Richard Mille RM 07-01 Automatic Winding Coloured Ceramics

In the enchanting world of horology, Richard Mille has always been a maverick brand, synonymous with innovation, technical mastery, and the unexpected. Their newest collection, the RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics, magnificently epitomizes this ethos, offering a refreshing pop of playfulness that we didn’t know we needed. Thanks to their contrasting hues, shapes and materials that all make a serious statement about the idea of fun and light-heartedness, each of the three RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics variations are totally contemporary in every aspect of their approach.

The collection borrows inspiration from the 1980s Italian art and architecture movement Memphis Design, while underpinned by the fundamental Richard Mille trademarks of performance and innovation. Microblasted grade 5 titanium with an 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.

The bridges are also in grade 5 titanium, microblasted and electroplasma treated. The skeletonised baseplate and the bridges were subjected to separate and extensive validation tests to ensure optimal strength requirements.

A variable-geometry rotor has been incorporated into the calibre to makes it possible to effectively adapt rewinding of the mainspring to the user’s activity level. The setting can be modified by adjusting two weights that can be adjusted and fixed in place by spline screws. The inertia of the movement is increased when the two weights are closer to each other; the barrel then rewinds more quickly. If the weights are positioned at the extremities of the rotor, the inertia is decreased and the barrel winds more slowly.

Guillochage, an ancient decorative art form, finds its modern avatar in these watches. Typically reserved for vintage pieces, Richard Mille, with Cécile Guenat at the helm of creation, has revitalized it, adding a zesty twist. The RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramic models wear guillochage not as a nod to antiquity but as a declaration of modernity.

Diving deeper, the movement characteristics highlight the watch’s precision engineering. A balance of CuBe, a high frequency of 28,800 vph, and shock protection are just a few elements that make this timepiece a marvel. The Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal ceramic further bolsters the RM 07-01’s claim to fame. Combining incredible hardness, corrosion resistance, and a delectably low density, it offers a visual appeal that is as enduring as it is striking.

But the pièce de résistance is undoubtedly the case. Constructed from microblasted white gold and assembled with grade 5 titanium spline screws, it’s a masterpiece. With a water resistance of up to 50 metres, it promises functionality wrapped in elegance.  A real respect for watchmaking culture, an innovative approach to cutting-edge materials and pure technicity make this collection sailing definitively away from conventional watch designs.