The RM 07-01 Colored Ceramic Collection Celebrates the Playful Spirit of Memphis Design
Richard Mille, known for its exclusive and extravagant timepieces, is determined to keep the spirit of summer alive, even as autumn settles in. This season, the renowned boutique brand unveiled the striking RM 07-01 Colored Ceramic collection, featuring watches priced at US$205,000 each. These watches draw inspiration from the vibrant aesthetic of the 1980s Memphis design movement, infusing a playful and colorful essence into the world of horology.
The Memphis design movement, founded by Ettore Sottsass in Italy, combines geometric Art Deco style with a lively Pop-Art sensibility. This artistic movement is currently experiencing a revival, thanks to a group of designers known as Memphis Milano, who revived the aesthetic in a collection of objects and furniture displayed at last year’s Triennale Milano.
Cécile Guenat, the creative and development director at Richard Mille, expressed her fascination with Memphis design, emphasizing its diversity and freedom. She noted that the movement’s pioneers aimed to break free from the constraints of Modernist aesthetics and explored the use of various materials in their designs.
Guenat is known for infusing Richard Mille’s highly technical watchmaking with a sense of fun and whimsy, as seen previously in the Bon Bon collection and the Smiley Tourbillon. This is a remarkable achievement considering the watches from the brand typically command prices in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
For the RM 07-01 Colored Ceramic collection, Guenat selected three vibrant and summery colors: blush pink, lavender, and powder blue. These hues adorn the brand’s signature tonneau-shaped cases, meticulously crafted from Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal (TZP) ceramic. TZP ceramic is not only exceptionally lightweight and durable, boasting a hardness of 1,400 Vickers, but it also maintains its color vibrancy over extended periods without fading.
The colorful and scratch-resistant ceramic bezels and case backs are connected by micro-blasted white gold case bands, accentuated with polished pillars. The three-part case design ensures water resistance up to 50 meters, making these timepieces suitable for various occasions. Completing the ensemble are matching varnished calfskin straps that harmonize with the watch’s aesthetics.
Beneath the captivating exterior, each watch houses the skeletonized CRMA2 movement, featuring automatic winding. The movement’s bridges and base plates are meticulously crafted from micro-blasted grade-5 titanium, further enhanced with an electro-plasma treatment.
While the colors may exude a sense of delicacy, the CRMA2 movement is anything but fragile. Designed for action, it features the brand’s variable geometry rotor in 5N 18-karat red gold, adapting the watch’s winding to the wearer’s activity level and providing a power reserve of approximately 50 hours.
The contemporary guilloché-engraved linear Memphis motifs grace the gray PVD-treated, open-worked red gold dials. These dials are adorned with additional Memphis-inspired details, including colored ceramic elements, laser-cut rubber appliques, and diamond-set accents, creating a mesmerizing blend of modernity and traditional craftsmanship in watchmaking.
Richard Mille’s RM 07-01 Colored Ceramic collection not only captures the essence of an “endless summer” but also pays homage to the exuberance and creativity of the Memphis design movement. These watches are a testament to the brand’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of horological artistry and celebrating bold aesthetics.
If you’re looking to infuse your wristwear with a burst of color and nostalgia, these limited-edition timepieces are a vibrant choice, embracing the spirit of summer all year long.
