Watch Review | Richard Mille RM 017

The Richard Mille RM 017 ultra thin tourbillon may regarded as a follow up on the rectangular case of RM 016,in which the similarities end on the casing only, for the inside the RM 017 has one of the thinnest tourbillon assmblies ever created with a height measuring a mere 8.7mm. Several components have been fashioned out of exotic materials in line with Richard Mille concept of applying techniques and materials found in F-1 and aerospace industry.The RM 017 uses a movement baseplate from carbon nanofiber, (first tested with great success in RM 006,experimental model ) an isotropic composite materials forged under high pressure and temperature that gives it high mechanical ,physical and chemical stability in all environment. The endstone of the tourbillon cage is ceramic to help minimize wear. The screws for the bridge and case are made from grade 5 titanium ensuring the longevity of the watch.

Another innovative features of the RM 017 is its function selector . Similar to a car's gearbox , a push button located at the center of the ceramic crown allows one to select the winding, neutral , hand setting and speed hand setting functions .A turning display located at 3 o'clock shows the selected functions : W (Winding) -N (Neutral) - H(Hands) - S(Speed hand setting). The speed hand setting functions allow for rapidly changing the hour hand independent from the minute hand.

Cutting edge technology combined with elegance and exceptional lines, useful functionality and unmistakable recognition : the RM 017 Flat Tourbillon is Richard Mille Watches personified.

Movement :

mechanical manual winding ultra flat tourbillion 017 caliber with carbon nanofiber baseplate ; approx. 72 hours power reserve; variable inertia balance with overcoil; fast rotating barrel ; ceramic tourbillion endstone ; spline screws in grade 5 titanium for the bridges and case; winding barrel and third pinion’s teeth with central involute profile.

Functions:

hour minutes ;function selector with indicator.

Case:

18k white gold ,rectangular anatomically curved; 49.8x38x8.7mm ; assembled with 12 spline screws in grade 5 titanium; sapphire crystal front and back with double sided antiglare coating; water resistance to 50 meters.

Dial:

sapphire with double sided antiglare treatment; protected with eight silicon braces in grooved edges.

Strap:

crocodile attached via titanium screws to the case; with matching buckle individually engraved with model number.