Richard Mille launches the RM 72-01 Flyback chronograph When discussing Richard Mille, using terms like “entry-level” or “mid-range” always feels a bit hypocritical, because even the simplest work of the brand is technologically advanced and expensive. When one of Richard Mille’s main mid-range products needs to be replaced, people’s expectations are high, which is understandable. After the cornerstone RM 11 flyback chronograph series was recently discontinued, fans of the brand have been wondering what will replace it in the lineup.
Now, Richard Mille is showing the world the first iteration of its next-generation manufacturing flyback chronograph: RM 72-01. The Richard Mille RM 72-01 Lifestyle In-House Chronograph made its debut while maintaining the brand’s iconic appearance. A truly breakthrough watch innovation.
The RM 72-01 retains the brand’s iconic curved rear compartment shape and is fastened together by 20 spline screws. The dimensions here are 38.4 mm x 47.3 mm. Available in grade 5 titanium, 5N red gold, black ceramic, and white ceramic, this familiar form is full of details, such as the fine red gold and black ceramic logo on the top of the rubber crown, and the radical pentagonal shape made of a mixture The red gold and black ceramic buttons create eye-catching visual highlights. Like all Richard Mille models, the RM 72-01 provides a wide sapphire display, allowing you to see the new movement inside without obstruction, while maintaining a 30-meter water resistance.
The case design of Richard Mille RM 72-01 is similar to the brand’s iconic appearance. The dial design innovates Richard Mille’s skeleton style into a novel and expressive form. RM 72-01 abandons the traditional 3-6-9 o’clock three o’clock layout of the RM 11 series chronograph, and replaces its sub-dial with the small seconds at 1 o’clock, 5 o’clock and 9 o’clock. The result, coupled with the smooth curve of the titanium hollow dial bridge, looks strange in design, almost biological. The futuristic rose gold crown princess hands feel almost like thorns in this case, supported by an arrow-pointed chronograph and small seconds hand, these hands are color-coded to provide visual drama, at a glance. Three eye-catching Arabic numerals at 11 o’clock, 3 o’clock and 8 o’clock help to consolidate this unorthodox sense of organic symmetry, and there is a vertical hollow date window at 5 o’clock.
However, the true gem of Richard Mille RM 72-01 is the movement. Richard Mille developed a new manufacturing movement for this series, namely the Calibre CRMC1 automatic flyback chronograph movement. The titanium alloy movement CRMC1 is a test bed for many advancements in timepieces, the most famous being Richard Mille‘s patented new swing pinion timing coupling system. By connecting the traditional column wheel meshing mechanism to a series of two swing pinions connected to the rocker, all three chronograph hands receive torque directly from the main barrel instead of transmitting energy through the base movement.
The result is that the timing of the base movement is completely unaffected by the use of the chronograph, and regardless of the use of the chronograph, the movement’s 50-hour power reserve at a beat rate of 28,800 bph remains stable. In addition, the Caliber CRMC1 has a shock-resistant free-spring balance, a compact two-way platinum winding rotor and a faster-rotating mainspring barrel, which completes a cycle every five hours to achieve smoother power transmission and reduce the attachment of the internal mainspring. Focus on.
Of course, the hollow bridges and splints with micro-blasted surfaces and hand-polished chamfers are both mechanical and visual spectacles. Like most models of the brand, Richard Mille paired the RM 72-01 with a black or white one-piece tapered rubber strap.
Although the radical bio-futuristic appearance may not be suitable for everyone, as the brand moves into a new decade, the absolute mechanical strength of Richard Mille RM 72-01 is undoubtedly impressive.