Richard Mille RM 031 High Performance

Richard Mille RM 031 HIGH PERFORMANCE

The concept of performance, whether chronometric or technical, has been an obsession at Richard Mille ever since the brand was founded in 2001. It recurs in each of its designs, developments and creations.

 

Innovation, original concepts and the use of new, increasingly high level performance materials have enabled the creation of some truly outstanding pieces, such as the RM 015 Perini Navi with its subtle representation of the nautical world, the RM 025 with its tourbillon chronograph movement that is water-resistant to 300 meters, or the more recent RM 050 Felipe Massa tourbillon split seconds chronograph, one of the most complex movements of its kind in the market.

 

With the RM 031 High Performance, Richard Mille decided to create a very orthodox product, a watch set firmly in the realm of Haute Horlogerie and its associated expertise, which simultaneously combines great purity of line with components offering exceptional performance. All experience gained over the last few years have been combined in the elaboration of this extremely precise watch.

 

The caliber RM031 is equipped with an AP direct-impulse escapement. Developed by APR&P for Audemars Piguet , this new escapement represents a subtle combination of a detent escapement and a Swiss anchor escapemen. The AP escapement provides an improved chronometric results thanks to the direct action of the escapement wheel on the balance wheel in contrast to a Swiss anchor escapement in which the anchor acts directly on the escape wheel.

The AP escapement beats at 36000 vibrations per hour and is fitted with two Elinvar spirals that are set in opposite directions. It delivers a well improved efficiency. A dart is specifically designed for this kind of escapement, which prevents any overbanking. The objective is achieved: this high-demanding design caliber reaches a chronometric variation of only 0 to 30 sec per month.

 

To ensure the excellent transmission of the power released by the double barrels, all the wheels of the movement have been optimized by a special profile or the teeth with a pressure angle of 20°. This feature, inspired by automobile transmissions, produces long, continuous transfer of power along the entire going trains of the High Performance escapement.

 

The baseplate and bridges are machined from ARCAP, a material used for the first time in watchmaking in the Richard Mille caliber RM002. ARCAP is renowned for its physical characteristics, which include corrosion-resistance and anti-magnetic properties. These qualities explain its frequent use in the aerospace, automobile and advanced electronics industries.

 

These superlative technical characteristics are combined with outstanding hand-finishing operations. Many hours of work are required to produce each of the movement's components, perfectly exemplified by the microblasted baseplate and escapement-holder, the polished, microblasted, beveled and circular-grained wheels, the burnished sections, or the soft-polished escapement bridges.

 

The new round case (50 mm x 13.90 mm) is made in four parts according to an exceptionally complex design, and has been chamfered, polished and brushed for a unique finish. Lastly, in a perfect demonstration of the attention devoted to every detail, the lugs are carefully designed to extend the lines of the case while following the curve of the strap.

 

The RM 031 is available in a limited edition of 10 platinum pieces.

 

 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE RICHARD MILLE RM 031

HIGH PERFORMANCE CALIBER

 

Limited edition of 10 pieces in platinum.

 

CALIBER RM031: manual-winding mechanical movement with hours, minutes, small seconds and function indicator.

 

Diameter: 50.00 mm x 13.90mm

 

 

MAIN FEATURES

 

POWER RESERVE

Circa 50 hours.

 

BASEPLATE AND GEAR-TRAIN BRIDGES IN ARCAP

Used for the first time on the RM 002, ARCAP is a material that is renowned for its physical characteristics. With its antimagnetic properties and density of just 8.90 g/cm3, ARCAP is almost completely insensitive to large temperature variations and corrosion. These qualities explain why ARCAP is frequently used in the aeronautical, automobile and advanced electronics industries. Another of ARCAP's ideal characteristics for fine watchmaking is its propensity to accept extreme finishing with inimitable results.

 

BARREL AND BALANCE BRIDGE IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM

These components are made from grade 5 titanium treated with a black PVD coating, which gives the whole structure great rigidity and excellent surface flatness, both essential to the perfect functioning of the gear train.

 

The caliber RM 031 possesses the most advanced regulating mechanism in existence today. Equipped with a variable-inertia balance wheel and a direct-impulse escapement, the RM 031 High Performance guarantees an extraordinarily regular going rate. The movement has a variation of between 0 and 30 seconds per month, offering an accuracy that is four times superior to that of current movements.

 

FUNCTION INDICATOR

In a manner similar to a car's gearbox, the function indicator allows one to see the winding, neutral and hand setting positions as the crown is pulled out. Each position is indicated via a hand at 5 o'clock displaying the following functions: W (Winding) – N (Neutral) – H (Hands).

 

BALANCE WHEEL WITH VARIABLE INERTIA

The free sprung barrel of the caliber RM031 is especially created for Richard Mille and guarantees optimal output in the RM 031 High Performance.

 

The balance wheel is equipped with 2 Elinvar balance springs set in opposition to each other thus ensuring the perfect centering of the balance wheel's center of gravity, irrespective of the watch's position. This makes it possible to set the balance wheel oscillating at a high frequency of 36,000 vph (5 Hz). This particular arrangement also dispenses with the terminal curve of overcoil springs, a curve that is very difficult to create because of the specific conditions needed for them to function completely concentrically.

