While Richard Mille has only been around for a couple of decades, it is undoubtedly one of the biggest success stories in the watch industry. Founded in 2001, the brand today is one of the largest independent watch companies with exclusive production and starting prices over 100,000 Swiss Francs. Mille has made a notable impact on the watch industry by creating watches unlike any other - high-tech watches inspired by his strong passion for car racing. When Richard Mille and McLaren announced their partnership in 2016, it seemed natural to many. Firstly, there is the long-standing admiration Richard Mille holds for the British racing team... In 1966, a 15-year-old Richard Mille attended the Monaco Grand Prix, which marked McLaren's Formula 1 debut, with Bruce McLaren at the wheel of the M2B. Most importantly, McLaren and Richard Mille create cars and watches designed for extreme situations. A prime example is the latest Mille x McLaren watch, dedicated to McLaren's most powerful and aerodynamic road car - the Speedtail. Meet the RM 40-01 Automatic Winding Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail.
The McLaren Speedtail is rightfully presented as the ultimate McLaren road car. This impressive "Hyper-GT" features a 1070-horsepower hybrid powertrain and reaches speeds of 112 meters per second at a maximum speed of 250 mph/402 km/h, making it the fastest production car in McLaren's history. This three-seater grand tourer also boasts a sensational streamlined shape, based on a teardrop form for optimal aerodynamic efficiency.
From Hypercar to Hyperwatch
In honor of this extraordinary car, the Richard Mille RM 40-01 Automatic Winding Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail was developed, reflecting the bold characteristics of the Speedtail and the philosophy behind it. The first thing that catches the eye is the anatomy of the case, also based on a teardrop shape. Despite its seemingly large dimensions, the 48.25 mm x 41.80 mm case is surprisingly ergonomic on the wrist thanks to its curved profile and streamlined style. The bezel and case back are made of grade 5 titanium, and the strap is made of Carbon TPT, making the watch light and very pleasant to touch. The complex shape of the sapphire crystal attracts attention and creates beautiful light effects. The integration of the rubber strap (with McLaren's signature orange stripe) is perfect, despite its complex asymmetrical shape.
Just as a supercar needs a powerful engine, the RM 40-01 Automatic Winding Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail watch is equipped with an impressive mechanism - the in-house CRMT4 caliber with an automatic tourbillon. In the characteristic style of Richard Mille, the skeletonized movement stands out with its high-tech appearance and architecture. This caliber is adapted to the teardrop shape of the case. The baseplate and bridges are made of lightweight grade 5 titanium. Turning the watch over, one can notice that the variable-geometry rotor allows the winding function to be adjusted according to the owner's level of activity. The weight can be moved sideways to different positions and fixed with two screws with a slot for adjustment.
The minute tourbillon, regulating the movement's operation, beats at 4 Hz, with a power reserve of +/- 50 hours. In addition to the hours, minutes, and seconds (with tourbillon), the CRMT4 caliber is equipped with a power reserve indicator at the 9 o'clock position and a large date indicator at the 12 o'clock position. The large date is displayed thanks to two skeletonized calendar discs on a white field. It can be adjusted using a button at the 8 o'clock position. The button at the 4 o'clock position allows selecting the neutral, winding, and hand-setting functions, providing a pleasant symmetry to the case.
Availability and Price
The Richard Mille RM 40-01 Automatic Winding Tourbillon McLaren Speedtail watch is sold at a price of 900,000 Swiss Francs excluding taxes. The watch is released in a limited series of 106 pieces and is primarily intended for owners of the McLaren Speedtail (priced around 2.3 million Swiss Francs) so they can match the number of their car and their watch.
More detailed information can be found on www.richardmille.com and cars.mclaren.com.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS - RICHARD MILLE RM 40-01 AUTOMATIC WINDING TOURBILLON MCLAREN SPEEDTAIL
Case: 48.25 mm height x 41.80 mm width x 14.15 mm thickness - case made of grade 5 titanium, stainless steel, and Carbon TPT - sapphire crystals front and back - water resistance up to 50 meters
Movement: in-house caliber CRMT4 - automatic - 37 jewels - 30.48 mm x 35.35 mm x 6.81 mm - 28,800 vibrations/hour - power reserve about 50 hours - hours, minutes, seconds, tourbillon, large date, power reserve indication, function selector (neutral, winding, hand-setting)
Strap: rubber strap with titanium folding clasp
Availability: limited edition of 106 pieces
Reference: RM 40-01
Price: 900,000 Swiss Francs (excluding taxes)