Richard Mille’s Tim Malachard on creating exquisite women timepieces;

Tim Malachard, International Marketing Director for Richard Mille, talks about the creation of exquisite women’s watches

Characterised by a unique mix of beauty, intelligence, and sophistication, the modern woman easily balances a dynamic career with an equally dynamic lifestyle. For the skilled artisans at Swiss watchmaker Richard Mille, this serves as an inspiration for the creation of its latest line of ladies’ watches.

According to Richard Mille international marketing director Tim Malachard, the creation and development of women’s watches involves a discipline of its own. “[Our] women’s watches are more than just versions of the pieces that we create for men,” he explains. “They include their own developments, materials, and unique features.”

One particular example is the RM 07-01. Crafted with modern living in mind, this watch embodies the synthesis between classic elegance and technological innovation. The same can be said of the RM 037 Ladies, a feminised take on the original unisex RM 037 wristwatch.

“If we look at these signature pieces, these are powered by the brand’s calibres and entirely developed in our workshops in the Swiss Jura,” Malachard says.

For the RM 07-01, artisans developed the CRMA 2, a highly skeletonised automatic movement with baseplate and bridges all machined from grade 5 titanium. It also features a patented crown construction that is no longer directly connected to the interior of the movement, making it more durable and able to withstand the rigors of an active lifestyle. The RM 037 features a similar movement and has a large date at 12 o’clock created from two skeletonised rotating discs, and a function selector that allows the wearer to choose from Winding, Neutral, and Handsetting without having to pull the crown in different positions.

But these functional innovations are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these watches. Their appeal also involves intricate craftsmanship that results in a stunning, strikingly feminine aesthetic as seen in numerous pieces conceptualised by Cécile Guenat, Richard Mille’s technical director for jewellery making.

“[She] conceives and implements the design of exceptional pieces equipped with tourbillons decorated with exclusive materials, curved cases, and sophisticated patterns,” he says.

With its emphasis on innovation with regard to functionality and design, it does not come as a surprise that Richard Mille continues to push the boundaries of the art of watchmaking. Indeed, as Malachard puts it, the best is yet to come.

“We have some fantastic projects in the pipeline,” he says. “And we can confirm that the second half of 2018 will be a turning point for our women’s watches.”