o bring this vision to life, Richard Mille began with a blank canvas. The team spent five years developing an entirely novel, patented tourbillon flyback chronograph calibre. Two new complications are introduced here: the match-phase indication and the mechanical goal counter, demonstrating the Brand’s ability to merge sport-specific functionality with advanced mechanical watchmaking.

The RM 41-01 Tourbillon Soccer draws its identity from its new calibre, a clear expression of technical mastery and refined hand-finishing. Developed in collaboration with Audemars Piguet Le Locle, the RM41-01 titanium calibre integrates a tourbillon escapement, a 70-hour power-reserve and a function indicator alongside a flyback chronograph with overlapping central minutes and seconds.

The first all-new original complication featured in this watch, the match-time indicator, is located at 9 o’clock and indicates the current phase of the match. Each reset of the flyback chronograph advances the display from 1st to 2nd Half, followed by 1st and 2nd Overtime. Opposite this window sits the iconic function indicator at 4 o’clock: three titanium plates over a lacquered background display which of the winding, neutral or hand-setting functions is active.

Crafted from microblasted grade 5 titanium, the movement architecture pushes the limits of technical feasibility. Baseplate and bridges are highly skeletonised to provide room for its 650 internal components. On the flyback chronograph side, two column wheels orchestrate a dance of levers and hammers. The chronograph’s overall design ensures a coherent and rational distribution of components without unnecessary layering that favours technical solutions to optimise functions.

Framing the movement, microblasted and satin-finished titanium flanges, a triumph of complex machining, showcase the RM 41-01’s second exclusive complication: the mechanical goal counters. These track the scores of home and visiting teams using the pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock. Each press advances the hands along metallic rails via a dedicated gear train, showing up to nine goals before automatically returning to zero.

This new configuration, which brings together nearly 800 components including the case and the strap, required extensive validation protocols to ensure that the RM 41-01 could withstand all 120 of Richard Mille’s internal shock-resistance tests, including the ultimate 5,000 g’s trial.

Richard Mille brings the concept of skeletonisation to its apotheosis: every bridge, gear, and lever is meticulously optimised to remove unnecessary material. This approach reduces weight and brings to bear an extraordinary number of finishing techniques. Every component of the movement, seen or unseen, offers a level of finishing that reflects countless hours of painstaking handcraftsmanship.

The microblasted bridges feature complex, hand-finished geometries, with PVD coatings to enhance legibility of the calibre’s architecture. Adapting the same finishing, the baseplate receives hand-applied white lacquer to highlight the engraving.

For its part, the minute-counter bridge showcases Richard Mille’s mastery of titanium with its contrasting rounded contours and sharp, linear forms. Microblasted, with hand-polished chamfers prior to PVD treatment, it features graduated angles and straight-grained upper surfaces. This finish is also found on the 5N PVD-treated titanium bridge securing the fast- rotating barrel, itself inspired by the hexagonal pattern of a soccer ball. Contrasting colours and types of finishing emphasise the depth and skeletonisation of the movement.

True to the brand’s identity, the RM 41-01 Tourbillon Soccer prioritises usability and ergonomics. Designed to deliver both comfort and a strong presence on the wrist, the 105- component tonneau-shaped case is presented in two versions.

The first of these introduces Basalt TPT^®, the latest composite developed with North Thin Ply Technology (NTPTTM) and derived from the eponymous volcanic rock. Like the dark blue Quartz TPT^® used in the second case iteration and the Carbon TPT^® found on both casebands, Basalt TPT^® combines exceptional mechanical performance with resistance to chemicals and corrosion, thermal stability, and UV resistance.

