True to the Richard Mille spirit, grey Cermet is the fruit of painstaking research conducted by the brand, which is unrelenting in its commitment to the creation of new materials. This exclusive Richard Mille material in watchmaking combines the lightness of titanium and the hardness of diamond – Richard Mille RM 11-05 Automatic Flyback Chronograph GMT.
- Grey Cermet, Richard Mille’s new exclusive material
- The lightness of titanium meets the hardness of diamond
- Limited edition of 140 pieces
The construction of the automatic movement gives pride of place to titanium. Its functions notably include a GMT display that can be simply adjusted thanks to a pushpiece at 9 o’clock, a 24-hour flyback chronograph, and an annual calendar. The added grey Cermet is adapted to the pure aerodynamic lines of the iconic case, which measures 50 x 42.70 mm with a total thickness of 16.15mm.
The Cermet owes its unique grey colour to the combination of a metallic zirconium matrix with highperformance ceramic inserts. Its implementation required a degree of rigour commensurate with that needed to create the materials themselves. Heating and pressing together very different kinds of materials at a high temperature without altering their respective qualities was a challenge. It proved even more difficult to obtain a homogeneous whole, as nickel and cobalt, which are normally used in this family of hard materials, were excluded in order to adhere to REACH standards, which ensure safety in the production and use of chemicals in the European industry.
It took many years of development for Richard Mille and the IMI Group, specialising in microtechnology, to remove these undesirable binders and only retain suitable materials. The innovative procedure used for this solution pairs classic hot stamping with a series of powerful electrical current pulses to increase the sintering kinetics, a technique known as ‘flash sintering’.Its density of 4.1 g/cm3 – less than that of titanium – and its hardness of 2,360 Vickers – almost the same as diamond’s 2,400 Vickers – make Cermet a judicious choice for use in bezels that are very exposed to scratches, while maintaining overall lightness. Cermet’s physical properties are widely recognised, hence its frequent use in ballistic protection, external aerospace fuselage components, and in the brakes of competition vehicles. The combination of a Carbon TPT® caseband, a grade 5 titanium caseback and a grey Cermet bezel helps to significantly reduce the weight of the RM 11-05.
Limited to 140 pieces, the RM 11-05 Automatic Flyback Chronograph GMT will be available from July 2020.
Richard Mille RM 11-05 Automatic Flyback Chronograph GMT Technical Specifications
Limited edition of 140 pieces.
CALIBRE RMAC3: skeletonised automatic winding movement with hours, minutes, seconds at 3 o’clock, oversize date, month, flyback chronograph with minutes and countdown counters at 9 o’clock, hour counter at 6 o’clock, GMT function and variable-geometry rotor.
Case dimensions: 50.00 x 42.70 x 16.15 mm.
MAIN FEATURES
POWER RESERVE
- Circa 50 hours (±10%)
- Actual power reserve results will depend on the period of time the chronograph is utilised.
BASEPLATE AND BRIDGES MADE IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM
The baseplate and bridges are crafted of grade 5 titanium, a biocompatible, highly corrosion-resistant and remarkably rigid alloy, which enables the gear train to function effortlessly. The alloy is 90% grade 5 titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. This combination further increases the material’s mechanical properties, which explains its frequent use in the aerospace, aeronautics and automotive industries. The baseplate of the RMAC3 calibre has been optimised for an extremely low weight/resistance ratio.
The skeletonised baseplate and the bridges were subjected to intensive and complete validation tests to optimise their resistance capacities.
FLYBACK CHRONOGRAPH
By using the pusher between 4 and 5 o’clock, the running chronograph can be reset without first having to stop the mechanism. This was originally developed for pilots in order to not waste time (and therefore accuracy) from stopping, resetting and starting the chronograph whilst crossing a navigational point.
While the chronograph function is activated, the hours and minutes show up the elapsed time thanks to the counter at 6 and 9 o’clock, the seconds are indicated by the central hands.
Function
- The user can start or stop the chronograph function via the pusher located between 1 and 2 o’clock.
- The flyback function can be continuously reset by depressing the pusher located between 4 and 5 o’clock.
COUNTDOWN
Located at 9 o’clock, the hand is replaced by a skeletonised 60 minutes-marked disc. The user can read minutes elapsed but also remaining minutes.
GMT FUNCTION
The RM 11-05 features a GMT hand filled with Super-LumiNova. It can be easily adjusted using the pusher at 9 o’clock.
OVERSIZE DATE DISPLAY
Semi-instantaneous, placed in a red outlined horizontal aperture under 12 o’clock with automatic adjustment for months of 30 or 31 days.
MONTH DISPLAY
Semi-instantaneous indicated by Arabic numerals, placed between 4 and 5 o’clock.
FREE-SPRUNG BALANCE WITH VARIABLE INERTIA
This type of balance wheel represents the ultimate in innovation. It guarantees greater reliability when subjected to shock 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.
