Richard Mille RM 005: The Supercar of Sports Watches (VIDEO)

Richard Mille is the Lamborghini of watchmakers. The star-power and visual impact of this Richard Mille RM 005 produces the kind of fill-the-camera-phone awestruck spasms that bystanders generally reserve for supercars from Bologna.

But the 45mm 18-karat rose gold Richard Mille RM 005 is more than a mechanical traffic hazard; it’s one heck of a fine watch. Between its ergonomic excellence and the otherworldly aesthetic of its fully-exposed titanium movement, the RM 005 epitomizes Richard Mille‘s reinvention of the luxury sports watch.

While Franck Muller and Vacheron Constantin employ the tonneau case to evoke vintage elegance, Richard Mille has adopted the unconventional form as a sort of biomorphic emblem of progressive design. Both an ergonomic triumph and an aesthetic impact-player, the RM 005‘s red gold tonneau form wears with the ease of a far smaller timepiece, and its “stacked” construction evokes the unsheathed frame of an aircraft, race car, or skyscraper.

Due to Richard Mille‘s vast investment in scientific ergonomics, the RM 005 wears comfortably on a wide range of wrist sizes. The integration of case and strap visually extend the watch to permit a natural appearance on a massive wrist – an eight inch circumference is no problem – but the short actual distance between lugs (45mm) enables the Richard Mille RM 005 to wear with equal panache on a wrist as small as 5.5″.

With a red gold case and a Daytona white natural rubber strap, this Richard Mille RM 005 can play on the east coast or west coast – and it would be an absolute *star* on South Beach or the Sunset Strip, respectively. Warmth and youthful vigor radiate from every crevice of the RM 005‘s complex case, but as striking as the vessel is, the contents are that much more riveting.

Richard Mille’s RM 005 movement is the centerpiece of a triple sapphire (!) transparent dial. Each layer of sapphire adds an additional dimension and complexity to the mesmerizing fascia. Below the main cambered crystal, a second sapphire provides the platform for the Arabic numerals of the watch’s hour track and the frame of the date window. A carbon fiber minute track encircles the hours at the flange of the case and dial.

Beneath the “floating” numerals of the intermediate sapphire, a final printed disc of crystal provides a dynamic third layer and bears the numerals of the date wheel. As it circulates in 31-day cycles, this crystalline date disc provides a final layer of beguiling complexity to a dial that already boasts an embarrassment of rich details… and that’s before the eye even reaches the exposed RM 005 movement!

This Richard Mille RM 005 is powered by a titanium (!) movement of the same name. Its full-ti base plate, bridges, and balance cock are the starting point for an ultra-rugged timekeeper with fine finish to match.

The entire 28,800 VpH movement is isolated from external shocks by four elastomer dampers that remove the hard edge from blows that would induce timing error, damage, or outright failure in lesser calibers. A triovis micro-adjuster permits fine regulation of the RM 005 to exacting standards of precision, and the 55-hour power reserve is ensured by twin mainspring barrels whose sole purpose is consisted torque delivery – ideal for precision.

Richard Mille‘s innovative elaboration of Vaucher’s base movement continues in the unique design of the variable-geometry winding rotor. While other watchmakers seek to provide a robust winding system, Richard Mille goes one step beyond and permits the user to customize the polar moment of the winding rotor via adjustable winglets. Extremely active users can retract the winglets to limit strain on the winding system; more sedentary owners can deploy the devices to capture maximum energy for the mainsprings.

Durability and efficiency are ensured by ceramic rotor bearings and unidirectional winding action. The former operates without lubricant and offers an indefinite service life; the latter provides superior winding efficiency when compared to bi-directional winders.

See the supercar of luxury sports watches, the Richard Mille RM 005 in rose gold, in high-resolution images on www.watchuwant.com.