Richard Mille RM014 All Black Ocean Racing Watch

Back in 2006 I had the great fortune to not only attend and review the RM014 launch, but also meet Richard for the first time. It is one of the moments in life that you know was just right. Sardinia in late summer, the Perini Navi Cup, and a new Richard Mille watch; this time a watch based on racing yacht design and aesthetics.

See my RM014 review from 2006 here: richardmille.watchprosite.com /

I therefore have something of a ‘soft spot’ for the RM014. I still think, as I did at the time, that it was a highly under-rated watch. Instead of the more ‘industrial’ or racing car aesthetics and technological look of the RM002, the RM014 gave a different form to the racing machine on the wrist. The elements of the watch are polished, not brushed; the design of the bridges are based on the elements of the Perini Navi yachts. The RM014 was one of the sleeper watches: should have been more of a hit, but for some reason was not.



The watch I initially reviewed was the prototype. Sharp eyed Purists will note the different case screws and no badge, but otherwise, the watch was pretty much the version that went into production. However, the idea of a racing machine for the wrist based on yacht materials and design never did go away. So it was a great pleasure to get a call from RM EMEA to inform me that a new RM014 had arrived. One based on modern yacht materials and look.





The watch case is now the larger sized tonneau with eight (highly) polished case screws rather than six. There is still the same carbon nano fibre baseplate, and the highly polished bridges, but now the case is made from NTPT carbon, and the front and back bezel are from TZP polished ceramic. It makes sense, most modern racing yachts are a mix of modern materials: carbon, ceramics, and titanium. Even sails are now a mix of carbon and plastics. Masts are designed from carbon fibre with required degrees of flexibility. NTPT carbon is a known material for America’s Cup yachts and racing yachts in general. With Richard having spent the last few years researching the properties of the new materials: the carbon nano fibre and NTPT carbon, and the TZP ceramic. For the first time, all materials are combined into one watch with stunning effect.

It is a high tech racing machine for the wrist based on yachting. It is light, comfortable on the wrist, and because of the polished and brushed elements of the movement, the movement has a stunning degree of depth. There are always elements that catch the eye. The results is a different form of black watch: one that does not simply black everything out for the sake of it. The movement is still very visible because of the polished elements and it stands out. Some small elements of the movement have been redesigned ever so slightly. Knowing Richard after a few years I know that he never rests on a design; he is always looking to improve never mind how slight or small that change might end up being.

With the rubber strap and the new materials for the case, the RM014 is a perfect yachting watch. Design, materials, and very highest of haute horology. The kicker - its only a limited production and only available through RM Boutiques.

Andrew H This message has been edited by 219 on 2015-01-11 14:10:40 This message has been edited by 219 on 2015-01-11 14:11:41 This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2015-01-19 10:20:38