Richard Mille

When the RM025 was unveiled, it was the first steps of Richard Mille into a new word: the world of the diving watches.

I was very excited by this presentation due to Richard Mille's ability to create innovative and comfortable watches.

In fact, the project behind the RM025 was fascinating: the will to redefine the rules of the diving watches, to create a very complicated watch with a water resistance of 300 meters...









Complicated and innovative are maybe the best adjectives which can be used to describe the RM025.

It is complicated because it gathers a Tourbillon, a chronograph and 3 indicators on the dial: power reserve, torque and functions indicators.

If we are very used to the power reserve and torque indicators, the functions indicator is more unsual. In fact, a pusher is located inside the crown which allows you to select the function of the crow: N (neutral), H (hands, to set the time), W (wind, to wind the watch).

Caliber is of course, innovative and beautiful with the usual Richard Mille & Renaud and Papi standards: beautiful finishings... and an original layout. It is in fact a sort of upside-down modular caliber in which the parts dedicated to the time display are located at the back to make easier the service of the watch.

You will notice the specific shape of the column wheel and of the main bridge.

Power reserve is 50 hours and the caliber frequency is 3hz.










Bezel is thick and can be rotated only unidirectionnaly. You shall press the two buttons at 12 and 6 o'clock to be able to turn it.

The tripartite case has a superb integration of the lugs and of the pushers and I like the contrast between the golden lugs and the titanium case. Pushers are located on the opposite side of the crown. You start and stop the chronograph with the 8 o'clock pusher and you reset it with the 10 o'clock one.





So,, if we sum up the description of the watch, everything seems to be perfect: the watch is complicated, innovative with great finishings.

But sadly, this time, the magic formula doesn't work.

Very surprisingly, Richard Mille left his usual tracks to design this watch. An usual Richard Mille watch is a very comfortable and light watch to wear and you can forget it that you have it on your wrist.





It is not the case here. Maybe because the RM 025 was the first round RM ? Is it the will to create something different from the other watches of the collection ? It is a way to give the proof that he can create a heavy watch ? I don't know but the result is here: the watch is unwearable. Believe me, I had the opportunity to wear a lot of watches, even the strangest ones but here it was impossible for me to find the most suitable position on my wrist. Too large (50mm), too thick (almost 20mm), too heavy (even with the titanium case), the feeling I had when I put the watch on my wrist was far from what I expected from a diving watch.










In a few words: a true disappointment (of course, it is my own feeling). 

But, as I usually say, the good point of the spoilt watches is that they enhance the achievement of the successful ones. This is also the rule here: with the RM025 we realize that creating innovative and wearable watches are not so easy and Richard Mille has managed to do it very frequently ! But not with the RM025...









The RM028 which was released later is a smaller, thinner and more simple watch and for me, the best option to use a Richard Mille watch as a diving watch.

Thanks a lot to Chronopassion.

Fr.Xavier

I tend to agree with the points you've mentioned and it's not a watch that I se myself ever wearing but each to his own I guess
Although it looks really great on Jacky chan he definitely could pull it off

But I guess if you strap the RM025 over your diving wetsuit, it could be wearable since now your wrist will be larger?

Cheers,
Anthony

but could you imagine wearing a wet suit at a trendy club or dinner??????

Mo

Anthony, but in reality a diving watch is a multi purpose watch, most would wear the same watch during the day whilst mooching in their speedo's not many would have an RM25 just for actual diving in, I mean its a work of art to be enjoyed too.

Great pics, I agree its a stunning looking thing, espcecially nice to see such good pics close up at last, thanks.

I also agree I think its a monster of a watch, one thing I dont understand is why no winder shoulders on the 25 like the 28 has?....I think it creastes such good lines on the watch case, that in comparision it makes the 25 look a bit bare....

that Richard didn't want the watch to appear even larger by adding the winding shoulders?  Shrug.

That would be my guess.  However, I do 100% agree with you that the winding shoulders on the RM028 around the crown does vastly improve the aesthetics and lines of this massive and impressive case.

Cheers,
Anthony

No message body

agree with the thoughts on the wearability, but on this occasion I do not.  True, it is large, but this is a watch designed for the water.  While Richard Mille watches are worn by the non-sea farers among us, Richard designs watches for a purpose.  On this occasion, a watch for the depths, complications, and beautifully finished.  The case manufactuers (Donze Baum) think that Richard's diving cases are the most complex and difficult to produce; and Donze Baum produce for the best (believe me on that one).  So, are we concerned by weight when submerged.... no, buoyancy means that the weight of the watch is not a concern.

I might also add that the weight of the watch appears not to be a concern for too many others either as the RM025 has been quite successful (along with the sibling RM028).

Personally, having worn both the platinum RM008 and the RM025, they are both large and heavy watches on the wrist.  To my mind they do work as they fit comfortably on the wrist and some people like heavy watches.  I like a little gravitas, but generally not for me.  Your photos say the rest - a beautifully finished and designed watch/movement.  Stunning!

Thanks  for the photos and the thoughts

Andrew H

Great pictures of both watches!  I love the RM025 and the face is just beautiful whether it had a tourbillon or not.   When compared side by side (photos that is) the RM028 is a very boring watch and just doesnt have the balanced look of the other ... the face/sapphire looks too small for the bezel and it lacks that something special like being able to see all the workings of the RM025 or any of the other RM's to be truthful?

Just my humble opinion...

Andrew

I think it's fantastic and would love to have 1!

No message body

In fact, it would be interesting that a professional diver uses it, tries it in the environment for which this watch was designed and gives his feeling. I gave my feeling as a "normal user" of the watch, I mean for a classic use of the watch, from home to the office and back to home. 

I understand your point of view but the Richard Mille watches I tested were so comfortable on my wrist that I was surprised by the difference.

Fr.Xavier

fell in love with the watch. I never had a chance to put it on my wrist and at this MSRP probably never will. (arrgh, If I just learned to play tennis better, or have been named something like "Felipe")

Beautiful watch, exactly fits my taste. Bravo Mr. Mille. Date function would be nice. And I agree with one the comments that 028 next to it looks like cheap imitation of the big brother.

Carl

.. I thnk saying that the 28 is just a cheap imitation of its bigger brother is a little unfair. Thats a bit like saying an RM10 is just a cheap imitation of an RM004.

Yes the RM25 is a stunning looking timepiece with its tourbillon, carbon plate etc, and yes it looks slightly better proportioned due to its bigger face to bezel ratio, but make no mistake an RM28 is a stunning watch in its own right ( as it should be at the price point anyway ). If you hold/wear a 28, you become more aware of the way its put together, count the no of screws in the bezel, the beautiful polished line that runs under the bezel, the synergy of the case to the strap & those lovely winding shoulders that the 25 does not have. As an owner of a 28 who has worn it extensively on holiday I really have to say I think its a great watch... and thats a great watch in its own right, rather than a poorer cousin to a bigger version. I could not wear a 25 on holiday, just oversteps the size mark for me...which is a good job as I couldnt afford one anyway.

I would love to own a 25....but it wouldnt get worn as a beach watch thats for sure.