Richard Mille debuts RM 11-03 Automatic Flyback Chronograph

A fixture of the Richard Mille collection since 2007, the RM 011 is taking its bow. Retiring at the height of its glory, it will make way for the RM 11-03 Automatic Flyback Chronograph, in which Richard Mille’s new automatic RMAC3 calibre has a 3-D quality that brings its complexity to the fore visually

The glossy bevelled rims marked with intermediate times surrounding the coloured counters of the flyback chronograph and seconds window confer depth to the visual maze that is the RM 11-03 Automatic Flyback Chronograph. This sense of volume is further accentuated by an upper bridge in satin-brushed grade 5-titanium that contrasts with the movement – also crafted of titanium but with a PVD coating – and the annual calendar with its oversize date, as well as the 12-hour counter and countdown function of the flyback chronograph.

The maze continues on the back of the calibre with a satin-brushed PVD-treated lower bridge that highlights the double barrel mechanism and the modern lines of our new variable-geometry rotor in grade 5-titanium, inspired by the aerodynamic appendages seen in Formula 1.

This exclusive Richard Mille design makes it possible to effectively adapt rewinding of the mainspring to the user’s activity level, whether in sporting or non-sporting environments. By adjusting the placement of the wing, the rotor’s inertia is modified to either speed up the winding process in the case of leisurely arm movements, or to slow it down during sporting activities. As a result, this invention allows the movement’s winding mechanism to be optimised and personalised to the owner’s lifestyle.

Offering six possible positions, the grade 5 satin-brushed and PVD-treated titanium rotor is mounted on ceramic ball bearings. Performance is also showcased, thanks to the new RMAC3 automatic calibre. The entire flyback chronograph movement is designed for optimal rigidity, and high performance functioning of its gear trains thanks to the grade 5 titanium employed for the baseplate and bridges. Its two barrels, mounted side-by-side, ensure stable coupling while providing the power reserve.

The 4 Hz free-sprung balance is highly resistant to shocks and can be tuned more precisely than a traditional balance wheel. The three-part tonneau case has also been reworked by the designers, who have modernised its lines without denaturing the watch, lending it a sportier, more dynamic character. Skilled workmanship and protracted machining times have resulted in very skillful ergonomics and finishing – unique in the world of haute Horlogerie – that this case exhibits.

Chamfering and buffing the surfaces, which is completed entirely by hand, is a delicate and time-consuming task. This silhouette, which first appeared with the RM 27-01 Rafael Nadal, has become a distinguishing characteristic of all Richard Mille’s sports watches, differentiating them from lifestyle models while reinforcing their structural integrity.

Details recalling automobile racing abound in the RM 11-03. The grade 5-titanium crown borrows the design of competition wheel rims and tyre treads. The grooved pushers, machined of the same material that recalls the surface of pedals, have covers made of another material as ubiquitous as titanium in Formula 1: NTPT carbon.

As always with Richard Mille, the entire mechanism can be admired through anti-reflective-coated sapphire glass that reveals the calibre. The case, available in red or white gold and titanium, is held together by 20 grade 5-titanium spline screws.

Flyback Chronograph
Using the pusher located between 4 and 5 o’clock, the running chronograph can be reset without first having to stop the mechanism. This was originally developed for pilots to avoid wasting time (and therefore accuracy) as a result of stopping, resetting and starting the chronograph while crossing a navigational point.

When the chronograph function is activated, the hours and minutes show the time elapsed thanks to the counters at 6 and 9 o’clock, while the central hand indicates the seconds. The user can start or stop the chronograph function via the pusher located between 1 and 2 o’clock. The flyback function can be continuously reset by depressing the pusher located between 4 and 5 o’clock.

The RM 11-03 Flyback Chronograph has a power reserve of circa 55 hours (±10%), as the actual power reserve results will depend on how much the chronograph features of the timepiece are utilised.

A sports watch in every sense, the RM 11-03 Flyback Chronograph proudly displays the brand’s new aesthetic and is heavily inspired by automotive history. The model was officially unveiled on September 4, at the 3rd edition of Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille.