Two 30-Piece Limited Editions Created for the Americas
Shadows descend on two new limited editions of Richard Mille’s RM 030 Automatic with Declutchable Rotor. With black DLC titanium comprising the case of the RM 030 Black Out and the caseband of the RM 030 Black Rose, this popular model is taking a dark turn.
The RM 030 Black Out is the darkest RM 030 made, featuring a black inner bezel, crown protector, numerals, and rubber strap with deployant buckle. Subtle red elements include the date aperture, seconds hand, winding indicator and power reserve.
The RM 030 Black Rose features a case back and bezel of red gold, plus a red crown protector, date aperture, winding indicator, power reserve, and hours, minutes and seconds hands. The numerals are white, and the watch is presented on a black rubber strap with deployant buckle to match the black DLC titanium caseband.
Inside the case of each RM 030 beats the novel caliber RMAR1, representing a further advancement in the world of automatic wristwatch design.
The winding of an automatic wristwatch is accomplished by a small turning rotor, silently driven as a result of the physical movements of the wearer. These rotations of the rotor provide energy to the winding barrel, which reaches its optimal point once it is fully wound. After this point, overwinding can easily occur and needs to be avoided. This is traditionally achieved through the use of a sliding flange that allows the spring to slip, thus avoiding the movement becoming overwound. However, this traditional system allows the build-up of harmful debris inside the winding barrel as the flange releases the excess energy of overwinding during longer periods, especially when a person is particularly active. This in turn can severely affect chronometric results.
To avoid such adverse conditions, Richard Mille took four years to develop the concept and the design of a rotor that declutches automatically. With this system, the winding barrel is automatically disconnected from the rotor’s winding mechanism at the moment when the spring is fully wound. Additionally, this new mechanism is linked to the power reserve indicator to provide an optimal winding control. This allows both the movement and the oscillator to work with the best ratio of constant torque/power to provide the best chronometric performance.
Richard Mille will produce 30 examples of the RM 030 Black Out, and 30 examples of the RM 030 Black Rose. The limited editions are available at authorized Richard Mille retailers in North and South America, as well as the Richard Mille Boutique Beverly Hills.
Technical Specifications of the RM 030 with Declutchable Rotor
- Dimensions: 50 mm x 42.70 mm x 13.95 mm
- Caliber RMAR1 automatic winding movement
- Power reserve circa 55 hours
- Declutchable and adjustable rotor geometry
- Winding indicator
- Date display
- Free sprung balance with variable inertia
- Double barrel
- Baseplate, bridges and balance cock made of titanium
- Torque limiting crown in titanium
- Balance: Glucydur, 4 arms
- Inertia moment 4.8 mg.cm2, angle of lift 53°
- Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Spline screws in grade 5 titanium for the bridges and the case
- Interior flanges in carbon fiber
- Baseplate and bridges in grade 5 titanium, wet sandblasted, Titalyt® treated
- Barrel bridges PVD coated
- Sapphire blasted and hand-drawn surfaces
