Richard Mille, one of the luxury watch brands for men, has introduced the RM 65-01 McLaren W1 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph, marking the latest in its collaboration with British supercar manufacturer McLaren that began in 2016. This automatic chronograph is noted as the most intricate in the brand’s history.
This model, inspired by McLaren’s newest supercar, the W1, follows predecessors such as the RM 50-03, RM 11-03, and RM 40-01, taking cues from the renowned McLaren F1 and McLaren P1TM. Its design echoes the high-performance attributes of the W1 supercar, focusing on advanced material use, functional aesthetics, and high-tech design elements mirroring the car’s top view.
The watch is encased in a 43.84 x 49.94 x 16.19 mm Carbon TPT frame, featuring a challenging ‘double’ bezel design, enhancing its visual appeal and engineering complexity. Its construction boasts a water resistance up to 50 meters, and the crown is crafted from Grade 5 titanium coated in McLaren papaya orange, reflecting design elements from the W1’s drive shafts.
Further, the dial of the RM 65-01 is skeletonized to resemble the patterns seen on McLaren’s wheel rims, featuring color accents reminiscent of a supercar’s dashboard. The watch includes a function selector crown that mimics a car’s transmission, allowing the wearer to switch between winding, date setting, or hand-setting modes.
Powering the RM 65-01 is the RMAC4 Calibre, an advanced automatic chronograph movement that operates at 36,000 vibrations per hour, allowing for precision timing down to one tenth of a second. Its design includes a vertical clutch and dual six-column wheels for smooth chronograph operation and reduced energy consumption.
The movement is uniquely mounted on chassis-style rubbers, a nod to McLaren’s automotive innovations, and includes a rapid winding mechanism via a special pusher, speeding up the power reserve replenishment. The variable-geometry rotor adjusts based on the wearer’s activity level, optimizing energy usage.
Offered with interchangeable black and orange rubber straps, the RM 65-01 McLaren W1, an exclusive piece among expensive watches, is available as a limited edition of 500 units, with a price tag of CHF 320,000 before taxes. This timepiece not only represents a synergy between horology and automotive engineering but also underscores Richard Mille’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of watchmaking design and functionality.
