Richard Mille unveiled its first in-house designed and manufactured chronograph today in Les Breuleux, Switzerland.
The Richard Mille RM 72-01 In-House Chronograph is being marketed as a unisex watch and is available in four case materials: titanium, 18K red gold, black ceramic, and white ceramic.
Fitted with the new manufacture caliber, the case of the RM 72-01 measures 38.40 mm x 11.68 mm, and the 4Hz automatic caliber CRMC1 measures 29.10 mm x 6.05 mm. The movement has 425 components, 39 jewels, a free-sprung balance wheel, and a 50-hour power reserve.
Interesting to note, “This new type of flyback chronograph, patented by Richard Mille, splits the torque between the chronograph’s various counters. The display and the connection to the minutes and hours are disengaged from the chronograph seconds wheel.
The performance of this chronograph is superlative. Drawing power directly from the barrel to supply the chronograph’s three counters, this heightened energy is transmitted to the chronograph train by a coupling system consisting of two oscillating pinions mounted on rockers. Controlling the start, stop, flyback, and reset functions, in particular, these rockers are activated by a 6-column wheel, the construction of which optimizes the simultaneousness of actions and the proper latching of functions, whilst ensuring the longevity of the settings,” according to Richard Mille.
This system has a unique double-clutch for the chronograph, where the pinion can enmesh or withdraw from the gear teeth and is thinner than the standard vertical clutch used in most high-end chronographs — this design means there’s almost no negative impact on the power reserve while the chrono is being used.
Unlike many chronographs, which display 60-seconds, 30-minutes, and 12-hours — this chronograph has the familiar 60-second counter that uses the main dial and center chronograph seconds hand, but it also has a full 60-minute counter, as well as an hour counter that goes all the way up to 24-hours. Plus, it’s a flyback chronograph, which means it can be restarted without stopping it first.
Of course, the finishing is done to the highest level considering the price. The front and back are protected by curved sapphire glass and secured by grade 5 titanium spline screws. Water-resistance is 30 meters.
Like all Richard Mille watches, the dial is unusual, and in this case only has Arabic numerals at 11, 3, 8, with the rest marked by triangular indices. The subdials are also asymmetrical which further differentiates the look of this in-house chronograph dial. The dial is highly skeletonized and the red-tipped center chronograph seconds hand has a knife-shaped counterweight that visually sets apart the dial. Even the date, which is presented in a vertically stacked aperture, is non-standard. And being that Richard Mille customers tend to be anything but standard — this is a good thing.
Retail is $188,000. Learn more at Richard Mille.
