Richard Mille has opened a new factory in Switzerland that will allow the watch brand to make watch components in house.
The 3,000m² facility in Les Breuleux, in the Swiss Jura region, will be used to produce Richard Mille watch cases and certain movement components, including baseplates and bridges.
The project to open the factory, which the brand has called Proart, has been two years in the making and Richard Mille has described the new facility as "a new mile-stone in the development of the Richard Mille brand".
The Proart factory has been designed by architects Chavanne and has been built using environmentally friendly materials. The machinery and technology inside the factory is cutting edge, according to the brand.
While the factory is now open with 30 CNC programmers, inspectors and polishers on site, it will not be fully operational until April. Alain Varrin is managing the factory.
A statement from Richard Mille said: "The opening of this new facility –very much in keeping with the brand’s strategy – enables the company to further consolidate its position in a market segment for which it is perfectly suited in terms of both staff and logistics.
"The technical quality of Richard Mille watches manufactured in limited numbers has progressed in recent years, as demonstrated by the RM 039 Aviation E6-B Flyback Chronograph, an extremely technically complex and high-performance timepiece of which just 30 pieces will be produced. The development of these kinds of products in such small volumes and to such high standards is only possible through in-house production."
