Following the success of RM 011 special editions created exclusively for North and South America in 2009, Richard Mille introduces the first limited edition of 2010 for the hemisphere: RM 011 DLC Titanium Orange.The new timepiece features the flyback chronograph functions that are essential to athletes and sports fans alike. Felipe Massa, private test driver for Richard Mille, Le Mans Classic and the Olympics have been sources of inspiration for previous models of the RM 011. This new limited edition, which is available at Richard Mille retail locations beginning this month, debuts in time for the start of another world class sporting event. When the 2010 World Cup commences in June, eight national teams from North and South America will be among the world’s 32 best soccer teams vying for the championship trophy.

Some of the RM 011’s main features, which include major technical innovations, are its skeletonized automatic winding movement with adjustable rotor geometry; 60-minute countdown timer; 12-hour totalizer; annual calendar; and oversize date and month. This limited edition’s vivid orange indicators, crown and inner bezel create an eye-catching effect against the deep black surroundings of the DLC titanium tripartite case.

The 30-piece limited edition embodies the historic synergy between timekeeping and sports, and Richard Mille’s commitment to precision performance.

Technical specifications

- Skeletonized automatic winding movement
- Dimensions: 50.00 mm X 40.00 mm X 16.15 mm
- Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, month display between 4 and 5 o’clock, oversize date display
at 12 o’clock, flyback chronograph, annual calendar, 60-minute countdown timer, 12-hour totalizer
- Rotor with variable geometry
- Power reserve: 55 hours (without chronograph running)
- Water resistant to 50 meters
- Limited edition of 30 pieces
- U.S. retail price: $90,000

Source: Richard Mille, Worldtempus

Richard Mille just signed a partnership agreement with professional tennis player Rafael Nadal. To commemorate their relationship, Rafal Nadal worked closely with Richard Mille to develop a tourbillon watch that would be light enough for him to wear while playing tennis.

The result is a new 50 piece limited edition RM027 watch, which weights less than 13 grams, including the strap. The most interesting part of this partnership, though, is that Rafael Nadal will wear his $525,000 Richard Mille tourbillon during his matches.The price is $525,000

Source: Richard Mille

At the start of 2009, Richard Mille released the RM 025 Diver’s Watch, an extremely high-tech tourbillon chronograph with a carbon nanofiber baseplate and water resistant to 300 meters.

But the impressive list of attributes grew even longer when the model was given a new strap, made of perfluoroelastomer Kalrez*. This material is ideal for environments such as pharmaceutical industry, aerospace and aeraunautics environments requiring a superior degree of purity. Kalrez effectively reduces absorption, desorption and products of extraction, ensuring minimal contamination.

In fact, the perfluoroelastomer Kalrez strap provides almost total chemical resistance, maintaining its properties at temperatures up to 327°C.

Likewise, the strap ’s composition allows for optimal watertight protection, synonymous with longevity, as well as negligible residual deformation, which gives Kalrez pieces their resistance to the extreme pressures imposed by deep-sea conditions. But the strap of the RM 025 is just as resilient to the pressures of daily life, unlike traditional rubber straps which are notoriously weakened by heat, UV light, chemical agents such as cleaning products and bleach, even pollution.

The strap is manufactured by Biwi SA, a Swiss firm specialising in the moulding of high-precision vulcanised elastomers like rubber and silicone, as well as technical plastics used in the manufacture of watchmaking components and medical parts.

Use of Kalrez® material for this strap is the result of an exclusive association between the makers of Kalrez, DuPont Performance Elastomers, and Biwi SA.

The RM 025 Diver’s Watch also comes with a rotating bezel and micro-injection moulded pushers, made from a patented Vulcamix® process of injection and finishing which results in an exceptionally crafted, pleasing-to-the-touch mechanism. The patent for this technique was registered by Biwi SA in Glovelier.

Founded in the 1980’s, BIWI SA currently has 200 employees. Biwi SA specialises in the transformation of polymer materials for the manufacturing of plastic parts, rubber and silicone. Its activities have diversified over the years, and the company now extends its processes to the personalisation of identity and bank cards.

*Kalrez® perfluoroelastomer parts is a registered trademark of DuPont Performance Elastomers and is used under license by BIWI S.A., manufacturer and distributor of this item.

Source: Worldtempus

Richard Mille first teased the diver watch loving world with the RM 25 tourbillon diver watch. While the timepiece was ultra impressive, it was also ultra impractical. Now they release a new diver’s watch that is more akin to something you might wear more often, but still requiring a large budget.

This is the RM 28 Diver and represent a more simple dial design that I feel is actually more satisfying. Richard Mille timepieces are easily among the many brands that need to be seen in person to appreciate. The photos just don’t do them justice, but at least you get a good idea of what the timepieces are all about.

The RM 28 is a bit smaller than the RM 25, being “only” 47mm wide in a titanium and rubber case. It is water resistant to 300 meters an has a hefty sized rotating diver’s bezel. With a dial design the reminds me of Seiko dive watches on steroids, the watch is much easier to read that most Richard Mille watches, and has their cool vertical date window. The case is held together with a series of 22 torque screws.

The movement is skeletonized and an automatic. It features a “variable winding level” which means that you can adjust how hard you need to move your wrist to get the watch to wind a certain amount. This is partially gimmicky, but an interesting concept. For example, Richard Mille expect you to adjust the watch if you are sitting at a help (easy winding), versus swinging a hammer around (tough winding). The winding level is set via adjustment done by 18k white gold pusher wings on the case. While a novelty, the idea is to get the owner more involved with the operation of the watch. Overall I like the bold looks, large hands, a fun character that Richard Mille brings to the “diver watch” plate.

For 2009, a long awaited addition to the ladies’ collection at Richard Mile watches has become a reality with the presentation of the RM019 “Celtic Knot” Ladies’ Tourbillon wrist watch. The first and most striking feature of this new creation is the diamond studded Celtic Knot that traverses and weaves itself over and through various parts of the movement, connecting and joining winding barrel, power reserve indicator and tourbillon in an endless cycle. The hour and minute hands are striking in their asymmetrical placement within the flowing lines of this Celtic Knot pattern.

Dating back to about the 5th century, the Celtic Knot, also referred to as the mystic or endless knot, suggests that in life there are neither beginnings nor endings, consequently reminding us of the timeless nature of the spirit. With its unlimited and returning pathway, the Celtic knot symbolizes an uninterrupted life; it is both an emblem of longevity and the never-ending cycle of our existence.

Keeping with the technical nature of all watches created by the brand, the RM019 utilizes a newly developed power reserve indicator that makes use of a differential gearing system, directly connected to the winding barrel. Via a red line etched on its surface, the direct turning of the power reserve barrel allows the wearer to easily note if the watch requires winding. The RM 019 “Celtic Knot” Ladies’ Tourbillon will be available in 18 carat red or white gold cases, finished with a specially sculpted, Alcryn collared crown.

Richard Mille and Felipe Massa continue their close collaboration with the presentation of a new limited edition models bearing the name of the brand’s Formula 1 “private test driver”. The Felipe Massa RM 004-V2 in an edition of 40 pieces. Both watches sport the colours of the Brazilian flag on the inner bezel as well as a red collared crown.

CALIBER RM 004-V2 FELIPE MASSA:

Manual winding movement with chronograph, split-seconds, hours, minutes, running seconds, 30-minute totalizer, power reserve, torque indicator, function indicator.

Limited Edition of 40 pieces: 25 in 18ct red gold, 10 in 18ct white gold and 5 in titanium.