A watch dedicated to the new McLaren W1 supercar.

 

McLaren's partnership with Richard Mille started with a record that demonstrated the two companies' commitment to new technologies and materials. The RM 50-03 Tourbillon Split Seconds Chronograph McLaren F1 presented in 2017 weighed less than 40 g (including the strap) and was the lightest mechanical chronometer on release.

 

The partnership was strengthened with their first jointly commissioned timepiece, the RM 11-03. which featured many nods to the design of the McLaren 720S.

 

Then in 2021, Richard Mille paid tribute to the aerodynamic specs of the McLaren Speedtail with a new RM 40-01, which tapers from the top of the case to the bottom. In 2024, fans of the two brands are in for a nice surprise with two premieres in one go: the McLaren W1 and the RM 65-01 dedicated to the new supercar.

While the McLaren W1 boasts a best-in-class ratio of power to weight (911 horsepower per tonne), the RM 65-01 also overtakes many competitors when it comes to weight by using a caseband made of light Carbon TPT.

 

The composite material, composed of layers of carbon that are impregnated with resin matrices, outperforms other carbon-based materials with higher tensile strength and resistance to microcracks.

 

The silhouette of the W1 is echoed by the shape of the watch case. It's outlined by a double bezel — the lower bezel is made of polished grade 5 titanium, while the upper bezel is made of the familiar Carbon TPT. The watch had to set a record: this is the brand's thinnest titanium bezel (0.5 mm at its thinnest point).

 

 

Unlike the supercar, where the power is concealed beneath the curves of the car's bodywork (a hybrid MHP-8 V8 combustion engine coupled to an E-module in an eight-speed robot), Richard Mille doesn't hide his engine.

 

The famous RMAC4 movement — the most complicated in Richard Mille's line with over 600 components — displays its features on both the dial side and the caseback.

 

The caliber with a titanium baseplate and bridges uses a variable-geometry rotor. Passive leisure or sport — the winding system will adapt to the watch owner's lifestyle. If you suddenly need to quickly wind the watch, you can "charge" the engine using the pusher for the rapid winding mechanism at 8 o'clock.