Richard Mille - Bubba Watson

A Look at Richard Mille RM 038 Tourbillon ‘Bubba Watson’

Richard Mille RM 038 Tourbillon ‘Bubba Watson’ Watch

As Bubba Watson is a rare professional golfer who likes to wear a watch or a bracelet when he plays so is the Richard Mille RM 038 Tourbillon Bubba Watson, its a rare timepiece being made by in a limited edition of 38 pieces, not for the faint of heart either as it is offered at $525,000 (circas £350,000) each.

The RM 038 Bubba Watson was launched by Richard Mille in January 2011 when they also signed Bubba Watson as a company ambassador, Richard Mille have designed the watch with this in mind and given the demands of the game of Golf the focus was placed on the lightness of the RM 038, its shock resistance, and not least comfort.
Richard Mille state that the RM 038  Bubba Watson is built for golfers and other sports persons who appreciate exclusive timepieces, a sports person who requires a rare and distinctive timepiece that can withstand the extreme conditions placed on them whilst playing sports.
When it comes to Comfort Richard Mille has made the RM 038 Bubba Watson in a case measuring 48mm x 39.70mm x 12.80mm and have managed to installed a tourbillon Calibre in the timepiece. The watch is a lovely fit around most wrists and it needs to be to worm whilst swinging a club for how many hours a day on the course. it also comes with a white rubber strap.

The RM 038 case is made of an alloy named Magnesium Aluminium AZ91. This alloy is composed of 90% magnesium and 8.9% aluminium. Due to the density of  Magnesium the AZ91 Alloy used for construction is one of the lightest used in watch manufacture. To achieve the whitish (well light grey) case colouring the case is treated by electro plasma oxidation. This treatment is not only for colouring but it does also improve the hardness and scratch resistance of the case along with increasing wear and corrosion resistance.
The RM 038 Tourbillon Bubba Watson is water resistant to 50 meters.

Technical Details – Richard Mille RM 038 Tourbillon Bubba Watson

Movement: Calibre RM038 manual winding tourbillon with hours and minutes.

Dimensions of movement: 30.60 mm x 29.37 mm, Thickness: 7.55 mm, Tourbillon diameter: 10.90 mm, Balance diameter: 9.12 mm

Number of jewels: 19
Balance: Glucydur, 2 arms, 4 setting screws, inertia moment 11.50 mg.cm2, angle of lift 53°
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3Hz)
Balance spring: Elinvar by NIVAROX
Shock protection: KIF ELASTOR de KE 160 B28

Power Reserve: Circa 48 hours

Variable Inertia, Free Sprung Balance: The free-sprung balance provides better reliability in the event of shocks, movement assembly and disassembly. It also guarantees better chronometric results over an extended period of time.

Fast Rotating Barrel - 6 hours per revolution instead of 7.5

Winding barrel Teeth & Third Wheel Pinion with Central Involute Profile: The central involute profile of the winding barrel teeth and pinion provides an optimal pressure angle of 20°. This promotes effective rotary motion and allows for compensation of possible variations in the engagement of the going train, thus insuring excellent torque transmission with a distinct improvement in performance.

Baseplate, Bridges & Spline Screws: grade 5 titanium allows the whole assembly to be given great rigidity.

Case: is made of an extremely rugged and light alloy called magnesium WE 54. Magnesium WE 54, used for the RM 038, is an alloy composed of 89% magnesium, 6% yttrium and 5% rare earths. It is one of the lightest metals used in construction and has excellent property retention capacities at elevated temperatures.

Case Dimensions: 48 mm x 39.70 mm x 12.80 mm.

Water Resistance to 50 meters, ensured by two Nitril O-ring seals.

Crystal:

Bezel side: In sapphire (1800 Vickers) with anti-glare treatment (both sides), Thickness: 1.20 mm.

Case back: In sapphire with anti-glare treatment (both sides), Thickness: at the center 1 mm and outer edges 1.73 mm