At SIHH 2016, Richard Mille will be introducing its first extra thin tonneau wristwatch, the RM67-01 Automatic extra flat, with a new in house movement.
Richard Mille RM 67 for SIHH 2016
Leading up to the days of SIHH 2016, Richard Mille has announced that they would be unveiling the RM 67-01 Automatic Extra Flat. The RM67-01 will come in the now familiar Richard Mille tonneau (barrel in English) shape, but now created in extra flat form. It will be powered with the automatic movement CRMA6 of only 3.6mm in thickness and a platinum rotor with a power reserve of 50 hours.
RM67-01.
Richard Mille is well known for their extra thin watches (e.g. RM016 and RM033) and the latest RM67-01 which will be introduced during SIHH in 2016 is sitting at just 7.75mm high. It is also 38.7mm in diameter and with a length of 47mm.
The dial is skeletonized, and the dial construction is a new approach to direct the eyes from the edges of the bezel to the center of the dial. The numerals are new, and created from solid metal and mounted on two linked and rigid titanium rails attached directly to the movement. This is a novel approach and creates a sensation of depth, as each numeral is sculptured and filled with Luminova.
Located at 2 o’clock is the function indicator for the Winding, Date and Hand setting for the watch. A different function can be selected with each pull of the crown, and takes the guesswork out of which mode the watch is in for ease of winding, date or hand setting. The date display is located in an unusual location, which many may not notice at first glance, but is at 5 o’clock in a vertical aperture.
RM67-01 back showing the movement.
The automatic movement CRMA6 created for the RM67-01 is just 3.6mm thick, designed in house by the Richard Mille engineers in Les Breuleux. Both the base plate and bridges comes in grade 5 titanium, finished with gray and black electroplasma treatment. .
The slimmest Richard Mille would definitely be attracting stares come January 2016.
Richard Mille RM 67-01 Technical Specs
CALIBRE CRMA6: automatic skeletonised winding movement with hours, minutes, date and function indicator.
Dimensions : 38.70 x 47.52 x 7.75mm
MAIN FEATURES
POWER RESERVE
Circa 50 hours (±10%).
BASEPLATE AND BRIDGES IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM
Microblasted grade 5 titanium with gray electroplasma treatment gives great rigidity to the baseplate, as well as precise
surface flatness which is essential for the perfect functioning of the gear train. Bridges are also in grade 5 titanium,
microblasted and for the first time at Richard Mille, black electroplasma treated.
The skeletonised baseplate and the bridges were subjected to separate and extensive validation tests to ensure
optimal strength requirements.
DATE DISPLAY
Semi-instantaneous, placed in a vertical aperture at 5 o’clock.
FUNCTION INDICATOR
In a manner similar to a car’s gearbox, the function indicator allows one to see the winding, date setting and hand
setting positions as the crown is pulled out. Each position is indicated via a hand at 2 o’clock displaying the
following functions: W (Winding) – D (Date) – H (Hand setting).
FREE SPRUNG BALANCE WITH VARIABLE INERTIA
It guarantees greater reliability when subjected to shock and also during movement assembly and disassembly, hence
better chronometric results over time. The regulator index is eliminated and a more accurate and repeatable adjustment
is possible thanks to 4 small adjustable weights located directly on the balance.
ROTOR IN PLATINUM
By using a platinum rotor with the winding system OneWay® with ball bearings in ceramic, the barrel can be efficiently
wound while maintaining compact dimensions of the extra flat skeletonised movement.
FAST ROTATING BARREL (5 hours per revolution instead of 7.5 hours)
This type of barrel has the following advantages:
– The phenomenon of periodic internal mainspring adhesion is significantly diminished, thereby increasing performance,
– Provision of an excellent mainspring delta curve with an ideal power reserve/performance and regularity ratio.
DEVELOPED GEAR TEETH PROFILE
The entire going train of the watch, the primary transmitter of power throughout the movement, utilizes a special
profile for the teeth of the wheels. Developed specifically for the calibre CRMA6, the wheels use a 20° pressure angle.
This system equalizes any discrepancies that might arise between the centers of each wheel, for instance during thermal
changes and normal use, and promotes an excellent transmission of torque to the balance wheel, thus supporting
excellent chronometric characteristics.
SPLINE SCREWS IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM FOR THE BRIDGES
This permits better control of the torque applied to the screws during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected
by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.
OTHER FEATURES
– Movement dimensions: 29.10 x 31.25
– Thickness: 3.60 mm
– Jewels: 25
– Balance: CuBe, 4 arms, 4 setting screws, inertia of moment 7.5 mg.cm2, angle of lift 50º
– Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
– Balance spring: AK3
– Shock protection: INCABLOC 908.22.211.100 (transparent)
Editor’s note: Bryan Tan joins Deployant as an Editorial Intern with the view to join the Editorial Team soon. Bryan is young and very enthusiastic about watches, and is currently a student at Temasek Polytechnic majoring in Renewable Energy. We will be seeing more articles from Bryan, and the Editorial Team is pleased to welcome him.
