With the exception of one watch the novelties from Richard Mille all took the familiar tonneau form. The top of the line addition to the collection is the RM038 Bubba Watson. Mr Watson, whose real name is a much less memorable Gerry, is a pro golfer who holds the distinction of being the longest driver on the PGA tour.
Naturally he required a watch he could wear while making his awesome drives, like Rafael Nadal needed a watch during a match.
When I first saw photos I thought this would be a tacky looking iPod-esque watch. But contrary to what I had expected, this watch has a high cool factor and the ultra-skimpy skeletonised movement is pleasingly constructed. The case of the RM038 is made of a magnesium aluminium alloy coated with ceramic giving it its pale colour, while the skeletonised tourbillon movement has titanium bridges. One of the most notable features of the watch is a titanium loop around the hands to ensure they don’t fall off when Bubba swings the club.
Going in another aesthetic direction is the RM026 tourbillon. Like the elegant Celtic Knot tourbillon, the RM026 also has an onyx base plate and is also designed as a ladies’ tourbillon. But taking the place of the mysterious loops of the Celtic Knot is a pair of serpents covered in gems; notice the red snake has its tongue flicking out. Each of the RM026 will be a unique piece with different stones. This one is certainly an acquired taste.
RM has also added two more entry level models to the collection, the RM029 and RM030. The RM029 is essentially an RM010 with an oversized date.
The RM030 on the other hand is a little more interesting. It has a power reserve indicator at nine o’clock, while at 12 o’clock there is an on-off display. The latter indicates whether the declutchable rotor is engaged; once the mainspring reaches 50 hours of power reserve the winding mechanism disengages and only reengages when the state of wind drops to 40 hours.
This watch is larger than the RM029 and RM010, instead it has the larger, more muscular case of the RM011. It also shares the oversized crown of the RM011.
And fitting like a round peg in a tonneau hole is the RM033 ultra-thin automatic. Though it bears design elements shared with other RM watches like the sapphire dial and openworked movement, it looks and feels like no other RM. Though I understand that a watch like that is needed to round out the collection, I still ask “Why?”
- SJX
This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2011-01-30 16:21:14