 milling operations. The finishing process requires a full day
for grinding, glazing and polishing.
The tripartite case is water resistant to 50 metres, ensured by two Nitril O-ring seals. The case is assembled with 20 spline
screws in grade 5 titanium and abrasion resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.
TORQUE LIMITING CROWN
This additional security system prevents accidental overwinding, which could cause damage to the winding stem or put extreme pressure on the mainspring barrel.
Finishing
Movement
• Anglage and polishing by hand
• Locking sections hand polished
• Sapphire-blasted milled sections
• Lapped and polished contact points
• Burnished pivots
• PVD treatment
Steel parts
• Sapphire-blasted surfaces
• Satin-finished surfaces
• Anglage and polishing by hand
• Burnished sections
Wheels
• Concave chamfering with a diamond tool
• Circular-finished faces
• Rhodium plating (before cutting the teeth)
• Minimum correction applied to the wheels in order to preserve
geometry and performance
Other features
BARREL PAWL WITH PROGRESSIVE RECOIL
This device permits an appreciable winding gain (circa 20%), especially during the start of winding. It also aids in the even distribution of the mainspring’s internal tension.
WINDING-BARREL TEETH AND CENTRE-WHEEL PINION WITH CENTRAL INVOLUTE PROFILE
The central involute profile of the winding-barrel teeth provides an optimal pressure angle of 20°, which promotes effective rotary motion and compensates for possible variations in the operation of the going train. This, in turn, ensures excellent torque transmission and a distinct improvement in performance.
SPLINE SCREWS IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM FOR THE BRIDGES AND CASE
This permits better control of the torque applied to the screws during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.