Curations: Why the slim RM 033 and RM 67-01 stand out in Richard Mille’s avant-garde watch line-up
- The RM 033 Automatic Extra Flat took the Swiss luxury brand in a more formal direction with an elegant, round timepiece
- With the RM 67-01 Automatic Extra Flat, the watchmaker built a thinner version of its iconic tonneau-shaped design, using mechanical advancements created in-house
After establishing its name in haute horlogerie with a series of sporty and substantial watches, Richard Mille started exploring more formal and sleek designs. This move not only expanded the luxury brand’s portfolio, but also created an engineering challenge for the innovative Swiss watchmaker to tackle – adapting its mechanisms to fit into thinner cases.
Starting in 2007 with the debut of the RM 016 Automatic Extra Flat, Richard Mille has regularly departed from its distinctively robust, tonneau-shaped designs to build slimmer timepieces and play with different shapes. Two other watches in this segment of the product line-up are the RM 033 and RM 67-01 – here’s what to know about each model.
RM 033 Automatic Extra Flat
Richard Mille unveiled the RM 033 in 2011 as an elegant and formal proposition for luxury watch connoisseurs. This round, thin timepiece is unconventional in terms of the brand’s signature aesthetic – which often draws inspiration from the world of motorsports – but it can still be easily recognised as a Richard Mille watch.
The RM 033 makes a bold style statement with an oversized case that measures 45.7mm in diameter yet is a mere 6.3mm thick. Crafted in either 18-carat red gold, 18-carat white gold or titanium, the tripartite case is curved to fit snugly on the wrist, and is water-resistant up to 30 metres.
The watch dimensions are made possible by the placement of the RMXP1 movement’s automatic micro-rotor on the side of the case instead of the centre, saving extra millimetres on the height of the timepiece.
The technical challenge of this design was ensuring proper weight distribution so that the self-winding micro-rotor can operate with optimal efficiency in its off-centre position. Cast in platinum, the micro-rotor winds bi-directionally to power the extra-flat skeletonised movement within its compact space, giving the watch a power reserve of 45 hours.
The skeletonised design clearly defines the RM 033 as a Richard Mille timepiece, while the oversize numerals on the dial add a chic touch. The metal watch hands are milled and handcrafted, and can be adjusted with a ceramic crown detailed in titanium, red gold or white gold.
