Cover The Richard Mille RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics watches are available in lavender pink, powder blue and blush pink
The Richard Mille RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics watches are available in lavender pink, powder blue and blush pink
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With the final chapter of its RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics collection, Richard Mille deepens its exploration of material, colour and form—now elevated through the precision of gem-setting
In contemporary watchmaking, ceramic has come to represent a particular kind of ambition. Valued for its scratch resistance, lightness and enduring finish, it is also notoriously difficult to work with. Its extreme hardness leaves little margin for error in machining or finishing, and introducing colour adds a further layer of complexity. Achieving uniform, saturated tones requires exact control over composition and firing, while ensuring that the material retains its structural integrity over time.
While ceramic is no longer a rarity in watchmaking today, few brands have explored its full potential with the same consistency as Richard Mille. The brand has been working with the material for over a decade, steadily refining its approach not only in terms of durability and finish, but in pushing its expressive possibilities through colour and now, increasingly, through gem-setting.
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Above The Richard Mille RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics watches are available in lavender pink, powder blue and blush pink
The Richard Mille RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics watches are available in lavender pink, powder blue and blush pink
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With the latest RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics collection, this ongoing exploration reaches its most resolved expression—marking the final chapter in a series that has examined the intersection of colour, material science and contemporary design since 2021. There are three new references, each limited to 50 pieces, introducing gem-setting to the collection for the first time.
The watches are housed in coloured ceramic cases measuring 31.40mm x 45.23mm x 11.85mm, offered in three pastel shades: blush pink, lavender pink and powder blue. Crafted from Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal (TZP), this material is chosen not just for its chromatic intensity, but also for its stability and resilience. Achieving such saturated tones in ceramic remains a highly controlled process, requiring precise calibration at every stage of production.
Above The polished white gold casebands of the Richard Mille RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics watches are set with a variety of stones
The polished white gold casebands of the Richard Mille RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics watches are set with a variety of stones
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Each of the three eye-catching dials are different, yet all take inspiration from the bold visual language of the 1980s. Various shapes and patterns animate each dial, composed through multiple layers and techniques, including guilloché, laser-cut rubber appliqués, ceramic elements finished to micron-level precision, and diamond-set components mounted within white gold inserts. These elements stand out against a grey PVD-treated red gold dial plate, creating a playful juxtaposition of textures and colours underpinned by the technical precision characteristic of Richard Mille.
The use of guilloché on the dial is particularly noteworthy. Executed on a traditional rose engine, the pattern is composed of finely traced, repeating curves that demand absolute consistency from the artisan. It introduces a classical counterpoint to the otherwise contemporary composition, showing that even at its most experimental, the Swiss manufacture remains anchored in the discipline of traditional watchmaking.
Above Each TZP ceramic bezel is set with diamonds
Each TZP ceramic bezel is set with diamonds
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Gem-setting extends this impressive display of precision and expression. Given the hardness of ceramic, setting gemstones requires exceptional accuracy, particularly when executing the maison’s signature mitraillage technique, a specialised, high‑precision machining process that creates minute, precisely calibrated holes in extremely hard materials to prepare them for gem-setting. Each stone is individually set, secured by gold prongs and positioned with exacting control. The combinations differ across the three references: diamonds paired with yellow and blue sapphires on the blush pink model; pink sapphires and tsavorites on the powder blue; and a more vivid arrangement of orange sapphires and rubies on the lavender pink.
Even on the polished white gold casebands, satin-finished pillars and carefully placed stones continue the interplay of light and texture. Beneath this expressive exterior lies the in-house CRMA2 calibre. Skeletonised and crafted from grade 5 titanium, it offers a power reserve of approximately 50 hours, supported by a fast-rotating barrel. A variable-geometry rotor in gold ensures efficient winding, while electroplasma treatments on the baseplate and bridges enhance contrast and depth.
As the final instalment in a series that has unfolded over five years, this Richard Mille release does not seek to outdo what came before, but to resolve it. It brings together the collection’s defining themes—colour, texture and technical mastery—into a more cohesive whole.
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Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
