The Richard Mille RM 74-01 Automatic Tourbillon is made with Grey Cermet, a proprietary material with excellent corrosion and scratch resistance.

Richard Mille has announced the RM 74-01 Automatic Tourbillon and RM 74-02 Automatic Tourbillon, which combine a unique and attractive appearance with technical complexity. Equipped with an automatic tourbillon caliber developed entirely in-house, both models feature a striking skeletonized design at the heart of the watch. While their appearances differ due to the difference in case materials, they are like twins, each with their own distinctive personality.

RM 74-01 Automatic Tourbillon

The RM 74-01 is powered by the in-house CRMT6 caliber, with its baseplate and bridges crafted from grade 5 titanium that has been PVD- and electroplasma-treated. Powered by a tourbillon regulator with a free-sprung balance, these timepieces utilize a high-speed winding barrel that constantly harnesses power via involute gears, ensuring the mechanism runs gracefully for 50 hours. A variable-geometry rotor allows the wearer to tailor the watch's winding efficiency to their lifestyle.

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  Grey Cermet, a new material exclusive to Richard Mille, combines the lightness of titanium with the hardness of ceramic.

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  Cermets are used in a variety of applications, from bulletproof equipment to the external fuselage parts of the space shuttle used for atmospheric re-entry and in the brakes of racing cars.

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  Combining high-performance ceramics with a zirconium metal matrix results in a unique grey hue

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  Cermet has a density of 4.1 g/cm3 and a Vickers hardness of 2,360, making it comparable to high-performance ceramics.

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  When the two weights are close to each other, the movement's inertia increases and the barrel winds faster. When the weights are at the tip of the rotor, the inertia decreases and the barrel winds more slowly.

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  Gray Cermet is the perfect material for the bezel, which is extremely susceptible to scratches, and also helps keep the watch lightweight.

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  The gear train uses an involute gear with a special tooth shape to improve torque transmission efficiency to the balance wheel, resulting in excellent timing characteristics.

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　The distinctive slender lines of the RM 74-01 beautifully highlight the magnificent tourbillon located at 6 o'clock, while the inner bezel with its specially finished bevelled edges highlights the movement. This delicate timepiece, which combines elegance and the ultimate in watchmaking technology, is further refined by the exquisite touch of hand-finishing.

Grey Cermet used for the bezel and case back

　The grey Cermet used in the RM 74-01 offers excellent corrosion and scratch resistance, making it the perfect material for the case. Combining the lightness of titanium with the hardness of ceramic, grey Cermet combines a zirconium metal matrix with high-performance ceramic. Its hardness rivals that of diamond, making it the perfect material for this watch's case. Richard Mille and the IMI Group (specializing in microtechnology) worked together over many years to develop the material and achieve its unique grey hue. Meanwhile, the caseband, bridges, and baseplate are crafted from grade 5 titanium, perfectly harmonizing with the case design.