Cover The RM 65‑01 McLaren W1 with a black rubber strap
The RM 65‑01 McLaren W1 with a black rubber strap
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The RM 65‑01 McLaren W1 from Richard Mille is the ultimate timepiece for those seeking high-octane performance and style on the road—and wrist
Richard Mille elevates performance to new heights with its latest masterpiece, the RM 65‑01 McLaren W1. Limited to 500 pieces, the automatic, split‑seconds chronograph is the fourth collaboration between the avant‑garde Swiss watchmaker and legendary British marque McLaren, whose partnership began in 2016. Conceived as the ultimate driving watch, it mirrors the radical features of the McLaren W1, its automotive counterpart that is the successor to two of the greatest supercars ever built: the 1992 McLaren F1, the world’s fastest naturally aspirated road car, and the 2013 McLaren P1, the world’s first hybrid hypercar.
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Above The RM 65‑01 McLaren W1 with a rubber strap in McLaren’s signature Papaya Orange hue
The RM 65‑01 McLaren W1 with a rubber strap in McLaren’s signature Papaya Orange hue
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Drawing from the first clay models of the McLaren W1, Richard Mille’s creative team, led by creative and development director Cécile Guenat, decided that a bird’s‑eye view of the car would serve as the foundation for the watch design. Consequently, the watch’s case—measuring 43.84 mm by 49.94 mm and standing at a height of 16.19 mm—boasts a commanding silhouette that echoes that of the car when viewed from the top down. Nodding to the supercar’s aerodynamic excellence, it is rendered in the brand’s lightweight and durable Carbon TPT.
Inspired by the car’s distinctive look, built around McLaren’s innovative Aerocell architecture, the case also features an indented double bezel—one of the most technically challenging elements of the watch that took the team nine months and eight prototypes to develop. Drawing from the supercar’s compact, muscular profile, high waistline and anhedral doors, this complex element sees a Carbon TPT bezel sitting on a second bezel made from satin‑finished and polished titanium. At its thinnest point, the upper bezel measures just 0.5 mm—equivalent to the thickness of five stacked sheets of Post‑It notes—highlighting the extraordinary precision needed to realise this watch.
Above The watch is limited to 500 pieces
The watch is limited to 500 pieces
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Richard Mille also developed a new skeletonised titanium dial design based on the McLaren W1’s wheel rim patterns. Flaunting pops of the British marque’s hallmark colours, it evokes the feel of a supercar’s dashboard while enhancing the watch’s practicality. Whether one is glancing at the time during a high‑speed race or in the office, the RM 65‑01 McLaren W1 ensures great readability and ease of use.
Powering the watch is the calibre RMAC4—Richard Mille’s most complex automatic chronograph to date. Operating at a high frequency of 5Hz, or 36,000 vibrations per hour, this movement is engineered for precision. It enables the split‑seconds chronograph to time events to the nearest tenth of a second, making it ideal for recording the swiftest of moments. The power‑packed calibre is bolstered by a vertical clutch and two six‑column wheels, ensuring an ultra‑smooth activation of its chronograph functions, much like the effortless performance of a McLaren engine.
Above It took nine months and eight prototypes to develop the Richard Mille RM 65‑01 McLaren W1’s complex indented double bezel
It took nine months and eight prototypes to develop the Richard Mille RM 65‑01 McLaren W1’s complex indented double bezel
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Speed, a defining characteristic of both the car and watch, is reflected in the latter’s rapid winding system. With a pusher crafted from quartz TPT in McLaren’s iconic Papaya Orange, the system allows the watch’s 60‑hour power reserve to be fully recharged in a remarkably short period. The 480‑part movement, which sits on chassis mounting rubbers instead of being secured by a conventional casing ring, is robust enough for daily use, thanks to a variable‑geometry winding rotor. This innovative feature adjusts to the wearer’s activity level, ensuring optimal performance at all times. The stunning grey electroplasma‑treated titanium baseplate and bridges can be admired through the clear sapphire crystal caseback, showcasing Richard Mille’s obsession with aesthetic and mechanical perfection.
A true driver’s watch, the RM 65‑01 McLaren W1 comes complete with a titanium function selector crown that operates like a car’s transmission selector, allowing the wearer to toggle among three settings—“W” for winding, “D” for date adjustment and “H” for hand‑setting—with just a simple twist. Another custom‑designed element, it is based on the splines found on the McLaren W1’s drive shafts. It also features a partial rubber coating in the marque’s signature bright orange for an easy grip and is finished with the McLaren Speedmark logo on the tip.
Meanwhile, the quartz TPT chronograph pushers and rapid winding button are mounted on titanium frames inspired by the cut‑outs on the McLaren W1’s lightweight seats. Even the pattern on the black or orange rubber strap echoes the aerodynamic angles of the foils and ducts found on the car’s engine cover and ground effect spoilers, creating a seamless connection between the watch and its automotive muse.
