We love constraints. Performance, safety, efficiency, beauty, ergonomics: they all come together in this model, an automatic chronograph created for deep-sea diving. At 300 metres under water, there is no room for error. Clumsiness and inaccuracy can have serious consequences.
The RM 032 offers hours, minutes, seconds, a 12-hour totaliser and flyback-chronograph functions, combined with an annual calendar sporting an oversized date at 12 o’clock and a month indicator (with numbers from 1 to 12) between 4 and 5 o’clock. It also possesses a running indicator, located at 3 o’clock. Thanks to both its geometry and 2-rpm rotational frequency, it is possible to check the correct functioning of the running movement under stressful, dimly lit conditions.
RM 032 AUTOMATIC CHRONOGRAPH DIVER'S WATCH
Automatic winding movement with hours, minutes, oversize date, month, flyback chronograph with minutes and seconds counter, hour counter, running indicator and variable-geometry rotor.
Circa 50 hours (± 10%), 45 hours with the chronograph running.
Actual power reserve results will depend on how long the chronograph is utilised.
These components in grade 5 titanium with black PVD coating confer great rigidity on the whole assembly, as well as the precise surface flatness essential for perfect functioning of the gear train.
The skeletonised baseplate and bridges were subjected to separate and extensive validation tests to ensure they met rigorous strength requirements.
FLYBACK CHRONOGRAPH
Using the pusher between 4 and 5 o’clock, the running chronograph can be reset without first having to stop the mechanism.
RUNNING INDICATOR
The running indicator is located at 3 o’clock. Thanks to both its geometry and a 2-rpm rotational frequency, it is possible to check at a glance the functioning of the running movement.
The running indicator disc is composed of successive SuperLumiNova® and black sectors; as a result, it can be easily seen, day or night.
OVERSIZED DATE DISPLAY
Semi-instantaneous, placed in a red horizontal aperture below 12 o’clock, with automatic adjustment for months of 30 or 31 days.
MONTH DISPLAY
Semi-instantaneous indicator with Arabic numerals placed between 4 and 5 o’clock.
VARIABLE-GEOMETRY ROTOR
This exclusive Richard Mille design makes it possible to effectively adapt rewinding of the mainspring to the user’s activity level, in sporting or non-sporting environments. By adjusting the six-position rib, the rotor’s inertia is modified to either speed up the winding process in the case of leisurely arm movements, or to slow it down during sporting activities.
• Central flange in grade 5 titanium
• 18K white gold weight segment
• Weight segment with 6 possible positions adjusted
by screws in grade 5 titanium
• 18K white gold wings
• Ceramic ball bearings
• Unidirectional anti-clockwise winding
MOVEMENT CHARACTERISTICS
Movement diameter: 39.15 mm
Thickness: 9.00 mm
Number of jewels: 62
Balance: Glucydur®, 4 arms, moment of inertia 4.8 mg•cm2, angle of lift 53°
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
Balance spring: elinvar by Nivarox®
Shock protection: INCABLOC 908.22.211.100 (transparent)
Escapement wheel jewels: Rubifix (transparent)
Stem with three positions: Manual winding, date adjustment, time setting
CASE
The Calibre RMAC2 is protected by a large case measuring 50.00 mm x 17.80 mm, with water resistance of 300 metres (30 atmospheres) and a unidirectional turning bezel compliant with ISO 6425 norms that prevents miscalculations whilst diving, the whole assembled with 22 screws. The bezel and system attaching it to the watchcase makes it totally stable as well as impossible to inadvertently dislocate or loosen. The bezel rotates unidirectionally per ISO 6425 norms, which avoids potential mistakes when calculating diving time.
For clearer visibility under murky conditions, the minute markers of the first quarter are highlighted in red. All of these details mark the RM 032 as a tool ready to confront the most extreme conditions.
In the world of horology, the Richard Mille case is currently considered one of the most difficult to manufacture. The tripartite case has to undergo 830 operations over the course of a nine-hour milling phase. At the end of an eleven-hour machining phase, each RM 032 case has to pass an hour-long quality control.
LOCKING CROWN
During deep sea dives, water pressure is powerful enough to unintentionally operate one of the pushers, eg. the ‘start’ pusher of the chronograph. The possibility of a mistake manipulating the crown must also be taken into account.
In order to avoid potentially fatal consequences due to external pressure or accidental manipulation, Richard Mille developed a locking crown for the RM 032 that immobilises the pushers and ensures perfect water resistance to 300 metres.
The crown and pushers can be locked by simply rotating a ring on the crown (green index if unlocked, red index if locked). The movement is thus protected from damage due to excessive pressure or shocks to the crown. Water resistance is enhanced thanks to maximum pressure on the seals.
The pushers, their respective components and the crown require a 10-day machining phase. During this period numerous water-resistance tests and quality controls are carried out. All of these steps are crucial to obtain the specific ergonomic levels associated with Richard Mille watches.
Finishing
• Baseplate and bridges in hand-ground grade 5 titanium, wet sandblasted, hand drawn, hand finished and PVD treated
• Burnished pivots
• Diamond-polished sinks on the bridge side
• Pinions with undercuts
Steel parts
• Sapphire-blasted and hand-drawn surfaces
• Screw slot and screws bevelled and polished with rounded and polished tip
• Sandblasted and rhodium-plated, bevelled wheels (before cutting the teeth)
• Minimal corrections applied to the wheels in order to preserve geometry and performance.
Other features
This type of balance wheel represents the ultimate in innovation.
It guarantees greater reliability when subjected to shocks and during movement assembly or disassembly, hence better chronometric results over time. The regulator index is eliminated, and a more accurate and repeatable calibration is possible thanks to 4 small adjustable weights located directly on the balance.
The double-barrel system helps to improve torque stability over a longer period. This is achieved by distributing the stored energy across two winding barrels instead of one, which increases the number of rotations and reduces pressure on the teeth, bearings and pivots, resulting in better long-term performance.
These types of screws permit better control of the torque applied to the screws during assembly. They are unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.