ROTOR WITH VARIABLE GEOMETRY
- Central flange in grade 5 titanium
- 18K white gold weight segment
- Weight segment with 6 possible positions adjusted by screws in grade 5 titanium
- 18K white gold wings
- Ceramic ball bearings
- Unidirectional anti-clockwise winding
This exclusive Richard Mille design allows the rewinding of the mainspring to be adapted most effectively to the user’s activity level whether it be sporting or non-sporting environments. By adjusting the setting of the rib’s placement, the rotor’s inertia is modified to either speed up the winding process in the case of leisurely arm movements or slow it down when sporting activities are pursued. As a result, this invention allows the movement’s winding mechanism to be optimized and personalized to the owner’s lifestyle.
DOUBLE BARREL SYSTEM
The double-barrel system contributes to the torque stability over a longer period. This is achieved by using more rotations of the barrel, thereby reducing pressure and wear on the teeth, bearings and pivots, hence an improved long-term performance.
SPLINE SCREWS IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM FOR THE MOVEMENT AND CASE
This permits better control of the torque applied to the screws during assembly.
These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.
OTHER FEATURES
- Movement dimensions: 30.25 x 38.45 mm
- Thickness: 9.00 mm
- Jewels: 68
- Barrel arbour: AP 20 steel
- Balance: Glucydur®, 4 arms, the moment of inertia 4.8 mg•cm2, angle of lift 53º
- Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
- Balance spring: Elinvar by Nivarox®
- Index assembly: Triovis n° 2
- Shock protection: INCABLOC 908.22.211.100 (transparent)
- Escapement wheel jewels: Rubifix (transparent)
- Three-position winding stem: Manual winding, date adjustment, hand setting
CASE
Front bezel in grey Cermet, caseband in Carbon TPT® and caseback in grade 5 titanium.
An all-new material exclusive in watchmaking to Richard Mille, grey Cermet combines the lightness of titanium with the hardness of a ceramic. It consists of a metallic zirconium matrix associated with high-performance ceramic that gives the material its singular grey colour. The production process is no less extreme than the material itself. Heating and forming such different materials together at high temperatures without adulterating their respective qualities and achieving a homogenous material is no mean feat, and one rendered all the more difficult as the composition eschews the nickel and cobalt generally used in this family of hard materials. The material is fully REACH compliant.
After years of development in specialised laboratories, Richard Mille and the Groupe IMI have succeeded in eliminating these unwanted binders, conserving only the desirable materials thanks to an innovative process that combines conventional hot-stamping associated with a series of bursts of high-voltage electrical current that make it possible to augment the kinetics of the sintering. The technique is known as flash sintering.
Cermet’s physical properties are widely recognised, hence its frequent use in ballistic protections and in aerospace for re-entry shuttle components, exterior fuselage pieces and in the brakes on competition vehicles. Cermet has a mass to volume ratio of 4.1 g/cm3 and a hardness of 2,360 Vickers, comparable to other performance high-ceramic making it eminently suitable for use in bezels, an area highly vulnerable to scratches, while ensuring that entire assembly is light in weight.
This bezel is affixed to a caseband made of Carbon TPT®, which also contributes to lowering total weight. This high-tech material is made up of 600 layers of parallel filaments obtained by separating out carbon fibres. The layers, no more than 30 microns thick, are impregnated with a black matrix. They are then assembled on a dedicated machine, which stacks the layers, varying the orientation of the fibres by 45° between each one. The composite is then heated to 120°C at a pressure of 6 bars in a kiln similar to that used for the production of aeronautics parts, after which it is ready to be machined at Richard Mille. The caseback is in grade 5 titanium. The combination of these materials helps to significantly reduce the weight of the watch.
The complete case construction is water-resistant to 50 metres thanks to two Nitrile O-ring seals and is assembled using 20 spline screws in grade 5 titanium and 316L stainless steel washers.
FLANGES
In carbon fibre filled with an approved luminescent material.
CROWN
In grade 5 titanium, micro-blasted with double seal O ring and collar in Alcryn®.
DIAL
In sapphire (thickness: 0.40 mm) with anti-glare treatment (2 sides), protected by 8 silicon braces inserted in the upper and lower flanges grooves.
CRYSTAL
Bezel side: in sapphire (1800 Vickers) with anti-glare treatment (2 sides).
Thickness: 1.50 mm
Case-back: in sapphire with anti-glare treatment (2 sides)
Thickness: at the centre 1.20 mm and outer edges 2.04 mm
FINISHING
MOVEMENT
- Baseplate and bridges in titanium, wet sandblasted, PVD treated
- Anglage and polishing by hand
- Locking sections hand polished
- Burnished pivots
- Diamond-polished sinks
- Pinions with undercuts
- Sandblasted and rhodium-plated, bevelled wheels
STEEL PARTS
- Sapphire-blasted surfaces
- Anglage and polishing by hand
- Screw slot and screws bevelled and polished with rounded and polished tip
WHEELS
- Concave chamfering with a diamond tool
- Circular-decorated faces
- Rhodium plating (before cutting the teeth)
- Minimal corrections applied to the wheels in order to preserve geometry and performance
