TIME AND INFINITE SPACE
RM 020 TOURBILLON POCKET WATCH
Manual winding tourbillon movement with hours, minutes, power-reserve and function indicators.
Circa 10 days (± 10%) supplied by two directly engaged winding barrels.
CARBON NANOFIBRE BASEPLATE
This is an isotropic composite material created from carbon nanofibres moulded under pressure of 7,500 N/cm2 at a temperature of 2,000˚C, resulting in a material with high mechanical, physical and chemical stability in all directions. The ribbed perimeter of the movement baseplate ensures the highest rigidity of the baseplate and bridges.
Carbon nanofibre composite structures such as this are amorphous, chemically neutral and dimensionally constant within a very wide range of operating temperatures, including those outside of normal experience. This stability ensures the greatest integrity of the movement’s going train under all conditions.
Grade 5 titanium is a biocompatible, highly corrosion-resistant and remarkably rigid alloy composed of 90% titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. This combination further increases the material’s mechanical properties, which explains its frequent use in the aerospace, aeronautics and automobile industries.
This material ensures high rigidity of the baseplate and the bridge assembly of the going train.
In a manner similar to a car’s gearbox, the function indicator make it possible to identify the winding, neutral and hand-setting positions as the crown is pulled out. Each position is indicated via a hand at 4 o’clock.
The free-sprung balance offers better reliability in the event of shocks or movement assembly and disassembly, and also guarantees better chronometric results over an extended period of time.
This permits better control of the torque applied to screws during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.
MOVEMENT CHARACTERISTICS
Movement dimensions: 42.20 x 42.20 mm
Thickness: 8.40 mm
Tourbillon diameter: 12.30 mm
Number of jewels: 28, set in white gold chatons
Balance wheel diameter: 9.12 mm
Balance: Glucydur®, 2 arms, 4 setting screws, moment of inertia 10 mg•cm2, angle of lift 53°
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
Balance spring: elinvar by Nivarox®
Shock protection: KIF Elastor KE 160 B28
Barrel shaft: nickel-free Chronifer® (DIN x 46 Cr 13 + S) with the following characteristics: stainless – antimagnetic – suitable for tempering
The RM 020, the only pocket watch in the Richard Mille collection, has a unique, slightly rectangular case housing its exceptional 10-day tourbillon movement, with the two bezels curving outwards in two directions. The creation of a case like this, including the front and back sapphire glass which offers an open view of all parts, is a veritable tour-de-force of Swiss casemaking in haute horlogerie. The case is assembled with 16 spline screws in grade 5 titanium and abrasion-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.
TORQUE LIMITING CROWN IN TITANIUM
The RM 020 crown is an exceptional component. It was manufactured by Cheval Frères, who have been in the business of specialist component watch parts for 165 years, and proved to be a real technical challenge. The chain, clasp, crown cover and stand require 580 separate operations, of which 140 are finishing operations and 126 control operations. There are no less than 189 component parts (27 parts in the crown, 20 in the crown cover, 16 in the clasp, 65 in the chain and 61 parts in the separate stand).
The added security of this crown prevents accidental overwinding of the watch, which can cause damage to the winding stem or place excess pressure on the barrel spring.
Finishing
Other features