Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXV

O ne of the most hotly anticipated unveilings of the SIHH always takes place with RichardMille. Every year there is an unmistakable flurry of activity and a sense of barely contained anticipation as journalists, experts, collectors and retailers await the chance to see what newmarvel the Mr. Mille has achieved. It was worth the wait as we were presented with the world’s lightest split-seconds tourbillon chronograph in the RM 50- 03McLaren F1. Normally we are introduced to a range of new creations, but this new timepiece takes the spotlight on its own as it’s so advanced, so cutting edge, it demands singular focus to fully appreciate it. So, the watch is incredibly light… the RM50-03 calibre weighs in at an almost inconceivable seven grams. Think about that for a moment. That’s like a thick piece of paper or a few pinches of salt! This record-breaking weight was obtained by using high-tech materials and by skeletonising its components as far as possible. The baseplate and bridges in grade-5 titanium are highly resistant to corrosion and remarkably rigid, enabling the gear train to function effortlessly. This alloy (90% titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium) enhances the mechanical properties. Some of the bridges of the split-seconds chronograph are made from Carbon TPT™, as is the transverse carriage that supports the entire calibre together with