The new RM 33-03 Automatic reflects Richard Mille’s ongoing evolution, introducing a new round automatic watch that remains true to its uncompromising technical and aesthetic standards.
The RM 33-03 succeeds the RM 33-02, introducing greater complexity while preserving the unique ergonomics of the earlier shape. Here, the sporty lines of a tonneau shape meld with the natural balance of a circular watch.
‘As with every creation in the Richard Mille collection, the blend of elegance, technicity, and ergonomics exhibited by the RM 33-03 attests the care that went into it,’ says Cécile Guenat, Creation and Development Director at Richard Mille.
Precision in motion
At the heart of the RM 33-03 Automatic lies the new skeletonised automatic RMXP3 calibre, a movement whose slim 3.28 mm profile comes thanks to its off-centre, monobloc micro rotor crafted from solid platinum. Mounted on ceramic ball bearings and winding bi-directionally, the rotor ensures optimal energy generation while ensuring the compactness of the entire movement.
The latter rests on a titanium baseplate treated with Titalyt®, an electro-plasma oxidation process that enhances hardness and resistance. Produced in the same material, the bridges are entirely coated with black PVD.
This combination of material and surface treatment makes the entire assembly rigid and ensures precise surface flatness, the key to flawless functioning of the gear train and accurate timekeeping. Such precision engineering demands exceptional care and expertise, as thin components are naturally prone to flexing and vibrating under the mechanical stress of machining and the thermal variations encountered during both manufacturing and finishing processes.
Surrounding the calibre is a black PVD-treated titanium date disc. Semi-instantaneous, it is visible suspended above the white-coloured field of the aperture at 5 o’clock.
Unusual for a Richard Mille watch, the small-seconds display appears at 6 o’clock.
A historic horological complication that, beyond its aesthetic aspect, enlivens the dial with subtle motion. These complex mechanics come to life thanks to a variable-inertia balance operating at 3Hz. By setting four small weights around the balance wheel, the oscillation rate may be fine-tuned without altering the length of the hairspring. This regulating organ, the apotheosis of watchmaking, meticulously regulates the energy stored in the fast-rotating barrel, providing over 40 hours of power reserve.
And of course, a Richard Mille watch is never short on traditional Haute Horlogerie techniques like sandblasting, micro-blasting, satin-finishing, and bevelling, which must be applied by skilled craftspeople. ‘The idea is to accentuate the volumes within the calibre,’ Cécile Guenat adds. ‘Meanwhile, the empty and full spaces created by the movement’s high degree of skeletonisation also contribute to a shadow and light mood.’
Enhancing the three-dimensional architecture of the calibre, numerals in 18K 5N red gold are mounted on rigid titanium rails positioned between the flange and the movement hovering above the calibre. This intricate dial, like the bridges, is a technical feat due to its thinness, but is also functional. Spanning the entire calibre, it draws the eye to the small seconds counter.
Genuinely luxurious: state-of-the-art materials
The RM 33-03 Automatic builds on the aesthetic codes of its predecessor, preserving and evolving them. Forward-thinking materials like titanium and Carbon TPT® contribute greatly to the identity of this watch, as both case materials are incredibly light in addition to being scratch resistant and visually appealing.
Whether in Carbon TPT® or in grade 5 titanium, the case is defined by the sleek lines of its sport-inspired design, merging the curvature of the brand’s tonneau cases with the distinctive features of its circular watches. Secured by the brand’s signature titanium spline screws, the tripartite case structure features a combination of satin and polished finishes.
Both versions measure 41.7 mm in diameter and are merely 9.7 mm thick, a compact dimension that makes them perfectly suited to any wrist; combined with their ultra-light weight, they are barely noticeable when worn.
The strap design follows these unique lines from indentations at 6 and 12 o’clock, creating
a strikingly original dynamic. These vanishing lines further contribute to extending the energy of the case design. A grade 5 titanium folding buckle ensures a perfect fit and secure fastening on wrists.
The RM 33-03 Automatic is available in full titanium or in Carbon TPT® with a 5N red gold caseband, continuing Richard Mille’s tradition of combining very high-end materials with the most advanced ones. A union in line with the brand’s philosophy, the new RM 33-03 Automatic is a masterclass in contemporary comfort using cutting-edge visuals and technology.
