Inspired by the sturdiness and high performance of Formula 1 cars, Richard Mille has come up with a new irresistible design for lovers of luxury watches. It is the RM 011 timepiece with flyback chronograph and variable geometry rotor.
The bezel and the caseback are crafted from a very resistant material called silicon nitride, and it is capable to withstand harsh temperature oscillations and corrosion. This lightweight but sturdy material is successfully used in the automotive industry for various engine parts, and this timepiece shows that it can also be utilized in the high-end watch making industry.
Silicone nitride is not an easy material to obtain, as a mere deviation in temperature of 10°C during the manufacturing process can significantly alter the final product, which must be treated at 1,500°C under a pressure of approximately 2,000 bars. Oh, and to machine the material, experts need to use diamonds tools.
To complete the design, Richard Mille used 18-carat rose gold and grade 5 titanium. The first was chosen for the case middle, the push pieces and the crown, while the letter was preferred for the push-piece guards. The watch is powered by an automatic caliber RMAC1 movement with 28,800 vibrations per hour and which sets into motion the seconds, minutes, hours, 60-minute countdown, flyback chronograph, annual calendar, and 12-hour totalizer.
