Haute News: Hands-On with the Richard Mille RM 011 Automatic Flyback Chronograph Black Phantom (Exclusive Pics, Specs, and Pricing information)

Richard Mille has just unveiled the RM 011 Automatic Flyback Chronograph, and Haute Time went to the Richard Mille Beverley Hills boutique for an exclusive look. The new watch, nicknamed the “Black Phantom,” is the first to combine Black TZP ceramic and NTPT® carbon:

Combining high-tech materials is something of a Richard Mille specialty, and this latest pairing is perhaps the best we’ve seen to date. The “Black Phantom,” not only cements Richard Mille’s leadership position in the development of new technologies, but it also improves the design of the RM 011, a timepiece that is quickly becoming an icon of the Richard Mille collection.

The case of the Black Phantom is made from extremely scratch-resistant Black TZP ceramic, which has been sandblasted for an impeccable matte finish that will prove very popular with the new generation of collectors. Meanwhile, the center caseband, crown and pushers are crafted from NTPT® (North Thin Ply Technology) carbon. This incredibly strong and light material has appeared in several of the brand’s watches, including the Automatic Flyback Chronograph RM 011 Lotus F1 Team-Romain Grosjean in carbon NTPT®, released this year.

However, the color scheme has been entirely rethought, and simplified. The hour indicators, counters, hands and flange, combine dark black elements with touches of white for a much more legible dial. The “Black Phantom” is therefore easier to read than the Automatic Flyback Chronograph RM 011 Lotus F1 Team-Romain Grosjean in carbon NTPT®, although peering into that busy dial made it feel like an F1 engine, which was both appropriate and a lot of fun.

The core features of the RM 011 are back, including flyback chronograph, month display between 4 and 5 o’clock, oversize date display at 12 o’clock, annual calendar, 60-minute countdown timer, and 12-hour totalizer. It also houses a skeletonized automatic winding movement with a power reserve of 50 hours.

The 50-piece limited edition is available now at Richard Mille Beverly Hills, Richard Mille Las Vegas, and authorized Richard Mille retailers in North and South America. For more information, please visit Richard Mille.