When the stars align

The enduring fascination with stars and constellations persists today even after centuries of exploration. For millennia, humanity has gazed at the night sky, discerning patterns among the stars and crafting myths and legends to interpret them. Constellations, clusters of stars forming recognisable shapes, have served as navigational aids, seasonal markers and storytelling tools across diverse cultures.
This sense of wonder and connection to the universe is brilliantly captured in the RM 07-01 Intergalactic collection that features four new timepieces within the Richard Mille Constellation range: RM 07-01 Dark Night; RM 07-01 Starry Night; RM 07-01 Bright Night and RM 07-01 Misty Night. Each piece is a testament to unique design and meticulous craftsmanship, inviting wearers on a journey of exploration back to the dawn of time.

Tailored specifically for women, these timepieces underscore the ongoing expansion of the women’s watch market. As women’s fashion and accessory preferences evolve, there is an increasing desire for timepieces that reflect individual style and taste. By offering distinctive designs, innovative features and targeted marketing campaigns tailored to female consumers, brands can effectively carve out a niche and attract a broader audience.

Mesmerising narrative
To meet these demands, the latest additions to Richard Mille’s galactic universe feature an interplay of darkness and light, blending Carbon TPT with diamonds to create a mesmerising narrative of the birth of the cosmos. These timepieces evoke the primordial era when the universe was shrouded in darkness, punctuated only by the sudden explosion that birthed countless glittering stars scattered across the Milky Way.

Crafted from Carbon TPT and adorned with diamonds set in red gold prongs, these four new pieces exude an aura of mystery and allure. They seamlessly complement the women’s RM 07-01 collection, offering a unique interpretation of celestial beauty. “It all began with the concept of a star explosion amidst the black void,” explains Cécile Guenat, creative and development director. “We aimed to reimagine gem-setting as a means of uniting these elements in a profound and captivating manner.”

Each piece in the collection boasts its own distinct characteristics: The RM 07-01 Dark Night foretells the genesis of countless constellations, symbolised by the gleaming gold prongs that adorn it. Meanwhile, the sparkle of diamonds captivates on both the RM 07-01 Starry Night, featuring a Carbon TPT bracelet, and the RM 07-01 Bright Night, distinguished by its microblasted 5N red gold caseband. Lastly, the RM 07-01 Misty Night glows with warmth, adorned with 5N red-gold pillars reminiscent of a twinkling firmament.

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The case of each timepiece protects the delicate internal components of the watch from damage, moisture, dust and other environmental factors. In the RM 07-01 Intergalactic collection, the design and execution of the watch demonstrates a complete conceptual approach to the movement, case and dial. As a result, everything has been constructed according to extremely rigorous specifications and in complete harmony.

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The bezel and caseback are machined from Carbon TPT, an exclusive material with a unique damascene appearance. Carbon TPT is composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fibres. These layers, with a maximum thickness of 30 microns, are impregnated with matrix, then woven on a special machine that modifies the direction of the weft by 45° between layers. Heated to 120°C at a pressure of 6 bars, the Carbon TPT is then ready to be processed on a CNC machine at Richard Mille’s case factory. Carbon TPT improves the rate of occurrence of breaking stresses by 25% and of micro-cracks by 200% compared to other technically advanced forms of carbon material. The three-part case is water resistant to 50m, ensured by 2 Nitril O-ring seals. The case is assembled with 12 grade 5 titanium spline screws and abrasion resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.

Unique qualities
For this collection, diamonds and Carbon TPT harmonise, accentuating each other’s unique qualities and achieving a perfect balance between darkness and light. The intricacies of this gem-setting technique underscore Richard Mille’s expertise in working with Carbon TPT. Unlike gold, which allows artisans to shape prongs for securing diamonds, the hardness of Carbon TPT necessitates the use of diamond-bit milling tools to machine the settings.

Hand-inserted diamonds and polished 5N red gold prongs grace the numerous settings of varying diameters, each meticulously crafted. “Utilising prongs as decorative elements is an aesthetic approach that gradually illuminates this burst of light,” notes Cécile Guenat. Across the collection, these settings, like the casebands and dials, undergo evolution.
Powering these four timepieces is the in-house CRMA2 calibre, a skeletonised automatic movement crafted from grade 5 titanium, featuring hours, minutes, and a variable-geometry rotor. Microblasted grade 5 titanium with electroplasma treatment gives great rigidity to the baseplate, as well as precise surface flatness which is essential for the perfect functioning of the gear train. Bridges are also in grade 5 titanium, microblasted and electroplasma treated. The skeletonised baseplate and the bridges were subjected to separate and extensive validation tests to ensure optimal strength requirements.

Carbon TPT — a lightweight and durable technical material with a luxurious matte finish — enhances the sense of warmth and offers a tactile pleasure when worn. It ensures optimal protection for the movement while lending each watch a distinctive appearance, characterised by variations in damascene effects and moiré motifs, rendering each timepiece truly unique.

The brilliance of the diamonds is heightened by the presence of Carbon TPT, adding to the unique allure of this new collection that seamlessly blends aesthetics, comfort and technical precision. Undoubtedly, these four new additions will further enhance the brilliance of the RM 07-01 Intergalactic collection, ensuring its prominent place within the illustrious constellation of Richard Mille timepieces.

The RM 07-01 Intergalactic collection stands out with its unparalleled design and craftsmanship

RM 07-01 Bright Night
Bezel in Carbon TPT® set with diamonds and red
gold prongs
Caseband in red gold
Caseback in Carbon TPT®
Central dial in Carbon TPT® set with diamonds and red gold prongs and inserts
Crown in polished red gold with red gold prongs on black rubber
228 diamonds — 0,81ct
849 red gold prongs

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RM 07-01 Misty Night
Bezel and caseband in
Carbon TPT® set with diamonds and red gold prongs
Caseback in Carbon TPT®
Pillar in polished red gold
Central dial in Carbon TPT® set with diamonds and red gold prongs and inserts
Crown in polished red gold with red gold prongs on black rubber
251 diamonds — 0,81ct
1,123 red gold prongs

RM 07-01 Starry Night
Bezel and caseband in
Carbon TPT® set with diamonds and red gold prongs
Caseback in Carbon TPT®
Central dial in Carbon TPT® set with diamonds and red gold prongs
Crown in polished red gold with red gold prongs on black rubber
Bracelet full link in Carbon TPT®
181 diamonds / 0.57 carat
701 red gold prongs

RM 07-01 Dark Night
Bezel and caseband in Carbon TPT® set with diamonds and red gold prongs
Caseback in Carbon TPT®
Central dial in Carbon TPT® set with red gold prongs
Crown in polished red gold with red gold prongs on black rubber
51 diamonds — 0,081ct
765 red gold prongs

CRYSTAL
Bezel side
In sapphire (1,800 Vickers) with anti-glare treatment (both sides)
Thickness: 1.60mm at the centre
Caseback
In sapphire with anti-glare treatment (both sides)
Thickness: 0.95mm at the centre; outer edges 1.67 mm

INTERIOR FLANGE
In carbon fibre; index points filled with approved luminous material

MOVEMENT FINISHING
Microblasted anglage
Microblasted-milled section
Microblasted sinks
Electroplasma treatment for the baseplate and the bridges

STEEL PARTS
Satin-finished surfaces
Anglage hand-polished
Hand-polished sinks
Burnished sections

PROFILE-TURNING
Lapped and polished ends
Burnished pivots
Post faces polished

WHEELS
Concave chamfering with a diamond tool
Diamond-polished angles
Circular-finished faces
Rhodium plating (before cutting the teeth)

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