 

The balance wheel is completed by a four-screw regulating system. The regulator index is thus eliminated. A more accurate and repeatable inertia adjustment can now be made directly on the balance wheel.

 

AP DIRECT-IMPULSE ESCAPEMENT

A subtle combination of a detent escapement and a Swiss anchor escapement, this component enables perfect regulation and timekeeping results. Developed by APR&P for Audemars Piguet, it was chosen by Richard Mille to power the RM 031 High Performance caliber. The AP escapement provides an improved transmission yield thanks to the direct action of the escapement wheel on the balance wheel. A guard pin designed especially for this type of escapement prevents overbanking.

 

DOUBLE BARREL SYSTEM

The double barrel system helps to improve the stability of torque over a longer period. This is achieved by dispersing the stored energy within two winding barrels, equalizing torque as well as reducing pressure and friction on the bearings and pivots, resulting in improved long-term performance.

 

FAST-ROTATING BARREL (4 hours per revolution instead of 7.5 hours)

This type of barrel has the following advantages:

- The phenomenon of periodic internal mainspring adhesion is significantly diminished, thereby enhancing performance,

- It provides an excellent mainspring delta curve with an ideal power reserve/performance and regularity ratio.

 

OPTIMAL GEAR TEETH PROFILE

All the wheels of the RM 031 caliber are optimized by the use of a special profile for the teeth with a pressure angle of 20°. This pressure angle favors rolling and better withstands interaxial differences. These new gear trains ensure excellent torque transmission and hence optimum output.

 

EXTREME FINISHING FOR THE MOVEMENT

The RM 031 Haute Performance displays a quality of finish that is rarely found in Haute Horlogerie. The finish adorning every component of the movement and case is created by hand. The baseplate and escapement-holder are made of microblasted ARCAP. The angles and lower part of the baseplate are polished, while the upper surfaces of the escapement-holder are straight-grained. The titanium barrel bridges are microblasted with polished angles. The various bridges that make up the RM 031 are straight-grained above and have hand-polished angles. The wheels are polished, microblasted, beveled and circular-grained. The sections are burnished and the escapement bridges are soft-polished. A PVD treatment is also applied to the parts in grade 5 titanium.

 

 

OTHERS CHARACTERISTICS

 

- Diameter of the movement: 36.00 mm

- Thickness: 6.35 mm

- Number of jewels: 26

- Balance wheel: CuBe, with 4 arms, 4 regulating screws, inertia moment of 10 mg.cm2, angle of lift of 50°

- Frequency: 36,000 vph (5 Hz)

- Balance spring: opposed Elinvar double balance spring

- Escapement: AP direct-impulse anchor

- Shock protection: Incabloc 908.22.211.100 (transparent)

 

CASE

The design and manufacture of the watch embody a complete conceptual approach to the case, dial and every part of the movement. The timepiece is created as a harmonious whole according to extremely rigorous specifications. The casing ring is eliminated, and the movement is fixed to the chassis with three titanium screws and silent blocks (ISO SW). A first at Richard Mille, the case is composed of four parts, and is assembled using 12 Spline screws in grade 5 titanium and wear-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.

The system is completed by the incorporation of the lugs as separate elements of the case design. The case is water-resistant to 50 meters.

 

SPLINE SCREWS IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM FOR THE 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.

 

INTERIOR FLANGES

Upper and lower flanges in DLC-treated titanium; the hour-markers filled with an approved luminescent material.

 

DIAL

Sapphire crystal (0.40 mm thick) with anti-glare treatment (both sides).

 

CRYSTAL

- Bezel side: in sapphire (1,800 Vickers) with anti-glare coating (both sides).

- Thickness: 1.40 mm

- Case back: in sapphire with anti-glare treatment (both sides)

- Thickness: 1.80 mm in the center and 2.76 mm at the outer edges

 

EXTREME FINISHING FOR THE CASE

The four-part case of the RM 031 Haute Performance is finished to the same high standards as the movement:

The exterior titanium bezel is entirely microblasted with vertical satin-finished edges and hand-polished angles; the interior platinum bezel is satin-finished on the upper surface and microblasted on the sides.

The case middle and back are in platinum. The case middle is microblasted and satin-finished with vertical satin-finished edges, the case back is satin-finished at 6 and 12 o'clock, the sides are polished, the edges smoothed and the Richard Mille engraving microblasted.

The platinum lugs are carefully designed to extend the lines of the case while following the curve of the strap.

 

 

FINISHING

 

MOVEMENT

- Hand-polished beveling

- Microblasted milled section

- Hand-polished sinks

- Hand-polished rear surface

- Burnished surface on the dial side

 

STEEL PARTS

- Satin-finished upper surfaces

- Hand-polished beveling

- Hand-polished sinks

- Burnished sections

 

PROFILE-TURNING

- Lapped and polished ends

- Burnished pivots

- Polished post faces

 

WHEELS

- Concave chamfering with a diamond tool

- Hand-polished angles

- Circular-finished faces

- Microblasted milled section

- Rhodium-plating (before the teeth are cut)

 

Press Release