Richard Mille RM 62-01 Tourbillon Vibrating Alarm ACJ1 Limited Edition Watch (In Partnership with Airbus Corporate Jets)

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Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) and Richard Mille have launched a new travel-watch, inspired by and adapted to, exclusive journeys on an Airbus corporate jet.

Called the RM 62-01 Tourbillon Vibrating Alarm ACJ1, the new watch’s innovative features include a discreet alarm that alerts the wearer through vibrations that only they can feel. The Vibrating Alarm complication was developed by Richard Mille with Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi. Its principle rests the automatic trigger, at the programmed time, of a vibrating signal produced by the rotation of an oscillating weight. Machined from a single piece of white gold, this weight is precisely calibrated to oscillate at 5,400 rpm.

Thanks to its dial and two hands, the alarm may be adjusted to the nearest minute of a full 24 hours, using the function selector situated at 3 o’clock. An on/off indicator at 5 o’clock completes the mechanism. The maximum duration of the vibration, which has a dedicated barrel, is 12 seconds. It can be recharged by pressing a 12 times on the pusher at 8 o’clock. The power reserve can be viewed on a scale situated at 7 o’clock.

A pusher located at the centre of the crown makes it possible to select among five different functions with a simple push: winding, hand setting, alarm setting, UTC setting and neutral position. A disc at 3 o’clock displays the selected mode against a light-coloured ground: N (Neutral) — W (winding) — T (time setting) — U (UTC hand setting) — A (Alarm setting). Located at 6 o’clock is a disc indicating whether the time displayed is Ante Meridiem (AM) or Post Meridiem (PM). Further, a semi-instantaneous oversize date display is placed in a red outlined horizontal aperture under 12 o’clock.

This new watch encapsulates the pioneering, proven and industry-leading expertise from two companies, known for delivering the highest standards and most exclusive customer experiences in their industries. An evolution of an earlier watch, it continues a partnership begun in 2016.

The announcement of this new watch was made alongside a 1/20th scale model of the ACJ320neo featuring a Melody cabin in unique Richard Mille livery, highlighting the link between the companies.

As with the previous watch collaboration, sketches of the new design were initially created by ACJ Head of Creative Design, Sylvain Mariat, with the watch being turned into reality by a team at Richard Mille, including Salvador Arbona, Technical Director for Movements.

The face of the new watch comprises titanium/Carbon TPT® that has been machined to represent the shape of an aircraft window, revealing different layers that echo the grain of the exotic wood typically found in corporate jet cabins. The crown-winder features engine fan blades, while the sides of the watch are reminiscent of intricate, sculpted, metal aircraft structure, as are miniature torque-set screws. Skeletonisation – a hallmark of Richard Mille watches – reveals the sophistication of the movement inside – visible through the transparent front and back.

The caseback and bezel are comprised of a first bezel in polished and satin-finished grade 5 titanium, to which is affixed a second bezel, just 1.80 mm in thickness, machined from Carbon TPT®. The caseband and pushers are also milled from Carbon TPT® enhanced with stiffeners in microblasted and polished grade 5 titanium. The case is assembled with 20 Torq-Set® screws in grade 5 titanium and abrasion-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel. This type of screw is employed in the aerospace industry to ensure optimal control and transmission of torque.

The crown incorporates a special security system to prevent accidental over-winding, which could cause damage to the winding stem or place extreme pressure.

Technical details

Model: RM 62-01 TOURBILLON ACJ
Limited edition of 30 pieces in titanium and Carbon TPT®

Movement

Calibre RM62-01
Manual winding tourbillon movement with hours, minutes, oversize date, UTC (Universal Time Coordinated), am/pm indicator, function selector, power-reserve indicator
Vibrating alarm function with on/off activation indicator
Power Reserve: Circa 70 hours (± 10%), indicated at 11 o’clock
Skeletonised Baseplate and Bridges Made of Grade 5 Titanium
Chronofiable® A8 certification

Free-sprung balance with variable inertia: The free-sprung balance at 9 o’clock offers increased reliability in the event of shocks and movement assembly or disassembly, thus achieving better chronometric results over time. The index has been eliminated, allowing more precise and repeatable adjustment using 4 setting screws.

Winding barrel teeth and third-wheel pinion with central involute profile: The wheel with a central developing profile and a pressure angle of 20° promotes rolling movement more effectively by compensating for variations in gear engagement, thus ensuring excellent torque transmission with a distinct improvement in performance.

– Movement dimensions: 31.92 x 31.99 mm
– Thickness: 7.75 mm
– Tourbillon diameter: 12.30 mm
– Balance wheel diameter: 10.00 mm
– Jewels: 77
– Balance: Glucydur®, with 2 arms and 4 setting screws
– Moment of inertia: 10 mg.cm2, angle of lift 53°
– Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
– Balance spring: elinvar by Nivarox®
– Shock protection: KIF Elastor KE 160 B28
– Barrel shaft in nickel-free Chronifer® (DIN x 46 Cr 13 + S), with the following characteristics: stainless – antimagnetic, suitable for tempering

Fast-Rotating Barrel (6 Hours Per Revolution Instead Of 7.5 Hours): This type of barrel provides the following advantages. The phenomenon of periodic internal mainspring adhesion is significantly diminished, thereby increasing performance. Provision of an excellent mainspring delta curve with an ideal power reserve/performance and regularity ratio

Barrel Pawl with Progressive Recoil: This device permits an appreciable winding gain (circa 20%), especially during the start of winding. It is also helpful in evenly distributing the mainspring’s internal tension.

Spline Screws in Grade 5 Titanium for the Bridges: This permits better control of the torque applied to the screws during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.

Finishing

Movement
– Hand-polished bevelling
– Hand-polished locking-sections
– Sunray brushing finishing on bridges
– Sapphire-microblasted milled sections
– Lapped and polished contact points
– Burnished pivots

Steel Parts
– Sapphire-blasted surfaces
– Anglage and polishing by hand

Wheels
– Concave chamfering with a diamond tool
– Circular finished faces
– Rhodium plating (before cutting the teeth)
– Minimal corrections applied to the wheels in order to preserve geometry and performance.