Guide
Richard Mille materials
Carbon TPT, Quartz TPT, titanium, ceramics and sapphire: what each material is, and which references use it.
Last updated
Richard Mille cases are made from an unusually wide range of materials. The definitions below are condensed from the brand’s own model texts, and each lists the references in the index whose case uses it.
- Carbon TPT®
Composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fibres, impregnated with resin and stacked with a 45° shift between layers, then heated to 120°C at 6 bars before machining. Renowned for its resistance to microcracks.
49 references: RM 07-01, RM 07-01 Intergalactic, RM 07-02, RM 07-04, RM 011, RM 11-03, RM 11-03 McLaren, RM 11-04, RM 11-05, RM 16-01, RM 16-02, RM 17-01, RM 21-01, RM 21-02, RM 027, RM 27-01, RM 27-02, RM 27-03, RM 27-04, RM 27-05, RM 30-01, RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic, RM 032, RM 032 Ultimate Edition, RM 33-02, RM 33-03, RM 035, RM 35-01, RM 35-02, RM 35-03, RM 037, RM 37-01, RM 38-02, RM 41-01, RM 43-01, RM 50-04, RM 52-01, RM 52-05, RM 52-06, RM 055, RM 55-01, RM 57-03, RM 62-01, RM 64-01, RM 65-01, RM 65-01 McLaren W1, RM 66, RM 67-02, RM 74-02
- Quartz TPT®
Developed with North Thin Ply Technology: hundreds of layers of silica-based quartz filaments, no more than 45 microns thick, stacked by an automatic system that turns the fibres 45° between each layer. It is what gives Richard Mille cases their solid colours.
25 references: RM 07-04, RM 011, RM 11-02, RM 11-03, RM 11-03 McLaren, RM 16-02, RM 21-02, RM 27-02, RM 27-03, RM 029, RM 30-01, RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic, RM 35-02, RM 35-03, RM 38-01, RM 38-02, RM 41-01, RM 52-01, RM 52-06, RM 55-01, RM 64-01, RM 65-01, RM 67-02, RM 72-01, RM 74-02
- Gold Carbon TPT®
Some 600 layers of parallel carbon filaments interleaved with gold leaf, giving a gilded, marbled finish.
- Grade 5 titanium
An alloy of 90% titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium: biocompatible, highly corrosion resistant and rigid, widely used for baseplates, bridges and cases.
65 references: RM 005, RM 07-01, RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics, RM 07-01 Intergalactic, RM 07-04, RM 008-V2, RM 010, RM 011, RM 11-01, RM 11-02, RM 11-03, RM 11-05, RM 16-02, RM 17-01, RM 17-02, RM 19-01, RM 19-02, RM 020, RM 21-02, RM 022, RM 26-01, RM 27-05, RM 028, RM 029, RM 030, RM 30-01, RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic, RM 032, RM 032 Ultimate Edition, RM 033, RM 33-03, RM 35-03, RM 036, RM 037, RM 38-01, RM 039, RM 39-01, RM 40-01, RM 41-01, RM 43-01, RM 050, RM 50-02, RM 51-02, RM 052, RM 52-06, RM 053, RM 055, RM 55-01, RM 60-01, RM 61-01, RM 63-02, RM 63-02, RM 64-01, RM 65-01, RM 65-01 McLaren W1, RM 66, RM 67-01, RM 67-02, RM 69, RM 72-01, RM 74-01, RM 74-02, RM 75-01, RM HJ-02, RM UP-01
- ATZ ceramic
A white ceramic known for its high scratch resistance (1,400 Vickers) and its colour that never changes. TZP is its black and coloured counterpart.
20 references: RM 07-01, RM 07-01 Coloured Ceramics, RM 07-02, RM 07-03, RM 011, RM 11-02, RM 11-03, RM 17-01, RM 17-02, RM 26-02, RM 030, RM 30-01, RM 037, RM 38-01, RM 52-01, RM 055, RM 68-01, RM 72-01, RM 74-01, RM 88
- Cermet
A metallic zirconium matrix with high-performance ceramic inserts, combining the lightness of titanium with the hardness of a ceramic.