Richard Mille unveils the RM 65-01 McLaren W1 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph. Full specs, pics, and video. Price: CHF 320,000
Richard Mille has unveiled the RM 65-01 McLaren W1 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph, the most complex automatic chronograph created by the Swiss brand.
This is the fourth creation to emerge from its collaboration - on-going since 2016 - with the celebrated British supercar maker McLaren, following the inaugural RM 50-03, the RM 11-03 in 2018, and the RM 40-01 in 2021.
The inspiration for this model comes from the new McLaren W1 supercar, a successor to two of the greatest supercars ever – the McLaren F1 (1992) and McLaren P1TM (2013).
The design of the RM 65-01 McLaren W1 reflects the cutting edge, high-performance features of the car in terms of its shape, materials and functionality.
In 2022, Richard Mille’s creative team, led by Creative and Development Director Cécile Guenat, gained exclusive access to the first clay mock-ups of the W1 supercar. They decided to base the design on the car's overhead view.
The 43.84 x 49.94 x 16.19 mm Carbon TPT case of the RM 65-01 McLaren W1 (learn more about this high-tech material here) is defined by its indented ‘double’ bezel, which posed one of the most significant technical challenges during the watch's development.
Water resistance is ensured up to a pressure of 5 ATM (50 metes / 165 feet).
The crown, specifically designed for the RM 65-01 McLaren W1 and based on the splines seen on the W1’s drive shafts, is made from Grade 5 titanium with a partial, easy-to-grip rubber coating in McLaren papaya orange and a tip adorned with the McLaren ‘Speedmark’.
Drawing from the W1’s compact and muscular shape, high waist line and anhedral door, the Carbon TPT bezel sits upon a satin-finished and polished Grade 5 titanium second bezel, showcasing advanced engineering.
Its curves reveal the Carbon TPT caseband, adding depth and emphasizing the watch's contours. The development process required nine months of work, during which eight prototype designs were tested. The upper bezel is a mere half a millimeter thick at its thinnest point—the equivalent of five Post-it notes.
The skeletonized titanium dial echoes McLaren’s wheel rim patterns, with colour accents that evoke the dashboard of a supercar.
Hours, minutes, and the running seconds at 6 o'clock are indicated in yellow, while the chronograph functions are marked in orange, including the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock and the 12-hour counter at 9 o'clock.
The ‘function selector’ crown operates along the lines of a transmission selector by giving the option to choose between three different positions W for ‘Winding’, D for ‘Date’ or H for ‘Hand-Setting’. A hand at 4 o’clock displays the selected function.
A semi-instantaneous date display, placed in a vertical aperture at 11 o’clock, completes the dial indications.
The RM 65-01 McLaren W1 is powered by Richard Mille’s most high-performance automatic chronograph movement, the 480-part RMAC4 Calibre that beats at a high frequency of 5Hz (36,000 vibrations per hour).
This high rate of oscillation enables the split-seconds chronograph calibre to record elapsed times down to just one tenth of a second, while the movement’s vertical clutch and the two six-column wheels ensure precise and ultra-smooth activation of the chronograph.
The virtually complete elimination of initial jumping in the chronograph seconds hand and reduced energy consumption of these mechanics are the fruit of a great number of studies leading to the design and manufacture of dedicated gear wheels and levers.
Also on the theme of speed, the RM 65-01 McLaren W1 ’s movement (which sits on chassis mounting rubbers instead of being secured by a conventional casing ring) features a ‘rapid winding’ system which enables the 60-hour power reserve to be fully charged in little time using the special pusher made from orange Quartz TPT.
The view through the crystal enables the grey electroplasma treatment of the grade 5 titanium baseplate to be fully appreciated, along with the black PVD and grey electroplasma treated grade 5 titanium bridges.
The RM 65-01 McLaren W1 features a variable-geometry rotor to optimize its winding motion. The 3-position weight can be adjusted to modify the rotor's inertia, adapting to the wearer’s activity—whether for leisurely movements or more intense activities.
Delivered with black and orange rubber straps, the new Richard Mille RM 65 01 McLaren W1 Automatic Split Seconds Chronograph is a limited edition of 500 pieces, priced at CHF 320,000 before sales taxes. richardmille.com
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