Richard Mille RM 65-01 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph McLaren W1
The Richard Mille RM 65-01 McLaren W1, inspired by the McLaren W1 supercar, features a Carbon TPT and titanium case, split-seconds chronograph, and rapid-winding system. Share
Since 2016, Richard Mille and McLaren have fostered an innovative partnership that has led to some of the most sophisticated limited-edition watches on the market. Their latest 2024 release, the Richard Mille RM 65-01 Automatic Split-Seconds Chronograph McLaren W1, takes this collaboration to a new level, showcasing both brands’ commitment to performance, style, and cutting-edge technology. Inspired by McLaren’s W1 supercar, this limited edition watch is a celebration of speed, precision, and advanced engineering, produced in an exclusive run of 500 pieces.
McLaren’s W1 supercar is an evolution of the automaker’s iconic models, the McLaren F1 and P1, and is now the most advanced road-legal car McLaren has ever designed. With a hybrid V8 powertrain that delivers an astounding 1,275PS, the W1 boasts a lightweight frame of 1,399 kg, offering a power-to-weight ratio that translates to 899 horsepower per ton. The W1 is also engineered with Formula 1-inspired ground-effect aerodynamics, creating 1,000 kg of downforce and accelerating from zero to 200 kph in just 5.8 seconds. With a top speed of 350 kph, the W1 is McLaren’s fastest accelerating and lapping road car.
At first glance, the RM 65-01 retains Richard Mille’s signature tonneau shape but takes it a step further, reflecting the profile of the McLaren W1. The watch measures 43.84mm in diameter and 16.19mm in thickness, with a lug-to-lug span of 49.94mm. Crafted from Carbon TPT and titanium, the case combines durability with lightness, mirroring the W1’s high-performance frame. The bezel, split into two components, uses grade 5 titanium for the lower section and a thin Carbon TPT layer on top. The watch’s structure is meticulously held together with titanium screws, offering water resistance up to 50 meters.
Alongside its refined case design, the RM 65-01 boasts functionality that mirrors the precision controls of a supercar. The watch features a rubberized titanium crown that houses the brand’s signature function selector, allowing the user to switch between winding, date adjustment, and time-setting modes by pressing the crown inwards. Four pushers surround the case, two of which control the start/stop and reset chronograph functions, while an additional orange Quartz TPT pusher at 8 o’clock activates Richard Mille’s rapid-winding mechanism. This system allows the watch to be wound instantly with a press, rather than relying on the crown or automatic rotor. Together with the split-seconds chronograph, this feature enhances the RM 65-01’s user-friendliness, ensuring a quick reset after an idle period without compromising the automatic winding capabilities.
The RM 65-01 Chronograph also features a skeletal dial inspired by the McLaren W1’s wheel rims. It has four centrally-mounted hands and three registers positioned in a 3-6-9 layout, along with a vertical date display at 11 o’clock and a function selector indicator in the bottom right. The outer tachymeter scale allows for high-speed readings, adding a professional touch that appeals to both automotive and watch enthusiasts. Accents of blue, yellow, and McLaren’s iconic “papaya” orange enhance the dial, bringing an element of McLaren’s supercar dashboard styling to the timepiece.
Richard Mille’s 51-jewel automatic chronograph movement powers the RM 65-01, running at 36,000 vibrations per hour and offering a 60-hour power reserve. This high-frequency movement, which can measure times down to 1/10th of a second, underscores the watch’s capacity for precise timing. The movement plates and bridges are crafted from grade 5 titanium and mounted directly on chassis-like rubber components within the case, creating a harmonious blend of design and functionality. The RM 65-01’s variable-geometry rotor, with a platinum weight, adapts to the wearer’s activity level.
For the strap, Richard Mille offers both black and McLaren’s “papaya” orange ventilated rubber straps, each fitted with titanium deployant clasps. These straps maintain the sleek profile of the watch, with a design that matches Richard Mille’s characteristic tonneau-shaped pieces. While the press release doesn’t specify, it’s likely both straps are included, as is often the case with Richard Mille’s limited editions.
The RM 65-01 McLaren W1 joins the ranks of exclusive watches that are inspired by supercars, paralleling the W1’s production run with a similarly limited edition of 500 units. With a retail price of CHF 336,000, it is relatively attainable in the realm of Richard Mille and McLaren collaborations, where each timepiece feels both like a technical achievement and an art piece.
