Today, the RM 010 still radiates the same energy, authenticity, and appeal it exuded when it was launched roughly two decades ago. This RM010 is an impressive piece of engineering powered by a groundbreaking RMAS7 movement. This highly skeletonized automatic movement has functionalities of hours, minutes, and dates, along with an innovative variable-geometry rotor that controls how the watch is wound.
The timepiece also has a ribbed baseplate, durable titanium spline screws, and other components that deliver a water resistance of 50 meters while also keeping it as lightweight as it can be. All these components make the RM010 a true “racing machine on the wrist,” which is the identity every Richard Mile timepiece strives to live up to.
Richard Mille RM 010 History & Overview
The Richard Mille RM 010 was released in 2006. However, since this timepiece is often considered a successor to the RM 05, its history can be traced back to a few years earlier. Just three years after the Richard Mille brand launched its first model, the watchmaker released the RM 005 automatic timepiece.
The RM 010 was the company’s first automatic timepiece and soon became its most successful watch, gaining popularity on a global scale. The watch measured 37.8 mm x 45 mm x 11.45 mm, considered discrete by the standards. Two years after the RM 005 hit the market, demands shifted from modest timepieces like the RM 005 towards watches with bigger casing.
Richard Mille’s response to this shifting market trend was to create an entirely new timepiece model with a larger case size and other important upgrades. Two years after the RM 005 launched, the Richard Mille RM 010 was launched in a larger 48 mm x 39.30 mm x 13.84 mm. Some of the internal components, like the gear train, remained the same, but the new watch also came with some upgrades, including a highly skeletonized baseplate, changes in water resistance, and the use of different jewel colors in the movement.
RM 010 Features
Casing
As mentioned above, the RM 010, launched in 2006, represents a size upgrade over the RM 005 released earlier. The timepiece measured 48 mm x 39.30 mm x 13.84 mm, so it was not only longer than the earlier version but also thicker. However, given its tonneau-shaped case's extreme radius of curvature, this timepiece doesn't feel as large as you might expect in real life.
The casing had three main material variants: titanium, white gold, and rose gold. The Richard Mille RM 010 white gold is very popular. All versions have their case machined from a metal block and fully polished by hand. This gives them a highly refined appearance, as expected of a high-end luxury timepiece.
Like its predecessor, the RM 005, this timepiece had no casing ring, a standard feature in most contemporary timepieces. Instead, the watch movement is fixed directly to the case band, and five splined screws hold the entire setup together.
Lightweight But Robust Design
The RM 010 timepiece is undoubtedly bulky. Yet, despite its bulky build, Richard Mille ensures it is as lightweight as possible. With watches like the RM 010, Richard Mille introduced and perfected the use of titanium, which has become a standard feature in several watches these days.
Richard Mille is considered the pioneer of titanium casing in modern luxury watches. This rare material is the secret behind the ultra-light casing and internal components of the RM 010. The baseplate and bridges of this watch were made from an alloy with 90% grade 5 titanium, 6% aluminum, and 4% vanadium components.
While this material is commonly used in aerospace and aeronautical engineering due to its strength and corrosion resistance, Richard Mille has succeeded in incorporating it into timepiece design for the same reason.
Another technique borrowed from automobile manufacturing is the ribbed design of the baseplate. Using this technique, Richard Mille made the RM 010 as lightweight as possible while still retaining its strength despite up to 2 kilos of pressure.
Richard Mille used watches like the RM 010 to test drive some design philosophies that would later become part of the brand’s unique signature, which is used virtually in all RM automatic movements.
Variable Geometry Rotor
One of the highlights of the RM 010’s movement is its variable-geometry rotor. This feature, which debuted in the RM 005, serves the same function of optimizing the winding motion of the watch movement.
The sophisticated rotor adjusts its inertia to accelerate or decelerate the winding process based on the wearer’s arm and hand movements. For example, during sports activities, the rotor slows down to prevent overwinding, ensuring optimal watch performance.
This invention essentially optimizes the winding mechanism based on the wearer’s lifestyle. Several other automatic Richard Mille watches have this same mechanism or an advanced version based on similar principles. For instance, the patented declutchable variable-geometry rotor used in RM’s most complex watches, like the Richard Mille RM 030, significantly upgrades this same principle.
Exhibition Case Back
The Richard Mille RM 010 has an exhibition case back covered with sapphire crystal designed to glimpse the technical majesty of the skeletonized movement that powers this timepiece. It showcases how the different internal components of the watch interact with each other. You get a clear view of the movement, which looks like it is connected to the case with titanium bridges.
Even though the RM 010 does not have a power reserve indicator like many contemporary models, you can see the state of the mainspring’s wind by simply observing it through the caseback. The highly skeletonized movement is a visual marvel that gives this timepiece a unique character and visual interest.
Ergonomic Build
The RM 010 has the traditional tonneau casing, a signature feature of Richard Mille watches. While this unique design makes RM watches instantly recognizable, they are also quite ergonomic. The curvature of the case ensures that it fits snugly around the wrist.
The case has no lugs to disrupt its flow or dig into your wrist. Instead, the strap is attached directly to a notched area in the case and is held by two splines. This design ensures that the composite strap wraps around your wrist. Its simple design makes the RM 010 super comfy to wear.
RM 010 Price
As one of the older Richard Mille watches, the RM 010 is a relatively affordable Richard Mille timepiece. While you can only find a Richard Mille RM 010 for sale in the secondary market, most models generally come at a low price of roughly $120,000- $180,000.
The Richard Mille price range of $120,000-$180,000 makes the RM010 perfect for those looking to add a relatively affordable Richard Mille watch to their collection.
While Richard Mille doesn't have many limited edition variations of the RM 010, the watchmaker released a special version of the 2009 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Le Mans Classic Automatic. These models are limited to 200 and 80 pieces and are more expensive than the standard base models.
Conclusion
The Richard RM010 is the perfect entry into the Richard Mille collection world for anyone interested. This simple automatic timepiece was a remarkable feat of horological engineering when it was released about two decades ago. Although Richard Mille has produced several sophisticated timepieces over the years, models like the RM 010 are the foundation for many of the brand’s most impressive features that we see today.
