Ahead of SIHH 2012, which starts January 16th, Richard Mille has revealed a new timepiece, the RM 037, along with an all new in-house automatic movement.

Powering the RM 037 is the new CRMA1 caliber, a high-tech movement which is skeletonized in grade 5 titanium. It features an oversized date at 12 o’clock and a function window at 4 o’clock. A pusher at 4 o’clock allows the wearer to select the mode: (W) winding, (N) neutral and (H) hand setting functions with a simple push. An aperture a 4 o’clock shows the function selected. A pusher at 10 o’clock controls date changes, useful when the date needs to be corrected or adjusted.

The RM 037 has a new crown mechanism, patented by Richard Mille. Typically, the crown of a watch is attached directly to the movement, but in this case it is instead integrated directly into the case. This eliminates the need for a stem, and the risk of losing the crown or breaking the stem in the movement after a knock is minimalized.

“Forty-four different stamping operations are required for the three main components of the case (bezel, caseband and case back). The machine tooling process requires two days of adjustment for the bezel, two days for the caseband and two days for the case back. The empty case requires more than 255 tooling operations and more than five hours of glazing and polishing in the final stage.”

The complex case shape is obtained using a high-tech five axis machine. The “Richard Mille” engraving on the back and inside curves of the case require 45 hours per timepiece. The case is water-resistant to 50 meters, ensured by two Nitril O-ring seals. The case assembly uses 20 spline screws in grade 5 titanium, and abrasion-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.

Power reserve 50-hours, variable geometry rotor and free sprung balance with variable inertia.