Lot Essay
Made in a highly exclusive limited edition of only 40 pieces for Japan, Richard Mille enthusiasts and collectors worldwide will immediately recognize the importance of this exceptional RM030 in white quartz TPT or ‘Thin-Ply Technology’.
In common with all Richard Mille’s timepieces, the advanced state-of-the-art technology harnessed in the manufacture of the RM030 is highly impressive. The case is made of a relatively new and groundbreaking ultra-lightweight material that was developed by Richard Mille for use in watchmaking. Called TPT (thin ply technology) quartz, it was first used in the RM27-02. Its strength and incredible lightness is unparalleled, composed of hundreds of layers of quartz interspersed with layers of NTPT carbon, the layers are fused together at 120 degrees Celsius at a pressure of 6 bars, the Carbon TPT® is then processed on a CNC machine at Richard Mille’s factory to form a case that is almost indestructible. Also resistant to extremes of temperature and magnetism, it is a near perfect sports watch.
The movement of the RM 030 has remarkable chronometric performance due to a major innovation with the development and inclusion of a new declutching rotor system. It had long been a goal for the brand to implement a continuation of the torque sensor that was already in use in Mille’s tourbillon watches.
An extraordinary technical challenge, the aim of this innovation was to combine automatic clutching and declutching control of the winding system with a torque sensor, and therefore ensuring the optimum degree of spring tension for the perfect supply of torque to the movement. Four years in development, the declutching system ingeniously automatically disconnects the winding barrel from the winding mechanism when the spring is fully wound with a power reserve of 50 hours. This allows both the movement and the oscillator to work with the best ratio of constant torque/power so that it provides the best possible chronometric performance. When the power reserve winds down to 40 hours, the rotor is automatically clutched and the watch starts the winding phase until the indicator reaches 50 hours again. An indicator at 12 o’clock tells the wearer whether the rotor is operating in winding phase (on) or is disengaged (off).
This limited edition for Japan, made in only 40 examples is a must-have for the serious collector of the unparalleled watches of Richard Mille.
In common with all Richard Mille’s timepieces, the advanced state-of-the-art technology harnessed in the manufacture of the RM030 is highly impressive. The case is made of a relatively new and groundbreaking ultra-lightweight material that was developed by Richard Mille for use in watchmaking. Called TPT (thin ply technology) quartz, it was first used in the RM27-02. Its strength and incredible lightness is unparalleled, composed of hundreds of layers of quartz interspersed with layers of NTPT carbon, the layers are fused together at 120 degrees Celsius at a pressure of 6 bars, the Carbon TPT® is then processed on a CNC machine at Richard Mille’s factory to form a case that is almost indestructible. Also resistant to extremes of temperature and magnetism, it is a near perfect sports watch.
The movement of the RM 030 has remarkable chronometric performance due to a major innovation with the development and inclusion of a new declutching rotor system. It had long been a goal for the brand to implement a continuation of the torque sensor that was already in use in Mille’s tourbillon watches.
An extraordinary technical challenge, the aim of this innovation was to combine automatic clutching and declutching control of the winding system with a torque sensor, and therefore ensuring the optimum degree of spring tension for the perfect supply of torque to the movement. Four years in development, the declutching system ingeniously automatically disconnects the winding barrel from the winding mechanism when the spring is fully wound with a power reserve of 50 hours. This allows both the movement and the oscillator to work with the best ratio of constant torque/power so that it provides the best possible chronometric performance. When the power reserve winds down to 40 hours, the rotor is automatically clutched and the watch starts the winding phase until the indicator reaches 50 hours again. An indicator at 12 o’clock tells the wearer whether the rotor is operating in winding phase (on) or is disengaged (off).
This limited edition for Japan, made in only 40 examples is a must-have for the serious collector of the unparalleled watches of Richard Mille.