Today, I decided to get my hands on a classic – the Richard Mille RM 07-01. This watch is just, wow, you know? It’s got that super recognizable Richard Mille look, but it’s also kinda elegant. So, I figured, why not try to make one myself? It seemed like a fun challenge.
First things first, I had to really study the watch. I spent hours looking at pictures, videos, anything I could find about the RM 07-01. I needed to understand how it’s put together, the materials, the whole deal. This part was actually pretty interesting, like a deep dive into watchmaking.
Then came the hard part – getting the materials. Let me tell you, sourcing stuff that even remotely resembles what Richard Mille uses is tough. I mean, they use some seriously high-tech stuff. I managed to find some decent alternatives though, like, some good quality metal for the case and some strong, clear material for the crystal. It wasn’t exactly the same, but hey, I’m not a billionaire, right?
Next, I started working on the case. This was probably the most time-consuming part. I used a small milling machine that I have to shape the metal. It took a lot of patience and careful measuring to get that signature Richard Mille shape. There were a few mess-ups along the way, of course, but I learned from each mistake and kept going.
- Milled the case shape from a block of metal.
- Polished the case to a smooth finish.
- Carefully cut the crystal to fit the case.
The movement was a whole other beast. I’m not a watchmaker, so I decided to use a pre-made movement that was somewhat similar in size and function to the one in the RM 07-01. Fitting it into the case was tricky, but I eventually got it to work.
The Dial and Hands
For the dial, I tried to mimic the skeletonized look of the original. I cut out the dial from a thin sheet of metal and then carefully painted it. The hands were also tiny and delicate, so I had to be super careful when handling them. I painted them to match the color scheme I was going for.
Finally, I assembled everything. This was the moment of truth. Slowly and carefully, I put all the pieces together, making sure everything was aligned and secure. And you know what? It actually looked pretty good! It definitely wasn’t a perfect replica, but it had that Richard Mille vibe. It was my very own RM 07-01.
This whole project was a real learning experience. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the craftsmanship that goes into making high-end watches. Would I do it again? Maybe. It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. And now I have a pretty cool watch to show for it.
It felt so good to see the final product and to see it work.