Richard Mille takes pride in having high-level athletes as partners, who are at the core of developments that continually push the limits of what is feasible. To mark the launch of their first women’s sports watch, the RM 07-04 Automatic Sport, Richard Mille enlisted six inspiring and influential athletes (Aurora Straus, Margot Laffite, Nelly Korda, Nafi Thiam, Yuliya Levchenko and Ester Ledecká) to define the watch’s attributes and share their experiences.
The RM 07-04 Automatic Sport collection features six models, worn by two motorsport icons, the world number two golfer, two track and field stars, and a Winter Olympics triple gold medallist. The watches are designed to cater to the demands of their respective sports and showcase pure performance and technical sophistication.
Developing the RM 07-04 Automatic Sport took three years due to the numerous challenges involved. A new, compact, and skeletonised in-house automatic movement was developed, high shock resistance was guaranteed, and the exterior was integrated perfectly with the movement, while also making the workings visible. According to Cécile Guenat, Creative and Development Director at Richard Mille, the design is not minimalist, but an airy movement that displays its complexity at first glance. The collection focuses on aesthetics and technicity in equal measure, a gamble that few have dared to take.
The CRMA8 calibre is a new in-house automatic movement that boasts hours, minutes, and a function selector. The baseplate and bridges are made of grade 5 titanium, supplemented by a black PVD treatment to ensure the rigidity of the assembly. The movement underwent rigorous testing to confirm its resistance to 5,000 g’s of acceleration to earn its sports credentials. The watch’s mechanics are uncompromisingly elegant, with polished angles, milled sections, micro-blasted sinks, and satin-finished surfaces. The assembly stage is complex for the watchmaker, with no room for error.
The function selector complication is emblematic of the brand and prevents stress on the winding stem. By utilizing a Quartz TPT pusher positioned at 4 o’clock, a mere press of a button enables the user to select from the neutral (N), winding (W), or time setting (H) positions. Its assembly is inverted compared to the brand’s other selectors, making its kinematics perfectly visible. The hand at 5 o’clock indicates the chosen function on a flange in grade 5 titanium. The case is made of Quartz TPT or Carbon TPT, with the color combinations of these ultra-durable technical composites exuding energy, strength, and emotion.
The collection’s color palette symbolizes a thirst for sporting achievements and the euphoria of competition, with colors ranging from black to cream white, mauve, salmon pink, green, or dark blue. The materials used are lightweight, non-allergenic, and resistant to shocks, UV rays, and wear.
The RM 07-04 Automatic Sport collection is ergonomic, visually stunning, technically advanced, and performs exceptionally well, making it perfect for everyday wear and intense sporting activity. Each watch weighs only 36 grams, including its Velcro strap, offering athletes the freedom to perform at their best in their respective disciplines. The collection of six watches exemplifies versatility and continuity in the growing world of women’s watches at Richard Mille, where elegance, refinement, ultra-high performance, and sporting prowess are combined.
