(Photo: Richard Mille)
Although Richard Mille is primarily known as a men’s watchmaker, the independent company does in fact include in its arsenal a number of breathtaking timepieces for women. Staying true to its promise of mechanical mastery and the most innovative of materials, Richard Mille’s watches for women combine a beautifully feminine elegance with the sporty aesthetic for which the watchmaker is known.
It was in 2009 — a decade after the brand’s founding — that Mille introduced the RM 019, a tourbillon for ladies that was the answer to a growing interest in complicated timepieces from women. Over the years, Richard Mille, went on to develop a rich collection of feminine timepieces, which now accounts for around 25% of its total sales.
Many of Richard Mille’s women’s watches were designed in partnership with some of the most interesting women in the world, spanning the genres of sports, theatre and television. With Malaysian-born Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, Richard Mille created the Oriental-inspired RM 051 Phoenix-Michelle Yeoh. For golfers Diana Luna and Cristie Kerr, there is the ultra-light RM 007 in titanium — an exceptional watch also worn by German dressage champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl.
Richard Mille’s most recent partner is Australian actress Margot Robbie — a collaboration that complements the very contemporary spirit of the collection, in which the 27-year-old will bring her creative energy and own interpretation of femininity as she participates in the design of several models. Proceeds of this collection will be donated to Youngcare, a foundation committed to helping young Australians with high-care needs live life with choice, independence and dignity.
Ahead of launching the new collection, Robbie lends her elegance to the RM 037 Ladies in a series of new campaign images. The idea behind the RM 037 Ladies is to construct a synthesis, bringing together all the experience Richard Mille has gained since the creation of the brand in a single timepiece. And it had to be spectacular, of course, both technically and aesthetically — beneath its highly contemporary appearance, this breathtaking watch respects all the canons of high-end watchmaking.
It is powered by the new calibre CRMA1, whose design began from a blank page in order to ensure a fresh approach. The beautiful skeletonised automatic movement powers the hours, minutes, adjustable rotor geometry, oversized date and function selector. The oversized date display is semi-instantaneous and placed horizontally under 12 o’clock, functioning via two skeletonised calendar discs over a white field. It can be easily adjusted via the pusher located at 10 o’clock, while a push-button at 4 o’clock allows one to select the winding, neutral and handsetting functions with a simple push in a manner similar to the gearbox of a car. An aperture located at 4 o’clock shows the function selected: W (winding), N (neutral) and H (handsetting).
Meanwhile, a specially designed — and patented — stem crown allows the integrity of the movement to be fully guaranteed and protected from external influences as it does not use a classical attachment going into the depth of the movement’s heart. The result is that the crown is virtually impossible to dislodge and yet it is easily inserted and removed under the skilful hands of the watchmaker when needed; a typical view towards longevity that typifies the brand’s philosophy.
The design and execution of the watch demonstrate a complete conceptual approach to the movement, case and dial. As a result, everything has been constructed according to extremely rigorous specifications, 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.
The in-house CRMA1 is highlighted by the combination of unique materials such as red gold for the caseband and TZP black ceramic for the bezel and the caseback. It is particularly resistant to knocks and scratches. Its matt surface finish is the result of a lengthy production process. The caseband is in satin 5N red gold with polished pillars.
The three-part case is rendered water resistant to 50m, ensured by two Nitril O-ring seals, and is assembled using 20 grade 5 titanium spline screws and abrasion-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel. The RM 037 is available in TPZ black ceramic, ATZ white ceramic and white or red gold. Although an inner ring of diamonds exists across all models, selected ones feature diamonds set in a pave style across the entire case for the ultimate feminine indulgence.
