WatchProSite|Market|Digest
WatchProSite|Market|Digest

Richard Mille

Small comments on chrono's

 

Hi A,

Dates and criteria are indeed always problematic to be 100% clear about especially regarding what one really means with terms like: 'the first' etc. smile ! I think the remarks below might clarify some points in the text at the top of this thread about the RM 004:

Regarding the Piguet calibers: the 1180 is a manual wind chronograph, and the 1181 the rattrapante manual wind and the 1186 the automatic rattrapante.

The 1186 Piguet IS the first automatic winding rattrapante of its kind ever made. Dates from the late 1980's I believe?

However, both the 1181 and the 1186 Piguet calibers use a modular construction for the rattrapante section, attaching it to the back of the movement as an add-on. It works well, but it is not integral to the movement design, which started off life as a regular chronograph.
The 7750 (with various modules) is a similar case in point.

The RM 004 (and RM 008) on the other hand have a fully integrated construction principle for the split seconds section mechanism. So for the purpose of our discussion, this is one particular point to be very clear about. Both RM calibers were designed from the beginning as split seconds chronographs with fully integrated design features, and this is what the language of the text refers to. It is one of the major discerning features of those models.

Regarding the Lange Split: in any case, it came after the RM 004 and RM 008- and here too we must be clear: the Split is unique in another way and is more than a spilt seconds watch since it also has a partial 'memory' function. So even comparing it to the RM 004 and RM 008 wouldn't be quite fair in my personal view, although for a general discussion why not? The Datograph mentioned in another reply, is one of my great watch loves, however it is a regular chrono, and I can't really compare it in my mind with the RM 004 and RM 008 rattrapantes. Just my 2 cents worth on the subject.

If my memory has failed me here with the above please jump in!
Ciao tutti,
Theodore Diehl

  login to reply
Related Content
expand_more
A. Lange and SöhneRichard MilleRM004RM008
💰439 Marketplace Listings for A. Lange and Söhne›Richard Mille RM004 · 4 for sale · 379 discussions›Richard Mille RM008 · 1 for sale · 146 discussions›
7 Comments view entire thread 

Understanding the RM 004

 
By: Nan : June 22nd, 2009-03:11
The RM 004 for instance, created in 1999, can without doubt be considered a technical landmark of its kind. Although it is not known by many people, a split seconds chronograph is in actuality one of the most difficult complications to create . It present... 

A question

 
By: aaronm : June 22nd, 2009-11:25
you say "the RM 004 is the first new design of split seconds chronograph realized in the last 35 years and the first of the new millenium." I know of at least two other split-second designs in the last 35 years, the FPiguet 1186 and the IWC, et. al. addit... 

Small comments on chrono's

 
By: Theodore : June 27th, 2009-13:05
Hi A, Dates and criteria are indeed always problematic to be 100% clear about especially regarding what one really means with terms like: 'the first' etc. ! I think the remarks below might clarify some points in the text at the top of this thread about th... 

if only it had 22 more parts ...

 
By: eric.vonschonberg : June 23rd, 2009-02:38
... for then it would have as many parts as the Lange Datograph. Seriously though, a part count alone cannot relate the complexity of the movement, since without a doubt the RM004 is much more complicated than the Lange Datograph. The other points you men...