Richard Mille

MTF
[PuristS]
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Depends on the question

DNA,

Richard Mille changed their numbering system in 2013 to 'families' of watch reference numbers.

So, the original RM011 now has a family and the current example (much revised) is the Roberto Mancini edition RM11-01 Automatic Flyback Chronograph.

Many improvements have been made whilst still "reproducing" the original case shape. They now fasten the case with 20 Grade 5 titanium spline screws.

They stopped using a casing ring and the movement is now suspended on mounting rubbers and titanium screws.

All these changes move the component count up and down until we have given up counting.....  

The new case was the subject of an entire year of research and development. During production, 68 different stamping operations are required for the three main components (bezel, middle section and case back). The machine tooling process requires 8 days of adjusting the machines for the bezel, 5 days for the middle section and 5 days for the case back. Prior to this process, developing a methodology for carrying out this series of operations took 120 hours, the drawings for the tools 130 hours, and implementation 180 hours.

Each rough case involves 202 separate machining operations. The design and execution of the watch demonstrates a complete conceptual approach to the movement, case and dial. As a result, everything has been constructed according to an extremely rigorous specification, in the manner of the analytical engineering methods used in the design of Formula 1 racing cars where the chassis and the engine are
developed in complete harmony. For example, a casing ring is no longer used and the movement is mounted on chassis mounting rubbers (ISO SW) fixed by 4 titanium screws.

The tripartite case of the RM 11-01 Roberto Mancini, satin-finished, is water resistant to 50 meters, ensured by two Nitril O-ring seals. The case is assembled with 20 spline screws in grade 5 titanium and abrasion resistant washers in 316L stainless steel. This permits better control of the torque applied to the screws during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.

The case of the RM 11-01 reproduces the celebrated design of the RM 011. It is tonneau shaped and made in three parts from grade 5 titanium and has Nitril O-ring seals that make it water-resistant to 50 metres. It is assembled using 20 spline screws, also in grade 5 titanium, and with wear-resistant 316L steel washers. Completing this extremely ergonomic case required 420 hours of design work and over 200
machining operations.

FLYBACK CHRONOGRAPH

The movement is caliber RMAC1, offering an annual calendar, a flyback chronograph with central minutes
counter and a dial divided into periods of play (football match or what a minority call soccer)

By using the pusher between 4 and 5 o’clock, the running chronograph can be reset without first having to stop the mechanism.

The flyback chronograph equipping the RM 11-01 Mancini was designed for a football match. The dial displays match time based on each 45-minute half and can take up to 15 minutes of stoppage time into account. During each half, a single press on the push-piece at 4 o’clock activates the flyback function and sends the hand back to 12 o’clock, ready to start timing the second half. If extra time is awarded, the watch can display additional 15 minutes and up to 5 minutes stoppage time.

Regards,

MTF