Richard Mille’s most complicated automatic watch gets a material makeover.
Last week, Richard Mille added two new colors to the replica RM 65-01 collection. First launched in 2020, the RM 65-01 consists of 600 parts in total and is the most complicated automatic (non-LE) watch the brand has ever produced. The highly saturated egg-yellow color will be limited to 120 pieces, while the pale blue will be the main color of the collection. Both are made of Quartz TPT or Thin Layer Technology (Quartz TPT was originally developed for the RM 27-02 Nadal), a composite material made of multiple layers of quartz fibers, which is often used in very high-performance applications due to its resistance to high temperatures, high strength, and transparency to electromagnetic waves.
With a focus on motorsports, Richard Mille has long specialized in highly complicated chronographs. These new RM 65-01s are the latest in a series that began with the RM 004, a manual-winding, split-seconds chronograph powered by a Renaud & Papi movement. This high-frequency, automatic split-seconds chronograph uses Caliber RMAC4, a high-frequency movement with variable inertia that beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour (vph)/5 Hz. The RMAC4 in the RM 65-01 was supplied by Vaucher and was originally based on the architecture and layout of Parmigiani’s caliber PF361.
I’m not a big fan of talking about frequency, but taking a few frequency crash courses (refresh your knowledge here) is very helpful in understanding this model. Technically, a chronograph running at 5 Hz is more functional than the more common 4 Hz alternative. The movement running at 5 Hz features a balance that physically oscillates at 36,000 vph; in dial terms, this means being able to measure elapsed time in tenths of a second intervals (after all, that’s the whole purpose of a chronograph – just ask Zenith), while a chronograph running at 4 Hz would measure eighths of a second. copy watch for sale
Equipped with a vertical clutch and a double six-column wheel for a smooth push-button feel (hey, you get what you pay for), this chronograph is capable of measuring up to 12 hours. Total power reserve is 60 hours, while a variable-geometry rotor optimizes winding based on the wearer’s activity. The pusher at eight o’clock is labeled “Quick Winding”, which is very much in the style of Richard Mille, as it enables just that. More for functional purposes (or, as another watch journalist astutely told me, “a solution in search of a problem”), pressing this pusher just 125 times “quickly” charges the mainspring. A function selector on the crown enables the wearer to quickly switch from traditional winding mode (W) to setting a semi-instantaneous date (D) or hour and minute display (H).
Summer is officially here, which means prime Richard Mille fake season for the flamboyant, watch-wearing elite—and for Pharrell Williams, who can’t seem to take off his RM UP 01. Speaking of Pharrell, last year a custom-colored RM 65-01 was auctioned at Joopiter’s “Just Phriends” auction, complete with Pharrell’s signature on the caseback. The sale was curated by Sarah Andelman, former creative director of Parisian concept store Colette. R.I.P. Colette. This all speaks volumes about the beauty of this RM model, considering the overall colorful, modern feel of the other lots in the auction.
Color is one of the things RM does best. While this release appears to be a simple color change to the existing 65-01, it is important to note that the colors and hues must be added to the resin material that eventually becomes Quartz TPT during the first stages of manufacturing. If the color-changing chemicals conflict with any other materials in the quartz composite, the entire material could be affected. This color change is likely the result of a long R&D process, and few other brands would go through such a lengthy process just for a color change.
Is a quick-winding mechanism essential when you can wind your high quality fake watch simply by pulling out the crown? No. But these are adult toys. The more cleverly the buttons on the dial are color-coded to correspond to the functions, the more fun it is. Do these watches look more technical than they really are? Maybe. Am I willing to let myself be blinded by marketing because I like to get a quick glimpse into a very glamorous lifestyle that is not mine? Yes.
Basics
Brand: Richard Mille
Model: RM 65-01
Case dimensions: 44.50 x 49.94 mm
Thickness: 16.10 mm
Case material: Quartz TP + Quartz TPT
Luminous: Yes
Water resistance: 50 m
Strap/bracelet: Rubber strap
Movement
Caliber: RMAC4
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, split-seconds chronograph, function selector, rapid winding and variable geometry rotor
Diameter: 31.78 x 29.98 mm
Thickness: 8.69 mm
Power reserve: Approx. 60 hours (±10%) (without chronograph running)
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 36,000 vph (5 Hz)
Jewel: 51
