Our most complex automatic movement
Richard Mille’s relentless pursuit of the latest achievement of innovation, the latest RM 65-01, is a highly complex sports timepiece, a masterpiece of superb technology designed for daily use and various situations .
After about five years of development, this automatic chronograph is the most complicated timepiece ever built in the Richard Mille workshop. This model fully embodies the brand’s technical approach, thanks to a number of additional functions, a very special structure and high aesthetic value. All in all, the great challenge of mechanical watchmaking requires patience, skill and absolute perseverance.
RM 65-01 automatic minute and second chronograph
Movement RMAC4
Skeleton automatic movement, hour, minute and second at 6 o’clock, date, second chronograph, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 9 o’clock, function selector, fast winding and Variable function geometry rotor.
Power reserve
About 60 hours (±10%).
The actual power reserve result will depend on the usage of the timer function.
Base and bridge made of grade 5 titanium
The bottom plate and bridge frame are made of grade 5 titanium alloy, which is biocompatible, highly corrosion-resistant and very hard, allowing the gear train to operate easily. The alloy is 90% grade 5 titanium, 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium. This combination further improves the mechanical properties of the material, which explains its frequent use in the aerospace, aviation and automotive industries. The bottom plate of the RMAC4 movement has been optimized to achieve a very low weight/resistance ratio.
The skeletonized bottom plate and bridge undergo rigorous and complete verification tests to optimize their resistance capacity.
Chronograph
The movement adopts a modern architecture, and its various components can be arranged in a consistent and reasonable manner, avoid unnecessary overlap, and achieve the best use of functions with the help of technical solutions.
The RMAC4 movement is equipped with the latest generation of second hand mechanism developed by Richard Mille’s engineers. The 6-column wheels ensure the best synchronized movement, maximum functional locking and greater adjustment durability.
The chronograph has also undergone a series of relentless tests to prove its correct function in any situation, from shock and drop simulation to a 10-year accelerated aging phase that accelerates all its functions, to water resistance and magnetic field resistance tests.
Fast winding mechanism
In addition to automatic winding and crown winding, a fast winding mechanism has also been developed. In case the watch stops, it can quickly reposition the barrel. By pressing the button at 8 o’clock, the barrel can be completely reset. If the watch is not worn for a long time, this function is very suitable for quickly repositioning the watch.
Engineers at replica Richard Mille described this highly practical feature as “very fun”, which is particularly difficult to develop due to its high level of torque transmission. During the burn-in test, this function was activated thousands of times.
Date display
Half instant, located in the vertical hole at 11 o’clock.
Function selector
RM 65-01 uses a highly professional gearbox design for winding, date and hand setting functions. To switch back and forth between these different functions, use the button located in the center of the crown until the desired function is selected.
The hand at 4 o’clock will indicate N, D or H accordingly.
High frequency balance with variable inertia
The fast-bounce free spring balance wheel bounces at a frequency of 5Hz (36,000 vph), which provides higher reliability in the event of vibration, assembly and disassembly of the movement, and also ensures longer timing results, thereby maintaining more accuracy time. Richard Mille’s new balance wheel can accurately measure to 1/10 of a second, which is very suitable for second hand chronographs under sports conditions.
Elimination of the adjuster indexing, and because of the 4 small adjustable weights directly on the balance, more accurate and repeatable adjustments can be made.
Variable geometry rotor
RM 65-01 uses a newly designed variable geometry to optimize the winding movement of the rotor.
Richard Mille’s unique design allows it to effectively adapt the winding mechanism to the user’s activity level in sports or non-sports environments.
By adjusting the 3-position weight, the inertia of the rotor can be changed to speed up the winding process during leisurely arm movements, or to reduce its rotation speed during sports activities. This invention allows the winding mechanism of the movement to be optimized and personalized according to the owner’s lifestyle.
Sports characteristics Movement size: 31.78 x 29.98 mm
Thickness: 8.69 mm
Gems: 51
Balance: Glucydur®, 4 arms, moment of inertia 7.5 mg•cm2, elevation angle 53°
Frequency: 36,000 vph (5 Hz)
Hairspring: AK3
Index component: Triovis n°2
Sports charm
Carbon TPT® packaging
Carbon TPT® is almost indestructible and has excellent physical properties, making the lighter case with ideal shock resistance.
Carbon TPT® consists of more than 600 layers of parallel filaments, which are obtained by separating carbon filaments. The CarbonTPT® layer has a maximum thickness of 30 microns, which is impregnated by the matrix and then compiled on a special machine that changes the fiber direction between each layer by 45°. Once it is heated to 120°C and subjected to a pressure of 6 bar, CarbonTPT® is processed at Richard Mille’s factory.
CarbonTPT® is known for its excellent resistance to microcracks and cracks.
With the help of two Nitrile O-rings, the entire housing structure is waterproof to 50 meters, and is installed in grade 5 titanium alloy and 316L stainless steel washers using 20 spline screws.