Richard Mille 07-01 Coloured Ceramics: Combining 80s Design and Modern Technology
As the leaves turn brown and fall from the trees, many are bidding summer goodbye – but Richard Mille’s new 07-01 Coloured Ceramics models are not amongst them. Under the vibrant parasol of its ‘Endless Summer’ campaign, the brand is introducing three dreamy new pastel-coloured watches for women. The watches draw inspiration from 1980s style, primarily the correspondingly postmodern architecture movement ‘Memphis Design’, with its roots in Milan.
The case
For this colourful trio of 07-01 timepieces, Richard Mille opts for a lightweight TZP ceramic bezel. Coming in blush pink, lavender, or powder blue, these TZP ceramic bezels are not just a pretty face, but also extremely strong, lightweight, and able to maintain their colour over the years even with extensive wear. Meanwhile, the case bands (comprising the middle section of the case) are white-gold and sandblasted for a contemporary aesthetic. The watch case combines dimensions of 31.40 x 45.23 mm with a height of 11.85 mm.
The dial
Resilience is key
A hallmark of Richard Mille, the baseplate and bridges of the 07-01 Coloured Ceramics use micro-blasted electroplasma-treated Grade 5 titanium. This has two benefits: it gives greater rigidity to the mainplate and provides precise surface flatness, which is essential for ensuring the smooth functioning of the gear train. Both the skeletonised baseplate and bridges also undergo extensive tests before their release, in order to ensure that dial meets optimal strength requirements.
An artistic spin
The aesthetes amongst Richard Mille’s fanbase will no doubt appreciate the horology house’s nod to the post-modern Memphis Design movement. This comes in the form of juxtaposing colours and shapes. Highly contemporary, the 07-01Coloured Ceramics‘s design provides a definitive contrast to traditional watchmaking designs, thus making it every bit a ‘Richard Mille’ in spirit.
On closer inspection, the shapes on the dial showcase the geometric guillochage technique, which comprises of repeated individually applied lines across a plain surface. This decorative technique requires hand-turned engine crafting and an extreme dexterity of expert hands. While adding a refined and modern touch, the guillochage adds an interplay between light and shadows across the grey PVD-treated red gold dial. Finally, coloured ceramic, laser-cut rubber appliqués and diamond-set elements add a glamorous touch to the playful watches.
The movement
While the 07-01 Coloured Ceramics offers only hours and minutes, it is nevertheless very much a high-tech movement. The CRMA2 is a skeletonised automatic winding movement with hours, minutes and variable-geometry rotor. Notably, it integrates a variable-inertia balance that maintains excellent long-term performance, as well as the aforementioned variable-geometry rotor in 5N red gold, which adapts the winding of the watch to the wearer’s activity. Alongside the integration of a full involute gear train and a fast-rotating barrel, the calibre CRMA2 lays focus upon performance and accuracy, while providing the RM 07-01 with a solid power reserve of approximately 50 hours.
Price and strap
Last but not least, the trio of Richard Mille 07-01 Coloured Ceramics timepieces come with sleek polished calfskin straps in an array of three contrasting colours. The price of all three watches is the same, at 179,000 Swiss francs (excl. VAT).
The year 2022 was an impressive one for the Swiss watch industry. Exports set a new record of CHF 24.8 billion, an increase of 14% on 2019 figures, and the MoonSwatch embarked upon its unprecedented success story, with more than three million pieces now sold. But what about 2023? Which markets are strongest, which trends…
Earlier this month, to mark the introduction of H. Moser and Cie.'s new online sales platform, the family-run Swiss watch company has presented three new models: the H. Moser and Cie. Vantablack editions. Their colour? Completely black. Unusually, the dials are coated with Vantablack, the blackest black ever produced by artificial means. In fact, Vantablack…
The new Audemars Piguet luxury watch model belongs to the technological highlights of the brand founded in 1875 in the Swiss Jura. With a movement of only 2.89 mm and a case 6.3 mm high the new Royal Oak Selfwinding Perpetual Calendar Ultrathin (Ref. 26586IP.OO.1240IP.01) is one of the thinnest models with a perpetual calendar worldwide.…
Richard Mille is introducing a brand new limited edition – and it's like nothing we have seen before. Taking its inspiration from the rock 'n roll lifestyle of the 1960s, the RM 66 Flying Tourbillon from Richard Mille is surely one of the most extravagant pieces to exist in the current collection. 50 pieces are…
Oris launches two new models of their high-performance diver’s watch Aquis: One version with a new oceanic blue gradient dial that joins the collection of 39.5 mm models. And in response to customer feedback, one larger version with a case size of 41.5 mm. Both are water resistant to 30 bar (300 m) and feature…
Nivada Grenchen has introduced a new version of the Antarctic Diver. The Nivada Grenchen Antarctic Diver Green features a new dial and some minor design updates, but the case and overall specifications remain the same. Throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, Nivada Grenchen, a renowned tool-watch brand, released numerous editions of its Antarctic watch. Some…
TAG Heuer has unveiled the latest in its Carrera series: the Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport and the Carrera Chronograph Tourbillon Extreme Sport. These new timepieces mark a significant evolution from the brand's 2016 series, combining TAG Heuer’s legendary racing heritage with innovative design. The watches boast a range of vibrant colours, advanced materials, and enhanced…
More than half a century after introducing its Top Time watch, Breitling is launching an updated and upgraded model. When it was first presented in the 1960s, it particularly suited to the needs of the young and active professionals and even attracted many young women. The striking dial has long been known to collectors as…
Every year, the new products of certain manufactures are eagerly awaited and discussed. This also goes for the new watches to emerge from Patek Philippe, for example. As for this year, some of these launches could be found on Instagram just a few days before Watches & Wonders, and as much as this information leak…
Vacheron Constantin is updating its Patrimony with the introduction of a new 39 mm case for its manual-winding model, alongside a new dial and strap colours. The Patrimony moon phase retrograde date is also enjoying a new look. The collection's subtle yet effective facelift comes as the minimalist line celebrates its 20th year in the…
From 29 June to 2 July, this great classic car meeting returns to the legendary Le Mans race track. Against a history-steeped backdrop, around 800 classic cars as well as another 8,500 club vehicles will take part in a series of fiercely contested races. This year, the 150 exhibitors and 1,000 drivers from 30 different…
Blancpain has added two unique additions to its most classic collection in the form of a new Villeret Quantième Complet and a Villeret Ultraplate. Both wristwatches are housed in an 40mm 18-carat red-gold case and – for the first time – the red-gold material of the cases, Roman numerals and sage leaf-shaped hands have been…
Piaget has unveiled the limited Altiplano Skeleton High Jewellery Métiers d’Art. This watch showcases the brand’s expertise in ultra-thin mechanics, gem-setting, and cloisonné enamelling. Cloisonné enameling, a centuries-old technique, involves crafting detailed designs by outlining patterns with thin metal wires or strips (cloisons, meaning “compartments” in French). These compartments are filled with colored enamel paste…