New RM 60-01 timekeeper by Richard Mille, named after Regatta Les Voiles de St. Bart that takes place in the French West Indies, is the first watch by the manufacturer dedicated to sailing. Its inspiration determined its set of features, so this newcomer comes with a flyback chronograph, a countdown timer, as well as a UTC scond time zone that can be additionally used for navigation in both hemispheres. The large automatic mechanical timepiece in a titanium case will be issued in a limited edition of 100 pieces and it will be available for sale solely in Americas. Its price is pretty steep and measures to $150,000.
Richard Mille RM 60-01 Automatic Flyback Chronograph Regatta Watch
Regatta Inspired Features
Richard Mille has decided to make its first watch dedicated to yachting which is seen as the brand as a sport that perfectly represents its values and sense of luxury. The spirit of yachting ic clearly recognizable since the main features of RM 60-01 are adjusted to the watch’s purpose. It includes a bi-directional rotating bezel with cardinal points of compass and graduations to 360 degrees. The role of this bezel is to allow navigation. In order to do so, one has to know the local time and to be able to see the current position of the sun. Once the correct local time is adjusted with the use of the bezel, the UTC hand with a red tip is pointed towards the Sun. When the operation is completed, the scale on the bezel can be used as a compass.
As the manufacturer states, this sort of procedure can be performed regardless of whether the wearer is located on the Northern or the Southern hemisphere. While the graduations for the Northern hemisphere are written in green color, the ones for the other one are under it and written in white color. When it is not used as a tool for the compass feature, the UTC hand is utilized to show the time in the second time zone, as it is commonly so.
Richard Mille RM 60-01 Automatic Flyback Chronograph Regatta Watch Back
Apart from the navigational feature which is (arguably more or less) useful for yachting, there are other functions that are in accordance to the watch’s purpose. One that certainly stands out among them is its flyback chronograph. This type of stop watch feature allows the stopping resetting of the chronograph with a single push. This can be especially useful during a demanding activity like sailing. Furthermore, there is also a special patented locking crown mechanism which allows the wearer to block the pushers and to prevent accidental resetting of the stop watch functioning.
Moreover, there is a countdown timer with the capacity of 30 minutes which is another function that is needed for the participants of regattas, in order to know the correct time to start the naval race. The countdown timer is placed at nine o’clock position and it possesses a skeletonized 60 minutes disc instead of a common hand. This way, the pilot of the yacht can simultaneously read elapsed and remaining minutes. So in a way, it is at the same time a countdown timer and a standard minute counter of the chronograph feature. Another uncommon trait is the supported hour marker of the stop watch function. This totalizer is made to keep track of the elapsed time up to 24 hours, instead of usual 12.
Annual Calendar
The skeletonized dial of Richard Mille RM 60-01 also displays current date and month in a semi-instantaneous manner. The display for the date is at the top of the face, while the one that shows the month lies between four and five o’clock positions. This watch actually features an annual calendar which means that the complication itself can distinguish whether the month has 30 or 31 days and that the wearer does not need to make adjustments of this kind.
By the way the skeletonized dial of this naval instrument is made of sapphire which is 0.4 mm thick and which received anti-reflective treatment on both of its sides. The dial is surrounded with the upper flange in high-tech carbon material and with indices filled with luminous matter, as well as with the lower one in galvanized metal in black color.
The dial with red, green, yellow and white accents is visible through the crystal made in the same material as the dial. As it is customary for the manufacturer, the hardness of the front crystal is 1800 Vickers, while the thickness of the glass with double glare-proof coating is 2.2 mm. There is also a sapphire transparent section on the case back which is slightly thicker on the edges than in its center. The rear sapphire also features a drawing of the logo of Les Voilles de St Barth Regatta.
Highly Finished and Technically Advanced Automatic Caliber
RM 60-01 Automatic Flyback Chronograph Regatta is among the rarer Richard Mille watches which are made with a circular case. This time, the dimensions of the case are pretty big and the titanium watch has the diameter of 50 mm and the thickness of 16.33 mm. The housing is made with the complex and advanced process with the use of advanced machines, as it is common for the cases by Richard Mille. It is comprised of four sections. The process of its construction involves lengthy turning operation followed by extensive milling. All in all it takes as much as 11 hours just to construct it and that it is if you don’t take into account the subsequent making of the pushers, as well as the quality control operations that are also an integral part of the process. Supported waterproofness is to 100 meters.
Richard Mille RM 60-01 Automatic Flyback Chronograph Regatta Watch Dial
Finally, let us examine the features of the watch’s RMAC2 self-winding caliber made in titanium. Some of the other materials that are used for its components are palladium, white gold and ceramic (used for ball bearings). It includes the brand’s patented feature that allows the adjustment of the rotor’s inertia into six different positions. This is utterly important since it fine-tunes the functioning of the movement and specifically the rewinding of the mainspring to the level of the wearer’s activity. By the way, the movement includes twin barrels, as well as one-directional anti-clockwise winding. Once fully wound, the watch features a power storage that lasts around 50 hours, depending on the level of the use of its chronograph feature. The caliber also has a free sprung balance with variable inertia which guarantees improved reliability, better precision, as well as enhanced resistance to shocks. It also facilitates its assembly and disassembly which further makes its servicing easier.
The in-house movement of the timekeeper which can be seen through the transparent case-back is also embellished with the multitude of demanding finishes, as we are accustomed to when Richard Mille watches are in question. RMAC2 features titanium mainplate and bridges that are hand-ground, wet sandblasted, polished at the top side, as well as PVD treated. Moreover, there are burnished pivots, undercuts on the pinions, diamond polishing, rhodium-plating and beveling. Its steel parts are sapphire blasted, hand-drawn, beveled and polished.
If you can afford to own a yacht, you can undoubtedly be able to spend round $150,000 on RM 60-01. That is, if you happen to be somewhere in Americas and manage to get hold of one of 100 pieces in this restricted edition.
