Behind the supreme technicality of Richard Mille timepieces lies a very simple objective: the produce the most robust and resistant watches. This involves the use of materials whose hardness and resistance can sometimes be a headache for those who have to programme the machines to shape the cases at the brand’s Proart Factory in Les Breuleux, Switzerland.

Apart from the more familiar carbon fibre, the brand has produced watches in such unusual materials as aluminium oxide (sapphire) and brown silicon nitride. Now, Richard Mille pioneers in the use of a revolutionary new form of carbon fibre: NTPT®, or North Thin Ply Technology.

First developed for the production of high-tech sails for racing yachts, the technology behind NTPT® was first licenced to the Swiss Alinghi team for use in the America’s Cup and later purchased by the group behind North Sails – the world’s biggest sail manufacturer - in order to develop and promote Thin Ply Technology for all rigid laminate applications using the North TPT concept.

As a result, the technology has since found applications in Formula 1, in the manufacture of the car chassis, as well as in the Solar Impulse project, in the manufacture of the ultra-light fuselage for the solar-powered aircraft.