BY DHANANJAY PATHAK
Richard Mille is a brand that I admire for its unique take on Haute Horlogerie. Its products are not only packed with cutting edge technology but what makes them special is their rugged build that makes them capable of handling the rigors of life with relative ease. Just a few days back we showed you the Richard Mille RM 11-04, an automatic flyback chronograph developed to time a football match. And now here we are with yet another new release from Richard Mille, the RM033-02, a sportier take on the svelte Richard Mille RM033.
While bold aesthetics are an integral part of the Richard Mille design DNA, featuring a more traditional round case shape, an extra slim profile and a dial with Roman numerals, the RM033 can certainly be considered as one of the classier offerings from the brand. The RM033-02 keeps some of the strong points of the RM033 and brings in a few perceptible changes to give the watch a new outlook. One of the immediately noticeable differences as compared to the RM033 is the case. Whist still circular in shape, the tripartite case now features bezels made of Carbon TPT. Created by layering hundreds of sheets of carbon fibers, heating them to around 120 °C and finally machining to reveal random patterns Carbon TPT helps give the watch a distinctive look. The case measures 41.7mm wide is just 8.8mm thick and offers a water resistance of a mere 30 meters.
Like the case, the dial on the RM033-02 also makes a bold statement. It features a familiar skeletonized architecture with bridges and baseplate constructed from grade 5 titanium for better rigidity and precise surface flatness. Taking center stage are oversized Red gold Arabic numerals that are sculpted and mounted on two linked titanium rails attached directly to the movement. Surrounding the markers are small circular lume plots placed inside a flange that like the numerals is made from Red gold and offers great contrast against the black backdrop. Time can be read using the sharp handset that has also been filled with luminous paint to offer superior legibility in low light.
Powering the RM033-02 is Richard Mille’s skeletonized caliber RMXP1. This is the same movement that powers the RM033 and is just 2.60mm thick leading to an extremely thin case profile. To achieve the slimness Richard Mille equipped the movement with a micro-rotor made from platinum. It operates at a frequency of 3 Hz and offers a power reserve of around 45 hours. The movement has been finely carved out exposing the intricate internals and can be enjoyed through the exhibition case back.
The Richard Mille RM033-02 is limited to just 140 pieces and would come attached to a matching black rubber strap. The retail price for this bad boy has been set at EUR 155,300.
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