RICHARD MILLE AND NTPT COMBINE GOLD AND COMPOSITE MATERIALS
RICHARD MILLE AND NTPT COMBINE GOLD AND COMPOSITE MATERIALS
In a world rst, the Swiss watchmaking brand and North Thin Ply Technology are unveiling two new materials: Gold Quartz-TPT® and Gold NTPT carbon, which showcase an exclusive combination of quartz or carbon with gold leaf. These new materials will be presented in two Richard Mille women’s models: the RM 07-01 and the RM 037.
In 2016, Richard Mille is introducing NTPT technology on two of its women’s models: the RM 07-01 and the RM 037. To mark this occasion, the brand is launching exclusive versions combining quartz or carbon with gold leaf. Richard Mille and NTPT share the same ambition of being the absolute leaders in their respective elds.
Driven by the same passion, the two companies maintain a complementary relationship that is conducive to the emergence of new ideas and projects.
Their joint adventure began with the development of NTPT carbon and Quartz-TPT®. Used in cases and mainplates ever since, these materials have enabled the Jura-based brand to achieve major progress in inalterability and shock-resistance. Their extreme physical properties, which make these composite materials particularly dif cult to machine, meant that both companies were required to spend hours developing new machining programmes and researching cutting tools adapted to carbon and quartz. The watches adorned in these novel materials stand out visually from traditional gold or platinum cases, and are thus instantly recognisable.
Richard Mille now wishes to offer these materials, initially intended for men’s watches, to its female customers, who are increasingly captivated by their unique nish. The watchmaking brand and NTPT have thus joined forces once again to present Gold Quartz-TPT® and Gold NTPT carbon, further expanding the combinations of materials available in its women’s collection.
This new interpretation of NTPT technology is still based on the principle of inserting layers of quartz-TPT® or NTPT carbon at a 45° angle, in this case alternating with dozens of gold leaf layers, none of which are more than 10 microns thick. As gold is a noble material in chemical terms, it was very dif cult for the NTPT and Richard Mille engineers to ensure it “fused” correctly with carbon and quartz.
This procedure accentuates the speci c characteristics of these materials, which in turn enhance the contours of the cases they adorn thanks to the unique play of light they create and their extremely attractive graduation of golden tones. The overall look is enhanced by a satin-brushed 5N red-gold case-band with polished pillars, and a dial set with hundreds of diamonds and a centre in either mother-of-pearl or black onyx.
Gold Quartz-TPT® and Gold NTPT carbon will be exclusively presented on the cases of the RM 07-01 and RM 037 Ladies’ watches, with every model rendered unique by the random design revealed during machining. Following in the footsteps of titanium, ceramic and sapphire, these two new additions are thus enriching the range of technical materials available for women.