Can There be Three Kings of Extremely Skinny Watches?

In a yr that noticed the introduction of the thinnest-ever mechanical wristwatch within the Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Extremely, we now have a brand new king of skinny stylish: the Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari. If you add the Piaget Altiplano Final Idea, you end up with a trio of watches which are bewildering. In the event you have a look at all of them collectively in profile, you’ll (most likely) end up scratching your head attempting to determine which one is the thinnest, whereas being amazed that these are all working watches; we now have seen each the Piaget and Bvlgari examples up shut and may affirm that they’re fairly actual. Our flip will include this RM UP-01 Ferrari too.

In all seriousness, you have to callipers or another skilled measurement software to get the story on the variations in specs between the RM UP-01 Ferrari, Bvlgari Extremely and Piaget Altiplano Final Idea. One factor we are able to say for sure is that this battle is way from over, although we referred to as it for Bvlgari with the Extremely. So, how skinny are you able to go together with a mechanical watch? Allow us to undergo the salient specs for the RM UP-01 first. About that title, though the press notes don’t spell it out, it appears possible that UP stands for Extremely Plat, which is French for extremely flat. Most crucially, the watch is simply 1.75mm thick, simply 0.05mm thinner than the Bvlgari; the Bvlgari Extremely itself bested the Piaget Altiplano Final Idea (AUC for brief) by 0.20mm. That quantity, by the best way, is the thickness of the sapphire crystal on the AUC.

We confess to being a bit much less blindsided than most on the looks of this marvel from Richard Mille. Rumours have been swirling whilst Bvlgari took its flip within the highlight, however we didn’t anticipate the watch to drop fairly so out of the blue. To be truthful right here, Richard Mille is just not recognized for its flat watches — the other if something, though the manufacture does boast quite a few ultra-light watches. Truthfully, the concept of creating a superlight watch that was additionally ultra-thin, and as sturdy as mechanically doable has stuffed the editorial crew right here with enthusiasm for years. Within the context of Richard Mille and Ferrari, the analogy right here could be discovered on the racetrack. In different phrases, the RM UP-01 Ferrari is the equal of the fattest, lightest and hardest racing tyre.

On that observe, the RM UP-01 is a watch with a motion and a case, not like its Piaget and Bvlgari friends. This was executed to offer a measure of stability and to make water-resistance a actuality — it is just 10m right here however that’s nonetheless unbelievable. By the use of comparability, the Bvlgari Extremely has the identical water-resistance ranking (by the manufacture) whereas Piaget makes no guarantees in any respect about this. For the file, the uncovered gears of each the Extremely and the RM UP-01 prompts us to recommend that the watches must be avoided moisture. Some specialists recommend that 10m water-resistance is just not even splash-resistant, however we doubt anybody goes to check these watches.

On that observe about uncovered gears, the RM UP-01 has two apertures on the entrance of the watch (actually an enormous bezel framing the time indicator and the uncovered escapement) that function a operate selector (winding and time-setting) and a technique to set and wind the watch; calibre RMUP-01 is manual-wind, and may stand up to greater than 5,000 Gs of acceleration. Richard Mille calls these apertures crowns, and it operate that method for positive. Nevertheless, as Watchfinder & Co notes, they’re extra just like the particular programs tha pocket watches as soon as used to wind and set the time previous to Adrien Philippe (of Patek Philippe) inventing the keyless works, and thus introducing the world to the crown.

The official press notes for the watch don’t embrace any notes about particular instruments wanted to work these controls, nevertheless it appears possible. The truth is, this appears essentially the most logical rationalization for a way Richard Mille managed to get the watch be water resistant. Little question there shall be numerous debates about whether or not Richard Mille is utilizing crowns right here or not, however this results in some key differentiating factors between the three kings of extremely skinny watches.

For classicists preferring their watches spherical and with a crown, even when that crown is a telescopic surprise of latest expertise, then the AUC is the thinnest wristwatch. For individuals who really feel like a watch wants a correct case and motion, distinct from one another, and the notional means to truly be worn, then the RM UP-01 is the thinnest wristwatch. As for the Extremely, it’s the true uncrowned champion of extremely skinny watches. We like this fashion of taking a look at issues as a result of it permits every of the three watches (every one an distinctive work of horological artwork, irrespective of which method you slice it) to shine.

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