For several years now, women have been taking up a new stance in watchmaking. While they continue to endorse gem-set watches, they are also increasingly fascinated by the complexity and technicality of watchmaking.
Always eager to please this demanding clientele, Richard Mille has created the new RM 07-02 Pink Lady Sapphire especially for them: an automatic calibre protected by a pink sapphire case.
The 1930s was an innovative period, when the famous Pink Lady drink for women was introduced. This balanced cocktail designed for female members of high society encapsulated a desire to modernize the rather chauvinist customs of clubs and their gentlemen clientele. In the same spirit that sparked the creation of this ladies' cocktail, the RM 07-02 Pink Lady Sapphire brings a feminine approach to technique, cloaking it in the pink tones of this renowned drink.
Crafted from sections of pink sapphire taken from a single block, the case of the RM 07-02 is extremely difficult to machine. Observing the manufacturing process of a pink sapphire case highlights the challenge its creation entails, from both an engineering and technical standpoint. There is no room for even a single cutting error. The case requires almost forty days of machining and finishing to meet the uncompromising specifications laid out by Richard Mille.
Numerous tests then follow to verify that the brand's resistance and comfort requirements have been met.Beneath its pink exterior, this original and ergonomic tripartite case reveals a unique automatic movement beating at its heart.
The new in-house CRMA5 calibre is assembled around a skeletonized plate in microblasted 5N gold set with diamonds. The same 5N gold is used for the flange and the bridges, whose hand-chamfered and hand-drawn angles and edges capture even more light at the heart of the caliber.
Like the RM collection, the RM 07-02 features exceptional technical characteristics such as hand-decorated and gem-set gold bridges, a variable inertia balance wheel designed to ensure optimum performance in the long term, and a variable geometry rotor in 18kt 5N red gold set with diamonds, which adapts the winding of the watch to the movements of the wearer. T
he central dial in onyx and diamonds, the crown in 5N red gold and the strap in white alligator skin add the perfect finishing touches to this exceptional creation.
Technical Specifications:
CALIBRE CRMA5: skeletonised automatic movement with hours, minutes and variablegeometry rotor. POWER RESERVE - Circa 50 hours (±10%).
BASEPLATE AND BRIDGES IN GEMSET 18K 5N RED GOLD
The baseplate and the bridges of the RM 07-02 are machined from 18K red gold microblasted and beveled by hand. The baseplate is decorated and set with hundreds of diamonds, an esthetic feat obtained through the long and delicate work of the gem-setter. The skeletonised baseplate and the bridges have been subjected to separate and extensive validation tests to insure
optimal strength requirements.
FREE SPRUNG BALANCE WITH VARIABLE INERTIA
This type of balance wheel represents the ultimate in innovation. It guarantees greater reliability when subjected to shocks 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.
GEMSET ROTOR WITH VARIABLE GEOMETRY
- Heavy external outside edge and heavy edge ring in 5N red gold
- Weight segment in heavy metal
- Ceramic ball bearing
- OneWay automatic winding system with ceramic ball bearings
- Bidirectional winding system
This rotor with variable geometry enables winding to be adjusted to the owner's activity level. Adjusting the two weights, which can be slid sideways into the correct position and fixed in place by spline screws, modifies the setting. Inertia of the movement is optimal when the two weights are closer to each other, and the barrel rewinds more quickly. If the weights are positioned at either end of the rotor, the inertia is considerably reduced, resulting in the barrel winding more slowly.
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 enhancing performance,
- Provision of an excellent mainspring delta curve with an ideal power reserve/performance and regularity ratio.
GEAR TEETH PROFILE
All the geartrains in the CRMA5 calibre have been optimised by a special profile developed for the teeth of the wheels to create a 20° pressure angle. This pressure angle facilitates the work of the ball bearings and equalizes any discrepancies that might arise between the axles of each wheel. These geartrains also promote excellent torque transmission and optimal efficiency.
SPLINE SCREWS IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM FOR THE MOVEMENT
Spline screws permit better control of the torque applied during assembly. They are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly and disassembly, and age well.
OTHER FEATURES
- Movement dimensions: 29.90 x 22.00 mm
- Thickness: 5.05 mm
- Number of jewels: 25
- Balance: CuBe, 4 arms, 4 setting screws, moment of inertia of 7.5 mg.cm2, 50º angle of lift
- Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Balance spring: AK 3
- Shock protection: INCABLOC 908.22.211.100 (transparent)
- Jewels in escape wheel: Rubifix (transparent)
FINISHING MOVEMENT
- Hand-polished beveling
- Microblasted milled sections
- Hand-polished sinks
- Drawn edges
STEEL PARTS
- Satin-finished upper surfaces
- Handpolished beveling
- Hand-polished sinks
- Drawn edges
PROFILE-TURNING
- Lapped and polished ends
- Burnished pivots
- Polished post faces
WHEELS
- Concave chamfering with a diamond tool
- Diamond-polished angles
- Circular-finished faces
- Rhodium-plating (before cutting the teeth)
CASE
The bezel, caseband and case back of the RM 07-02 are made from solid blocks of Pink Sapphire. Case Dimensions: 46.75 x 32.90 x 14.35 mm. Sapphire is known as a particularly scratch-resistant material with a hardness of 1800 Vickers. Created from crystals of aluminum oxide (Al2O3), its transparency is a result of the purity of composition.
Machining these components constitutes the biggest challenge ever faced by Richard Mille-- a challenge made all the more difficult as the sapphire machining process is exceptionally delicate.
Creating a case of this quality took over 40 days of machining, including 430 hours spent pre-forming the case components and 350 hours polishing the caseband/bezel/case back ensemble.
The case is assembled using 24 grade 5 titanium spline screws and abrasion-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel. The three-part case is water-resistant to 30 meters thanks to 2 Nitril O-ring seals.
SPLINE SCREWS IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM FOR THE CASE
The shape of these screws permits better control of the torque applied during assembly. They are thus unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly and disassembly, and age well.
UPPER FLANGE
In 5N gold, hour-markers filled with approved luminous material.
CRYSTAL
Bezel side: in sapphire (hardness of 1800 Vickers) with anti-glare treatment (on both sides).
Thickness: 2.30 mm
Case back: in sapphire with anti-glare treatment ( on both sides)
Thickness: 2.30 mm
Thanks.