Aesthetically, Basalt TPT^® presents its own distinct design language. The 40-micron-thick basalt fibres (vs. 30 and 45 microns for carbon and silicon fibres of Carbon TPT^® and Quartz ^TPT® respectively), stacked with a 45° rotation between layers, are more visible in the composite, revealing a naturally wood-like grain that can be rendered in deep, rich tones.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Manual winding tourbillon movement with:

• Hours, minutes, seconds
• Flyback chronograph with central minutes and seconds • Power-reserve indicator
• Function indicator
• Mechanical goal counters
• Match-time indicator

MOVEMENT DIMENSIONS

32.00 x 30.40 mm

THICKNESS

10.23 mm

TOURBILLON DIAMETER

12.40 mm

BALANCE WHEEL DIAMETER

9.00 mm

JEWELS

51

BALANCE WHEEL

Glucydur^®, 2 arms and 4 setting screws, moment of inertia 11.5 mg•cm2, angle of lift 53°

FREQUENCY

21,600 vph (3 Hz)

BALANCE SPRING

Elinvar by Nivarox^®

SHOCK PROTECTION

KIF Elastor KE 160 B28

BARREL SHAFT

Nickel-free Chronifer^®

POWER RESERVE

Around 70 hours (±10%), without chronograph running. Actual power-reserve results will depend on the period of time the chronograph is utilised.

SKELETONISED GRADE 5 TITANIUM BASEPLATE AND BRIDGES

These components have been finished in 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. This combination further increases the mechanical properties of this material, which explains its frequent use in the aerospace, aeronautics and automotive industries.

The bridges are microblasted and hand-bevelled before receiving a finish with blue and gold PVD treatments.

The baseplate of the calibre RM41-01 has been optimised to achieve an extreme weight/resistance ratio. The skeletonised baseplate and the bridges have been subjected to intensive and complete validation tests to optimise their resistance capacities.

PATENTED FLYBACK CHRONOGRAPH CONSTRUCTION

The architecture of the movement allows for a coherent and rational arrangement of its components. It avoids superimpositions and incorporates technical solutions that optimise its functions.

For instance, the geometry of the column wheels has been carefully designed to ensure perfect synchronisation of the various levers, even over the long term. This design has been implemented to maintain precise regulation and guarantee flawless long-term performance.

To optimize the reset and flyback operations and provide tactile feedback similar to the start pusher, a dedicated column wheel manages these functions. This double-column-wheel construction is unprecedented in a flyback chronograph and has been patented.

The chronograph is linked to a new match time indicator by a set of levers. This indicator displays the phase of play: with each reset, the counter switches from the first to the second half, then to overtime.

MECHANICAL GOAL COUNTERS

The RM 41-01 features two innovative goal counters, allowing real-time tracking of goals scored by the local team, as well as by the visiting team.

The titanium pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock increment the score for the home and visiting teams respectively. Each press advances the hands mounted on metallic rails via a dedicated train of gear up to a maximum of nine goals; the tenth returns it to zero thanks to the release of the spring.

FUNCTION INDICATOR

In a manner similar to a car’s gearbox, the function indicator allows one to see the winding, neutral and hand-setting positions as the crown is pulled out. An aperture located at 4 o’clock shows the function selected: N (Neutral) - W (Winding) -H (Hand-Setting).

BALANCE WHEEL WITH VARIABLE INERTIA

This type of balance wheel guarantees greater reliability when subjected to shocks and during assembly or dismantling of the movement, thus providing better chronometric results over time. The index is eliminated, thereby allowing a more precise and repeatable calibration using 4 setting screws.

FAST-ROTATING BARREL

This type of barrel provides the following advantages:

• The phenomenon of periodic internal mainspring adhesion is significantly diminished, thereby increasing performance.
• Provision of an excellent mainspring delta curve with an ideal power reserve/performance and regularity ratio.

WINDING-BARREL TEETH AND THIRD-WHEEL PINION WITH CENTRAL INVOLUTE PROFILE

The central involute profile of the winding-barrel teeth provides an optimal pressure angle of 20°, which promotes effective rotary motion and compensates for possible variations in the operation of the going train. This, in turn, ensures excellent torque transmission and a distinct improvement in performance.

BARREL PAWL WITH PROGRESSIVE RECOIL

This device permits an appreciable winding gain (around 20%), especially during the start of winding. It is also helpful in ensuring an even distribution of the mainspring’s internal tension.

SPLINE SCREWS IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM FOR THE BRIDGES AND CASE

The design of these screws permits better control of the torque applied during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.