That one of polo’s greatest champions should be able to wear a watch in the midst of play, and a tourbillon at that, is by no means a miracle. Rather, it bespeaks years of research and studies of how a wristwatch resists when confronted with violent blows. Experts in this area, the brand designed the RM 53-01 around a single goal: making it extremely tough, while unveiling its calibre. “Polo is a dangerous sport, and hard knocks are a regular occurrence. It’s a very elegant game, but also a contact sport,” explains Richard Mille. “Given that Pablo has sustained a large number of fractures in the course of his career, I asked our teams to come up with a watch that could resist the many types of shocks arising in a polo match, whilst leaving the movement visible.”
Pablo Mac Donough © Richard Mille / @Marcelo Endelli
Well aware that regular glass would not provide the necessary resistance to ward off the impact of a mallet, engineers for the brand, collaborating with Stettler – a world-renowned sapphire specialist – took inspiration from current practices in the automotive realm to produce a laminated glass. Use of this glass, composed of two sheets of sapphire glass separated by a thin Polyvinyl film, constitutes a horological first.
In the face of the strong shockwave produced by a blow from a mallet, the glass will crack, but without ever shattering. With anti-reflective and UV coatings, this glass, which preserves the movement from the external environment, is patented exclusively to Richard Mille. Punctuated by notches that reinforce its structural integrity, the case is machined in Carbon TPT®, a fabulously tough and virtually indestructible protection, recognised for its excellent resistance to micro-cracks and tears. The characteristic damascene sheen of Carbon TPT® and sharp lines of the case speak to the especially sporty nature of this watch. Shock is the enemy of a tourbillon movement. Richard Mille’s solution to this? A cable-suspended movement!
RM 53-01 Tourbillon Pablo Mac Donough – limited series 30 pieces © Richard Mille
The atypical architecture of this design required the creation of two separate baseplates. The first, or “peripheral” baseplate, is fixed to the case and supports the tensioner mechanisms. The second, known as the “central” baseplate, is linked to the peripheral baseplate by cables and incorporates the wheels comprising the calibre as well as the winding mechanism. The central baseplate rests, like a spider in the middle of its web, on two braided steel cables just 0.27 mm in diameter. These cables, sketching a three-dimensional structure in their path through 10 pulleys, are anchored by 4 tensioners. The watchmaker is responsible for tensioning the cables by rotating a spline screw located at the centre of each tensioner. By ensuring an even distribution of tension, this pulley system guarantees perfect balance of the whole mechanism. The suspended movement and the use of grade 5 titanium (double baseplate and bridges) contribute increased stiffness, while ensuring smooth functioning of the going train and optimal shock protection.
It should go without saying, Richard Mille is smart enough to know that the recognizable layout and stratospheric price tag has to be followed closely by cutting edge technological innovation — therefore the RM011, once you see, or even better, wear one, you will know was designed in the get-go to be in its own little microcosm, safely guarded away from the contest. Having met the guy a few times, a couple of weeks ago at last I could talk with him a little more — perhaps not much about watches but rather branding, ambassadors, partnerships, automobiles, even sports (in relation to some of the future plans). What came out for me once again was that this huge energy radiating from him and kind of magnetically transferring to his audience — he flew at the exact same night from Taipei into Nürburg (not just a move hub) and yet bright and early he was already around, catching up with his coworkers and guests of the event. I’m nearly useless, let alone presentable after an intercontinental flight, so I could love his tireless energy and extreme enthusiasm for all the subject even more.