Curations: Richard Mille expands the RM 07-01 Automatic line for women by infusing cutting-edge material with bling
- The Swiss watchmaker introduces 2 new timepieces made with Carbon TPT, a high-performance composite that is tough yet lightweight
- The Starry Night variation is set with 181 diamonds; another RM 07-01 Automatic model features a bracelet with links made of Carbon TPT and red gold
Richard Mille continues to expand its RM 07-01 Automatic collection for women, introducing two new watches that combine cutting-edge material with sparkling gems and golden accents.
The RM 07-01 Automatic Starry Night and RM 07-01 Automatic with an open-link bracelet both feature the Swiss watchmaker’s signature tonneau-shaped case, scaled to fit a more delicate wrist and made of a high-performance material called Carbon TPT, or thin-ply technology.
Originally used to make the sails of racing yachts, Carbon TPT is light yet strong, offering sturdy protection for a watch movement. Richard Mille also chose Carbon TPT for its striking appearance, which combines damascene patterns and a moiré sheen with a black matt finish.
The RM 07-01 Automatic Starry Night features a case and linked bracelet made entirely of Carbon TPT, with the bracelet weighing only 29 grams. The design is enhanced by 181 diamonds of various sizes set in the bezel and dial plate, creating a look that evokes the appearance of a nighttime sky.
The hardness of Carbon TPT requires Richard Mille to use specialised machinery equipped with diamond bits to drill holes for the gem settings. Prongs made of 5N red gold are shaped separately before they’re embedded in each setting to hold the diamonds in place.
The other new RM 07-01 Automatic model intertwines Carbon TPT and 5N red gold in an open-link chain bracelet to form a distinctive jewellery watch.
The bracelet is composed of hand-finished links that alternate between each material, with the polished red gold providing a dramatic contrast with the matt Carbon TPT. The case includes a bezel and caseback in the carbon composite, accented by a red gold caseband.
Both additions to the RM 07-01 Automatic collection feature a crown made of red gold, as well as tonneau-shaped bracelet clasps that have been detailed to reflect Richard Mille’s characteristic case shape.
The watches run on the in-house Calibre CRMA2, a skeletonised automatic movement featuring hours, minutes and a variable-geometry rotor, with a power reserve of around 50 hours. The movement is visible through the dial and the caseback – another design characteristic shared across the Richard Mille range.