Richard Mille RM 011

The innovative timepieces being produced by Richard Mille represent the future of watchmaking. This includes the highly functional RM 011. The manufacturer constructs every component using only the highest-quality materials, such as titanium, gold, platinum, or ceramic. Inside, they've equipped this model with the highly complex in-house flyback caliber RMAC1 with a countdown function.

Like later models in the RM 11 collection, the RM 011 features a sapphire glass case back with a view of the in-house caliber. However, Richard Mille watches are more than just a piece of eye candy. This manufacturer also puts a major focus on functionality. Every component is well thought out and serves a purpose.

Richard Mille dedicated the RM 11-01 to retired Italian soccer player Roberto Mancini. This sporty timepiece catches the eye with its green accents. There's also the RM 11-02 with a GMT function, which is a great choice for frequent travelers.

The RM 11-03 series features the caliber RMAC3. This movement is constructed so as to highlight its complexity. The line's top model, the RM 11-03 McLaren , was limited to a run of 500 pieces created specifically for the successful British Formula 1 racing team.

Every RM 11 has a 50-mm barrel-shaped case and 50 m (5 bar, 164 ft) of water resistance in common. Most of these cases are made of satin-brushed rose gold or titanium. One major exception is the McLaren edition. Unlike the other models, this timepiece boasts a carbon and quartz case that's on the cutting edge of modern high-end watchmaking.

The Richard Mille RM 011 Felipe Massa gets its power from the skeletonized flyback caliber RMAC1. In addition to telling the time, this movement has a subdial for the countdown function at 9 o'clock, a 12-hour counter at 6, and a running seconds indicator at 3. There's also an oversize date at 12 o'clock and a month display at 4:30. The upper push-piece starts and stops the chronograph, while the lower push-piece operates the flyback and reset functions.

The case is 50 mm in diameter and comes in your choice of titanium, rose gold, carbon, ceramic, or quartz. Each version is mounted on a rubber strap, which is available in a number of colors. A never-worn titanium timepiece costs around 171,000 USD.

The skeletonized caliber RMAC1 ticks away inside the rose gold RM 11-01 Roberto Mancini. This movement comes with a flyback function and central hour, minute, chronograph seconds, and chronograph minutes hands. An oversize date sits just below 12 o'clock, and there's a month display at 4:30. A 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock rounds off the displays. Finally, the ring around the outside of the dial is outfitted with a tachymeter scale for calculating speeds.

Red accents on the dial and a green rubber ring around the crown underscore this watch's sporty appearance. A black or green rubber strap holds this timepiece comfortably on the wrist. Of course, getting your hands on this fantastic watch comes at a price, namely about 167,000 USD for a mint-condition timepiece. A pre-owned RM11-01 Robert Mancini costs roughly 130,000 USD.

The RMAC1 also powers the flyback chronograph RM 11-02. This version is outfitted with central hours, minutes, and chronograph minutes. There's also an additional central hand for the GMT function, which is set using the extra push-piece at 9 o'clock. Like the RM 11-01, this timepiece features an oversize date at 12, a tachymeter scale around the dial's edge, and a month display at 4:30. A split subdial at 9 o'clock shows both the elapsed and remaining minutes. Lastly, you'll find a running seconds indicator at 3 and a 24-hour counter at 6 o'clock. Plan to spend around 171,000 USD for a new titanium edition on a leather strap. Pre-owned, this model changes hands for about 136,000 USD.

Richard Mille crafts the standard edition RM 11-03 out of rose gold or titanium. The hour, minute, and chronograph seconds hands sit in the middle of the skeletonized in-house flyback caliber RMAC3. This movement also has a subdial for the countdown function at 9 o'clock, a running seconds indicator at 3, and a 12-hour counter at 6. It shares its tachymeter scale, oversize date at 12, and month display at 4:30 with the RM 11 collection's other models. The rose gold version on a black rubber strap sells for around 244,000 USD new. If you prefer the titanium edition, be sure to have some 210,000 USD on hand.

Richard Mille is never happy to just sit back and rely on previous success. This is made clear by the RM 11-03 McLaren. Its case's colors and materials have a strong connection to the British sports car manufacturer McLaren. Mille constructs this timepiece by stacking a total of 600 layers of black carbon and orange quartz on top of each other to create a harmonious wave pattern. Each individual layer is only 45 microns thick.

Despite sharing its displays and functions with the standard RM 11-03, this timepiece's relationship to the famed automotive brand is unmistakable. The bezel features the McLaren logo on a titanium component built to resemble a sports car's air intake, while the titanium crown is designed to look like a McLaren wheel rim. Furthermore, the push-pieces get their looks from the headlights of the McLaren 720S. An orange rubber strap with a folding clasp completes this extraordinary watch. Limited to a run of 500 pieces, this rare timepiece requires an investment of around 296,000 USD.

The calibers RMAC1 and RMAC3 are extremely complex and truly unique. Richard Mille crafts their base plates and bridges out of the type of titanium found in the aerospace and automotive industries. This guarantees a high level of corrosion resistance.

Double barrels provide these movements with even torque and improved power reserves. This technology also has a positive effect on the movement's accuracy and service life. A transparent Incabloc shock protection system protects these movements against impacts and vibrations.

The fascinating free-sprung Glucydur balance ticks at 28,000 alternations per hour, or the equivalent of 4 Hz. This innovative technology leads to top-notch reliability and accuracy. The balance also has four weights that you can use to calibrate it. Depending on how much you utilize the chronograph function, these two movements each have a maximum power reserve of 55 hours.

Richard Mille outfits both movements with a winding rotor made of 18-karat white gold and titanium. Known as a "variable geometry rotor," its inertia can be adjusted to match the wearer's activity level. Finally, each movement is dotted with 68 jewels and measures 30.25 mm diameter with a height of 9 mm.

Richard Mille has had a fascination with technology, motorsport, and design since his youth. After studying marketing, the French-born entrepreneur gathered experience in the luxury goods industry at the world's largest luxury conglomerate: LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE. He also worked for the watch manufacturer Audemars Piguet. This eventually led to Mille founding his own business in 1999.

His initial customers helped lead Mille and his creations to success thanks to their understanding of Mille's uncompromising independence and the vision behind his earliest timepieces. The same passion and drive for perfection that led to this manufacturer's foundation over 20 years ago still define the company to this day and permeate each of the over 80 models in its current catalog.

Richard Mille presented his first watch, the RM 001 Tourbillon, in 2001. Both this model and its successor, the RM 002, use high-tech materials and feature a titanium base plate. Since then, the Swiss watch manufacturer has experienced one success after another. Richard Mille is still setting new milestones for the entire watch industry. Special highlights include the RM 004 from 2003 – a column-wheel chronograph with a split-seconds hand and pincer-like titanium split-seconds arms – and the RM 025, Richard Mille's first diving chronograph with a tourbillon.