Watches

Yes or No: Richard Mille RM 11-03 Automatic Flyback Chronograph McLaren

This week’s Yes or No features this new reference from Richard Mille. The RM 11-03 is cobranded with luxury auto manufacturer  McLaren.  Here’s a bunch of data from their site-

 

TL:DR:

I’d put this on and never take it off.

 

Skeletonised automatic winding movement with adjustable rotor geometry offering hours, minutes, seconds, flyback chronograph, 60-minute countdown timer at 9 o’clock, 12-hour totalizer, oversize date, month indicator and rotor with variable geometry.

 

Dimensions

Movement :

30.25 x 28.45 mm

Thickness: 9.00 mm

 

Titanium pushers

Fitted to the Carbon TPT® caseband, echo the design of the headlights on the 720S.  Titanium crown

Rotor with variable geometry

  • Central flange in grade 5 titanium
  • Weight segment in 18K white gold
  • 6-positional adjustment via grade 5 titanium srews
  • Ribs in 18K white gold
  • Ceramic ball bearings
  • Unidirectional anti-clockwise winding direction

Month display

Semi-instantaneous indicate with Arabic numerals, placed between 4 and 5 o’clock.

 

Power reserve

Circa 50 hours (+/- 10%). Actual power reserve results will depend on the period of time the chronograph is utilised.

Spline screws

in grade 5 titanium for the bridges and case.

 

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.

Baseplate, bridges and balance cock made of grade 5 titanium

The baseplate and the bridges are crafted of grade 5 titanium, a biocompatible, highly corrosion-resistant and remarkably rigid alloy, which enables the gear train to function effortlessly. The alloy is 90% grade 5 titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium.

 

 

Finishing

Movement

  • Baseplate and bridges in titanium, wet sandblasted, PVD treated
  • Anglage and polishing by hand
  • Locking sections hand polished
  • Burnished pivots
  • Diamond polished sinks
  • More crazy shit you’ve never heard of
  • Pinions with undercuts
  • Sandblasted and rhodium-plated, bevelled wheels

 

Steel parts

  • Sapphire blasted surfaces
  • Anglage and polishing by hand
  • Steely Dan
  • Screw slot and screws bevelled and polished with rounded and polished tip

 

Wheels

  • Concave chamfering with a diamond tool
  • Circular-decorated faces
  • Rhodium plating (before cutting the teeth)
  • Minimal corrections to preserve the geometry of the wheels and their performance

Technical Sheet

Main features

Free sprung balance with variable inertia

This type of balance wheel represents the ultimate in innovation. It guarantees greater reliability when subjected to shocks and also during movement assembly and disassembly, hence better chronometric results over time.

The regulator index is eliminated and a more accurate and repeatable calibration is possible thanks to 4 small adjustable weights located directly on the balance.

Double barrel system 

The double barrel system contributes to the torque stability over a longer period. This is achieved by using more rotations of the barrel, there by reducing pressure and wear on the teeth, bearings and pivots, hence an improved long-term performance.

Other features

  • Jewels: 68
  • Barrel arbor: AP 20 steel
  • Balance: Glucydur, 4 arms, moment of inertia 4.8 mg•cm2, angle of lift 53º
  • Frequency: 28’800 vph (4 Hz)
  • Balance spring: AK3
  • Shock protection: INCABLOC 908.22.211.100 (transparent)
  • Escapement wheel jewels: Rubifix (transparent)
  • Stem with three positions: manual winding, date, hand setting

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