SOPHISTICATED, REFINED, DARING
Skeletonised automatic-winding in-house movement
Hours, minutes, variable-geometry rotor, oversize date and function selector
Bridges and baseplate in grade 5 titanium
Power reserve: Circa 50 hours (± 10%)
Dimensions: 52.63 x 34.40 x 13.00 mm
At the slightest wrist movement, all eyes are riveted by a striking contrast between the sparkle of clear diamonds and the matt carbon contour that adorn both of these automatic timepieces.
Setting gemstones in Carbon TPT® is a new adventure for the brand. Unlike gold, which can be worked directly with tools to create the prongs that will hold the diamonds, the hardness and resistance of Carbon TPT® mean special CNC machines for milling equipped with diamond tools are required to perform the mitraillage involved in a pavé setting.
Hand-polished prongs in red or white gold are produced separately and then inserted around the many 0.25mm bearings destined to firmly contain as many as 250 diamonds in the case of an RM 037 Full Set model. The perfectly flush surface of each creation bears witness to an absolute mastery of this art.
MOVEMENT CHARACTERISTICS
Movement dimensions: 28.00 x 22.90 mm
Thickness: 5.79 mm
Number of jewels: 25
Balance: CuBe, 4 arms and 4 setting screws, moment of inertia 7.5 mg•cm2, angle of lift 50°
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Balance spring: AK3
Shock protection: INCABLOC 908.22.211.100 (transparent)
Escapement wheel jewels: Rubifix (transparent)
Semi-instantaneous, horizontally placed under 12 o’clock, functioning via two skeletonised calendar discs over a white field.
The function selector shows Richard Mille’s passion for mechanical innovation. A push-button makes it possible to select the winding, neutral and hand-setting functions with a simple push. A hand displays the selected function: W (Winding) – N (Neutral) – H (Hand Setting).
With this special gear system, stressful forces placed upon the crown are minimised, and any possible interference of the crown’s functions with the movement is made impossible.
Created from grade 5 titanium, red gold or white gold, with O-ring seal and collar in Alcryn®, this crown fully guarantees the integrity of the movement protecting the mechanism from external influences, since it does not use a classical crown attachment that penetrates to the movement’s heart.
The result is a crown that is virtually impossible to dislodge, yet is easily inserted and removed in the skillful hands of the watchmaker when needed; a longsighted view that is typical of the brand’s philosophy.
Finishing
Other features