Formula 1
Partner, since 2016, to the British motor-racing team McLaren, Richard Mille presents an automatic split-seconds chronograph, the RM 65-01 McLaren W1: a 100-piece limited edition inspired by the W1, that mirrors the supercar’s class-leading performance. Its chronograph movement measures elapsed times to one-tenth of a second and sits directly on chassis mounting rubber components, like an engine under a car hood. This piece of cutting-edge technology is housed inside a profiled “aerocellular” body in carbon that picks up on the supercar’s characteristic features.
Diving
Arnaud Jerald holds multiple freediving world records, the latest in 2023 when he reached a depth of 122 metres. Beyond 100 metres, every centimetre of skin is subjected to 11 kg of pressure and Jerald knew that dive watches capable of withstanding this environment were few and far between. Despite being contacted by a number of brands, he reached out to Richard Mille, declaring that “as soon as I saw the RM 032, I knew it was the one for me.” This automatic chronograph, whose tripartite case is water-resistant to 300 metres and incorporates an anti-shock device to protect the movement, features a unidirectional rotating bezel and a running indicator. An authentic, indestructible dive watch designed for ultra legibility, including in the deepest, darkest waters.
Polo
Pablo Mac Donough is one of the planet’s greatest polo players. After introducing the brand to the sudden turns, wild swings, and clashes of horses and riders that are part of every match, Richard Mille knew this would be the perfect testing laboratory for a watch. The movement in the RM 53-01 rests on two braided steel cables, which run through ten pulleys and are anchored by four tensioners fixed to the peripheral baseplate and to each side of the main bridge. Tensioning these cables evens out the forces on the movement and ensures they remain constant. Suspended inside the case, the calibre withstands shocks in excess of 5,000 G. In other words, polo-proof.
Tennis
Rafael Nadal needs no introduction: the undisputed “king of clay” is the 14-times winner of the French Open. In the words of Richard Mille himself, “Rafa and I first met in 2008 and have a life-long commitment. We are there come rain or shine.” And it’s for his good buddy Rafa that Richard Mille came up with the RM 27-05: the lightest tourbillon watch in the world at 11.5 grams excluding the strap. Nadal wears this remarkable piece of engineering on court, and is the only player in the world to wear a watch during matches. Understandably, the ultra-thin, ultra-light calibre - 3.79 grams in total - was subjected to separate and extensive validation tests to ensure it met rigorous strength requirements. A testament to its unparalleled robustness, the RM 27-O5 effortlessly withstands shocks beyond 14,000 G. Not even Rafa’s powerful serve can get the better of it.
Cycling
Partners since 2007, Alain Prost joined “Team Mille” not as Formula 1 World Champion but as a cyclist - his other passion, which inspired the RM 70-01, a tourbillon whose mechanical odometer tells Alain how many kilometres he covers with each ride. Another example of exceptional mechanics complete with that extra something that illustrates how closely Richard Mille listens to its partners, to tailor their watch to them.
