TWO STEPS FORWARD
Richard Mille has been on a constant quest for per fection ever since introducing its first timepiece, the RM 001 Tourbillon, in 2001. Twenty years later the Swiss brand’s uncompromising approach to watchmaking has produced two new versions of its in- house automatic tourbillon calibres CRMT6 and CRMT5. The RM 74- 01 and RM 74- 02 In-House Automatic Tourbillons are both technically complex and visually striking thanks to their matching ultra-skeletonised hearts and the unique materials used for their cases.
The RM 74- 01, with the in-house CRMT6 calibre, features a grey Cermet bezel and base on top of a grade 5 titanium case. The unique material, which combines the lightness of titanium with the hardness of ceramic, required years of development by Richard Mille and microtechnology specialists IMI Group. It is remarkably resistant to corrosion and scratches – with a hardness that is comparable to that ofa diamond – making it particularly well suited for a case application. The grade 5 titanium caseband, bridges and baseplate complete the perfectly balanced three-section construction of the case.
The RM 74- 02, meanwhile, features the in- house CRMT5 calibre along with Gold Carbon TPT. Another high- tech material exclusive to Richard Mille in watchmaking, Gold Carbon TPT is the result of an unprecedented combination of Carbon TPT and gold leaf. The alternating layers – as seen in the matte black carbon with threads of 24- carat yellow gold – form an exceedingly light yet highly resistant material. Gold Carbon TPT’s unique play of light enhances the contours of the case, which has a red- gold caseband with polished pillars and a crown encircled with yellow gold.
The materials used for the baseplate and bridges on the RM 74- 01 are PVD- and electroplasma-treated grade 5 titanium while the RM 74- 02 features yellow and red gold. The skeletonised automatic-winding tourbillon movement, positioned at six o’clock, sits under the upper attachment bridge with a frame shaped to echo the curve of the case. A variable geometry- rotor has also been incorporated within both calibres, making it possible to set the rotor according to the owner’s activity level.
Other key features on both models include a 50-hour power reserve, free-sprung balance wheel with variable inertia, a fast-rotating barrel with five hours per revolution instead of 7.5, a special gear teeth profile that ensures a 20° pressure angle, and spline screws in grade 5 titanium for the bridges and case. The intricate detailing extends to the finishing of the calibres and case, with a combination of microblasting, satin polishing, rhodium plating, and hand polishing and bevelling – proving that a Richard Mille timepiece is just as much a work of art as it is a lesson in science and innovation.