RM 023 AUTOMATIC 523.06A.91
- Movement Type: Automatic Self-Wind
Richard Mille RM 023 Automatic Watch 523.06A.91: This white gold watch with white trim features skeletonized automatic movement with hours, minutes, seconds, date and adjustable rotor geometry. Also available in titanium, red gold and white gold.
Herald at their intial release in 2001 as a break from the past and a new direction of horology, the wristwatches of Richard Mille were from their very inception, extraordinary and uncompromising.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE RICHARD MILLE AUTOMATIC RM 023
CALIBER RM023: automatic movement with hours, minutes, seconds, date and adjustable rotor geometry.
Dimensions: length 45.00 mm x 39.30 mm x 11.25 mm
MAIN FEATURES
(MANY OF WHICH ARE MAJOR TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS)
POWER RESERVE
Circa 55 hours.
ROTOR WITH VARIABLE GEOMETRY
• Arm in grade 2 titanium
• Flange in grade 2 titanium
• 6-positional adjustment via grade 5 titanium screws
• Wings in 18-carat, high palladium content white gold
• Weight segment in tungsten/cobalt alloy
• Ceramic ball bearings
• Unidirectional; anti-clockwise winding direction
This exclusive RICHARD MILLE design allows the rewinding of the mainspring to be adapted most effectively to the user’s activity level within sports or leisure environments. By adjusting the six positional setting of the rib’s placement, the rotor’s inertia is modified, either speeding up the winding process in the case of minimal arm and hand movements, or slowing it down when high activity sports are pursued. As a result, this invention allows the movement’s winding mechanism to be optimized and personalized to the owner’s lifestyle.
BASEPLATE, BRIDGES AND BALANCE COCK MADE OF TITANIUM
The manufacture of these components in grade 2 titanium with black PVD coating allows the whole assembly to be given great rigidity, as well as precise surface flatness which is essential for the perfect functioning of the gear train. The skeletonized baseplate was subjected to separate and extensive validation tests to insure optimal strength requirements.
DOUBLE BARREL SYSTEM
The double barrel system helps improve torque stability over a longer period. This is achieved by utilizing more turns of the barrel, thereby reducing pressure and wear on the teeth, bearings and pivots, resulting in improved long-term performance.
DATE DISPLAY
Semi-instantaneous, placed vertically near the Roman numeral VII. The calendar disc of sapphire crystal is treated with non-reflective coating on both sides.
SPLINE SCREWS IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM FOR THE BRIDGES AND CASE
This permits better control of the torque applied to the screws during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.
OTHER FEATURES
• Movement dimensions: 30.25 x 28.45 mm x 4.33 mm
• Number of jewels: 32
• Barrel arbor – in AP 20 steel
• Balance: GLUCYDUR, 4 arms, inertia moment 4.8 mg.cm2, angle of lift 53º
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
• Balance spring: ELINVAR NIVAROX
• Index assembly: Triovis N°2
• Shock protection: INCABLOC 908.22.211.100 (transparent)
• Escapement wheel jewels: Rubifix (transparent)
• Stem with three positions: manual winding, time setting and date adjustment
WATCHCASE WITH IMPROVED FUNCTIONALITY
This was the subject of an entire year of research and development. With regard to the production of each case, 68 different stamping operations are required for the three main components (bezel, middle section and case back). The machine tooling process requires 8 days of adjusting the machines for the bezel, 5 days for the middle section and 5 days for the case back. Prior to this process, developing a methodology for carrying out this series of operations took 120 hours, the drawings for the tools 130 hours, and implementation 180 hours. Each rough case involves 202 separate machining operations. 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 an extremely rigorous specification, in the manner of the analytical engineering methods used in the design of Formula 1 racing cars where the chassis and the engine are developed in complete harmony. For example, a casing ring is no longer used and the movement is mounted on chassis mounting rubbers (ISO SW) fixed by 4 titanium screws. Features such as these are evidence of uncompromising workmanship. The tripartite case is water resistant to 50 meters, ensured by three Nitril O-ring seals. The case is assembled with 12 spline screws in grade 5 titanium and abrasion resistant washers in copper-nickel-zinc alloy.
CROWN
In grade 5 polished titanium, with double seal O-ring and collar in Alcryn.
DIAL
In sapphire (thickness: 0.40 mm) with anti-glare treatment (both sides), protected by 8 silicon braces inserted in the upper and lower grooves.
CRYSTAL
• Bezel side: In sapphire (1800 Vickers) with anti-glare treatment (both sides).
• Thickness: 1.20 mm
• Case back: In sapphire with anti-glare treatment (both sides).
• Thickness: at the center 1 mm and outer edges 1.73 mm
INTERIOR FLANGES
Upper flange in white carbon fiber, the index points filled with approved luminous material; minute flange in black carbon fiber.
FINISHING
MOVEMENT
• Baseplate and bridges in hand-ground titanium, wet sandblasted, PVD treated
• Anglages polished by hand
• Locking sections hand polished
• Burnished pivots
• Diamond polished sinks on the bridge side
• Pinions with undercuts
• Sandblasted and rhodium-plated, beveled wheels
STEEL PARTS
• Sapphire blasted surfaces
• Anglages polished by hand
• Screw slot and screws beveled and polished with rounded and polished tip