Richard Mille Launches Its Most Complicated Watch Yet

It’s the first timepiece from the luxury Swiss watchmaker to feature a split seconds hand.

Those familiar with the Richard Mille’s luxury watches know its “racing machines for the wrist” employ engineering principles and cutting edge shock-absorbing materials derived from the endlessly technical world of Formula One. So when the modern Swiss brand announced the RM  65-01 Automatic Slit Seconds Chronograph as the “most complex timepiece ever to leave the Richard Mille workshops,” it generated a buzz. 

The model was created in collaboration with fellow Swiss watch mechanism Vaucher Manufacture Feurier, according to Robb Report. An automatic RMCA4-caliber movement is the first in the Richard Mille portfolio to display split seconds. A six-column wheel ensures optimized simultaneous movement, maximal function locking, and greater adjustment durability of a high-frequency balance with variable inertia. 

A pusher at the 8 o’clock position actuates Richare Mille’s first patented rapid-winding mechanism, allowing the barrel to be fully reset when not being used for extended periods of time. The function required thousands of test runs to to develop because of the high levels of torque transfer to a highly specialized gearbox, which features Winding, Date and Hand Setting functions. A second pusher at the center of the crown crown allows users to toggle between the three. 

Those components are housed in a case crafted from Richard Mille’s own Carbon Tin Ply Technology (TPT)—a material comprised of 600-plus layers of parallel filaments obtained by separating carbon giber threads—and an anti-glare treated sapphire bezel and case back. The dial’s hands and pushers are also color-coated: Yellow is used for hours, minutes and seconds, blue for split seconds, green for date, orange for the movement’s sweep seconds, and red for the winding mechanism. 

Other key features include 50 meters of water resistance and a fast-rotating barrel that increases performance by lowering internal mainspring performance to achieve a 60-hour power reserve. 

The RM 65-01 in Carbon TPT retails for $310,000 at Richard Mille boutiques worldwide. An 18-karat red gold and Carbon TPT is in the pipeline. Click here to learn more.