Richard Mille introduces the new RM 65-01 McLaren W1
This split-seconds chronograph evokes the avant-garde and high-performance features of the newly launched McLaren W1 hypercar. It is Richard Mille’s fourth collaboration with the British automotive marque and is limited to 500 pieces.
Richard Mille has introduced the new RM 65-01 McLaren W1, a split-seconds chronograph inspired by McLaren Automotive’s sensational new W1 hypercar, unveiled a few days ago. The McLaren W1 is the successor to the brand’s P1™ (2013), and the legendary F1 (1992). The RM 65-01 McLaren W1 is Richard Mille’s fourth watch collaboration with McLaren Automotive and is limited to 500 pieces.
Left: RM 65-01 McLaren W1. Middle: McLaren W1, the hypercar that inspired the watch. Right: McLaren F1, P1™, and W1.
Key Features of the RM 65-01 McLaren W1
Dial and Functions
First image: The watch’s dial. Second image: Semi-instantaneous vertical date window between 10 and 11 o’clock. Third image: Function selector pusher on the crown at 3 o’clock and indicator between 4 and 5 o’clock for winding (W), date (D), and hands (H). Fourth image: Rapid winding pusher at 8 o’clock, made from orange Quartz TPT®. Fifth image: Variable-geometry rotor.
– Open dial, offering a view of Calibre RMAC4, the skeletonized automatic winding movement. Black, grey, white, orange, yellow and blue are the colours that dominate the dial.
“The Brand also developed a new skeletonised titanium dial design based on the McLaren’s wheel rim patterns and subtly highlighting details with colours that are synonymous with the marque, evoking the feel of a supercar dashboard and, importantly, enhance the practicality of the watch in use.”
– Central hours and minutes.
– Small seconds at 6 o’clock.
– Semi-instantaneous vertical date window between 10 and 11 o’clock.
– Split-seconds chronograph with 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, and 12-hour counter at 9 o’clock.
– Function selector. The pusher located on the centre of the crown at 3 o’clock allows the wearer to shift “back and forth” between winding, date, and hand-setting functions. The pointer at the semi-subdial between 4 and 5 o’clock indicates the selected function – W for winding, D for date and H for hands. The function selector is based on a “highly specialised gearbox design.”
– Rapid winding mechanism. This “was developed in addition to the automatic winding and winding with the crown.” Pressing the pusher at 8 o’clock rests the barrel, a useful feature if the watch has not been worn in a long time. Richard Mille engineers termed this as a “very playful” feature, one that was difficult to develop because of high levels of torque transfer.
– Variable-geometry rotor. This watch uses “a newly designed variable geometry to optimise the rotor’s winding motion.” It adapts the “rewinding of the mainspring” to the wearer’s activity level, whether sporting or non-sporting.
Movement
First image: Baseplate and movement’s bridges in Grade 5 titanium. Second image: Free-sprung balance. Third image: Caseback view of movement showing grey electroplasma treatment of the Grade-5 titanium baseplate and black PVD and grey electroplasma treatment of the Grade 5 titanium bridges. Fifth image: Richard Mille watchmaker working on the watch.
– Powered by Calibre RMAC4, a skeletonised automatic movement which powers the hours, minutes, small seconds, date, split-seconds chronograph with 30-minute counter and 12-hour counter, function selector, rapid winding mechanism, and variable-geometry rotor.
– Dimensions are length 31.78 mm * width 29.98 mm * thickness 8.69 mm.
– 480 parts. 51 jewels.
– Frequency 36,000 vph or 5 Hz.
– Power reserve around 60 hours (+/- 10%). Actual power reserve depends on usage of chronograph features.
– Movement’s baseplate and bridges are made of Grade 5 titanium (90% Grade 5 titanium, 6% aluminium, and 4% vanadium). This combination increases the material’s mechanical properties, and is often used in the aerospace, aeronautical, and automobile industries. The baseplate has been optimised for an extremely low weight / resistance ratio. The Grade 5 titanium baseplate features grey electroplasma treatment, and the Grade 5 titanium bridges feature black PVD and grey electroplasma treatment.
