4 Reasons Why Richard Mille’s RM 011 Is One Of The Most Significant Watches Of The 21st Century

New Watch! • 28 Dec 2015

4 Reasons Why Richard Mille’s RM 011 Is One Of The Most Significant Watches Of The 21st Century


In an industry steep in tradition and heritage, Richard Mille has been able to create a unique competitive advantage and set itself apart from the other high-precision luxury watchmakers. Since it’s founding, Richard Mille has branded itself as a company with a deep emphasis on blending technology with horological tradition. Although seemingly a juxaposition, this company has been able to look to aerospace and automotive industries for inspiration, recognizing that such innovations in the field of materials and techniques could be implemented effectively to high-precision luxury watchmaking without compromising horological tradition.

Richard Mille has thus brought high-precision luxury watchmaking to whole a new level with its unqiue blend of innovation. The RM011 is one of its crown jewels and highlights such a significance of the company; we look at 4 reasons why this watch is one of the most significant watches of the 21st Century.

1. The RM011 is inspired by the automotive industry
Racing competitions have inspired many watches, but no watchmaker has attempted to build a precision watch of the same class and calibre as Richard Mille with the RM011. Every component in the watch reflected a technological innovation in the automotive industry. From the usage of automotive racing grade rubber and ultra-light weight composite materials, Richard Mille has designed an automotive out of a watch.

The Lotus F1 team with Richard Mille livery at the US F1 Grand Prix qualifying round.  (Image Credit: Getty Images).
The Lotus F1 team with Richard Mille livery at the US F1 Grand Prix qualifying round. (Image Credit: Getty Images).

 

2. The RM011 is engineered to Formula 1 perfection

Lotus F1 driver Romain Grosjean seen with his RM 011 Lotus F1 Team watch.
Lotus F1 driver Romain Grosjean seen with his RM 011 Lotus F1 Team watch.

The RM011 specifically followed the engineering techniques of Formula 1. The watchvase and movement is designed and built from the ground beside each other, mirroring the exact technique in which the Formula 1 cars’ chasis and engine are developed in complete harmony, with the design and building of one segment having a direct impact on the other.

3. The development of the RM011 is as rigorous and intensive as Formula 1
Creating a watch mirroring the processess of Formula 1 car engineering is no mean feat; the first RM011’s watchcase alone was an entire year’s worth of research and development and required over 200 separate machining processess to manufacture.

Fine details of the flange of the new Richard Mille RM 011 Romain Grosjean.
Fine details of the flange of the new Richard Mille RM 011 Romain Grosjean.

 

4. The creation of the first RM011 involved the man himself, Felipe Massa
The first RM011 was created for Brazilian racing driver Felipe Massa in 2008. Many would think that Felipe Massa was just another paid endorsement, but his role was bigger than that, he was RM011’s first and long-time test-driver since the conception of the watch. He contributed to the design and build process as a consultant leading up to the first RM011 prototype. Such collaborations were rare and almost unheard of in the luxury watchmaking world at that time.

The man himself, Felipe Massa, seen with his Richard Mille RM 011.  (Image Credit: Getty Images).
The man himself, Felipe Massa, seen with his Richard Mille RM 011. (Image Credit: Getty Images).

 

With such emphasis to fine details and technological innovations, it is no wonder that Richard Mille’s timepieces are so highly prized and valued, and their contributions to the horological world seen via the RM011 is second to none.

The Hour Glass is an official retailer of Richard Mille Timepieces.

Tags: hour glass hour glass singapore richard mille richard mille singapore richard mille watch richard mille watch singapore the hour glass


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