High Life

HIGH LIFE #13 Oct 2017 117 A s amodern brand created in the 21st century, RichardMille has endeavored to apply techniques and materials found in the world’s most innovative sectors – such as Formula 1 racing and the aerospace industry – to watchmaking with the goal of creating a truly extreme timepiece. From its first tourbillon model RM 001, which initiated a new trend in watchmaking, to the RM 027 tourbillon in 2010 – the world’s lightest mechanical wristwatch at just 19 grams – and this year’s RM 67-02 Sprint and RM 67-02 High Jump, each Richard Mille creation is a master timepiece. Creating a watch that was so uniquely adapted for the athlete that it was practically a second skin was the guiding ambition behind these latest developments. The Richard Mille team reworked the lines of the RM 67-01, whose lightness, thinness and ergonomics make it a perfect candidate to lend a sporty feel. The incorporation of four extensions, in addition to being a hallmark of the brand’s sports watches, contributes to reinforcing the case structure. The case is crafted in Carbon TPT and Quartz TPT, composite materials exclusive to Richard Mille and possessing exceptional shock resistance. The slimness of the 7.8 millimeter bezel, case band and case back assembly in no way reduces its physical properties, nor its ability to handle any situation that might occur while engaging in high-level sports. For superlative wearing enjoyment of the RM 67-02, Richard Mille has equipped these timepieces with a new comfort strap. Entirely seamless and non-slip, the strap is highly elastic, allowing it to perfectly fit the contours of each wrist, adapting to individual morphology. As the lightest strap the brand has ever created, it has helped lighten the RM 67-02 to just 32 grams. This makes the RM 67-02 the lightest automatic watch of the Richard Mille collection. These two sports versions of the RM 67-01 appeared on the wrists of Olympic Gold medal sprinter and world record holder for the 200 and 400 meters,Wayde van Niekerk, and of two-time Olympic high jump medalist Mutaz Essa Barshim during the 2017 IAAFWorld Championships in London.