Richard Mille

at least from the photos PoV that i've seen.

• RM038 : phenominal but at a price range (again) out of this world and will only admire from affar or from photos
• RM026: i like the idea of it but it clearly is an evovled or modified RM19 celtic not
• RM029: modernised RM10 (thinner) which is cool and definetly much much better than the 23
• RM030: i like it BUT its a buffed out RM10 in an RM11 case (same skelt. of the 10 and almost same display eccept for the PR indicator) in a RM11 without chrono pushers and the over designed dial
• RM033: not to my liking but clearly opens the door for RM to further explore the round shaped watch (exclude the divers of course) so i will wait for further developments on that line
• RM03x: this is one i was waiting for but no one mentioned it so i will refrain for know any judgement till it is officially released

 

but all in all i could say that i was happy with the total outcome from RM this year. i would love to see the Titalyt II treatment conveyed on more RM watches.

also i would love to see a differnet complication other than a tourbillon in RMs. maybe a striking watch or even a unique PC although it doesnt match RMs philosophy in a way but why not? i mean he did the GMT and the annual calendar (RM11).

or perhaps thats why we got the 33 intoduced maybe it will address such complications i mentioned above (after all they are some how for the dressy watch and the 33 is a dressy watch)

also and i know this is a best seller for RM but i would love to see a different simple chrono than the 11 and definetly much simpler than the 004. i mean an integrated chrono instead of a modular one which will refrain the thickness alot ( a plus on my count)

so folks thats my intake what is yours?

RM038: just AMAZING! I really like the "aerial" aspect of the mechanism with (barely) no baseplate, in the large volume offered by the shape of the case. I wish there could be an "affordable" model with the same overall look ... Maybe no tourbillon, no date, and manual winding...

RM029: not a fan. Maybe due to the baseplate cut-outs. The large date is definitely cool (not having the large disk of the 10 all around).

RM030: I like the added complication of the declutchable rotor: real RM DNA! The watch appears less elegant / more sportive than the RM010 ... in between the RM010 and the RM011.

RM033: looking forward to seeing it "in metal" to make up my mind ... At first glance I was not fan, but after thinking about it, I'll wait until straping it on my wrist to comment further.

RM026: As much as I admire the work of art, precious stones and watches don't mix as far as I am concerned...

show stopper is the RM038.  And yes, would have loved to see the same treatment for Nadal's watch for Wimbledon.  Agassi used it to great effect in his career - changing to white for the All England Championships.  Cool!

The RM03X will be a hit, believe me on that. 

RM033 provides ultra-thin in the round (previously diver) watches. 

There have been ideas floated for a Perpetual Calendar, for reasons that I cannot go into, but so far, nothing has progressed on that.

The other watches released are to provide some depth to the RM range at various models and price points.  Hence, it was a big hit with the dealers and the orders were strong.

Great topic.  Having seen the watches, my picks would be RM03X (I know this is not fair on most RM enthusiasts out there), the RM038, and the RM033.

Cheers

Andrew H

First a big thank you to Andrew for his passion to the brand and the articles he shares with us, we couldn't have a better clue without that. I learned a lot all this years with your articles and appreciate now the brand. Thanks Andrew !

--

I just had a look at Richard Mille this past ten years, and I am impressed from what he did, how the horology has changed with his impulse.

Looking backward till 2005 I am completely impressed, research, ideas, and always in a technical and useful direction. The 001/002/ 003 at the beginning, the mind crusher 004 and his "super" version 008 (masterpiece of the decade imho), the "basic" 005 which is a true RM with no sacrifice regarding the technique employed inside etc

After 2006  I am not so convinced by some new shapes of boxes (or maybe they came too early to my taste), the Perini and Aerodyne who are nice aesthetic declinations of 002 and 003, but I don't see any other aim as aesthetic. I know it is very popular but the 011 is also not something I would have expected. It's really big, and the modular caliber when RM has done the 004 before is for me difficult to understand. The same with less thickness and an integrated caliber would have been such a killer imho.  2009 and the divers are not really what I would have expected from RM.

But there are also this experimental pieces the 006, 009,  027 which are just something unique with more than aesthetic, a deep idea behind, an aim, not only technique for technique, but technique to serve special situations. That's what make RM so specials imho, not technique and design just for fun but for an aim. And the 012 and 018 as technolgies experimental masterpieces, special marvels indeed.

--

-And now in 2011 the 038: another experimental amazing watch with a sports aim, for me at the level of the 009 and 027, just pure Richard Mille genius and essence. Even the colour seems to serve the concentration of the athlete. Fantastic!!!

-The 029 is a super evolution, I regret the size of the 010, and here the  thickness decreased ! A big date to serve a better legibility, a logical evolution of the 005 and 010, always getting better.  Best Richard Mille simple watch.

-The 030 is also pure essence of RM but that time not in a too complicated watch, for very active person, conserve a good precision, and preserve the caliber. I regret also the size but definitely a great great Richard Mille.

-The 033: nice view of a round watch, the caliber is beautiful, the hands awesome. But the roman numbers... when you have so strong and nice "digital" numbers. I suppose the direction is here to give a more elegant watch to the collection, but an RM 029 in RG for example would do it as good. I am very fond of the tonneau shape, such a strong identity, just personnal taste.

-The 026 serve the lady collection, I personnaly prefer the thinner 007 case but it must be something to create such a watch.

One of the best year for RIchard Mille

Cheers

Francois