– It features the latest split-seconds mechanism developed by Richard Mille. It has a vertical clutch and two 6-column wheels to “ensure precise and ultra-smooth activation of the chronograph.”
– It features a “fast-beating free-sprung balance.” It offers “better reliability in the event of shocks, movement assembly and disassembly, and also guarantees better chronometric results over an extended period of time, keeping a more accurate time. This new type of balance at Richard Mille can measure accurately to 1/10th of a second, ideal for a split-seconds chronograph watch under sporting conditions.” Instead of a traditional regulator index, 4 small adjustable weights located on the balance allow for adjustment of the balance spring.
– The movement, steel parts, and wheels feature an array of modern treatments and finishings, many performed extensively by hand.
Case
First image: Case components, including sapphire crystal, and the movement. Second image: Double bezel design and construction. Third image: Watch during assembly and testing. Fourth image: Caseback view, showing details of the Carbon TPT® case. Fifth image: Crown at 3 o’clock with rubber coating, and the McLaren “Speedmark” on the pusher for function selector. Chronograph pushers for Start/Stop and Reset. Sixth image: Papaya orange strap with patterns seen on the W1’s engine cover and ground-effects spoiler. Seventh image: Top view of the McLaren W1 showing the engine cover.
– Case is made of Carbon TPT®, a composite material exclusive to the brand in watchmaking. It “is composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fibres.”
– Case dimensions are length 49.94 mm * width 43.84 mm * thickness 16.19 mm.
– It features a double bezel, where a Carbon TPT® bezel sits above a satin-finished and polished Grade 5 titanium bezel, an engineering achievement on its own. At its thinnest point, it is 0.50 mm thick, making it the thinnest titanium bezel made by the brand.
“The W1’s striking design which is built around the ‘unique McLaren “aero-cell” architecture gave rise to the RM 65-01 McLaren’s indented ‘double’ bezel which posed one of the greatest technical challenges in the creation of the watch.”
– Dial side features a sapphire crystal (1,800 Vickers hardness), with anti-glare treatment on both sides. Thickness 1.50 mm.
– Caseback side features a sapphire crystal with anti-glare treatment on both sides. Thickness 1.20 mm centre and outer edges 2.04 mm.
– The 3-part case is water resistant up to 50 metres, guaranteed by 2 Nitrile O-ring seals.
– The case is put together with 12 spiline screws made from Grade 5 titanium, and abrasion-resistant washers made from 316L stainless steel.
– The 4 pusher protectors are made from microblasted and satin-finished Grade 5 titanium.
– The crown at 3 o’clock is made from Grade 5 titanium with an “easy-to-grip” rubber coating in McLaren’s papaya orange colour, and the centre featuring McLaren’s “Speedmark.”
– The pusher at 8 o’clock for the rapid winding mechanism is made from orange Quartz TPT®.
– It comes with a papaya orange rubber strap, featuring patterns seen on the McLaren W1’s engine cover and ground-effects spoiler.
Our Thoughts
These are fabulous times for collaborations between automobile and watch brands. These watches are designed and developed in tandem with their namesake hypercars. Richard Mille’s RM 65-01 McLaren W1 was launched a few days after its namesake hypercar – the McLaren W1. A similar pattern ensued a few months ago with the Bugatti Tourbillon and the Jacob & Co. Bugatti Tourbillon watch that soon followed. I am waiting in anticipation for the same between Ferrari’s much awaited LaFerrari successor, dubbed “F250”, and the Richard Mille watch that will soon follow.
Based on images and supporting information, the RM 65-01 McLaren W1 is sensational. It evokes the design and various features of the McLaren W1. The more I learn about the RM 65-01 McLaren W1’s various design attributes – both exclusively to Richard Mille and those that are McLaren W1 inspired – the more I love it. The RM 65-01 McLaren W1 captures the essence of the McLaren W1, a hypercar that should go down in history as one of the all-time greats.
Additional Details
Name: Richard Mille RM 65-01 McLaren W1
Price: Upon Request
Limited to 500 pieces. It is possible that the 399 McLaren W1 owners will get priority preference for the watch.
Please visit the Richard Mille website and Instagram page for more information.
Richard Mille has a boutique in Dubai Mall.
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