Since its beginnings, Richard Mille pioneered the innovative use of materials in watchmaking, often looking to the worlds of aviation, motor racing and beyond for inspiration. Its latest release, the RM 11-05 Automatic Flyback Chronograph GMT, is no exception, which sees the premier of grey cermet, a new, exclusive Richard Mille material.

Cermet is rarely seen in watchmaking, instead used more commonly in areas including ballistic protection and aerospace fuselage components due to its lightweight yet robust nature. It has a density of just 4.1g/cm3, less than that of titanium, while its hardness of 2,360 Vickers is almost the same as diamonds. This combination of physical properties makes it an ideal choice for elements such as bezels, which are highly exposed to scratches, while ensuring the wearability and comfort of the watch.

Here its grey colour is due to the combination a metallic zirconium matrix with high-performance ceramic inserts, which involved the challenging process of heating and pressing together different kinds of materials at a high temperature without altering their respective qualities. The material is the result of many years of development between Richard Mille and the IMI Group, a specialist in microtechnology.

The material has been used to craft the distinctive tonneau-shaped case, a hallmark of many Richard Mille timepieces. Meanwhile, the watch’s lightweight credentials are further bolstered by the movement, which features a baseplate and bridges made from grade-5 titanium. The RMAC3 calibre offers a 24-hour flyback chronograph complication and annual calendar, along with a GMT display that can be easily adjusted via a push piece at 9 o’clock.

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