Richard Mille & Ferrari Debut Their Second-Ever Timepiece Together

Richard Mille just debuted the second creation from the partnership with Ferrari: the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari. This exclusive timepiece, born from the ongoing partnership between Richard Mille and Ferrari, is a testament to cutting-edge innovation, precision engineering, and dynamic automotive-inspired design.

Limited to just 150 pieces, the RM 43-01 is available in two versions: 75 crafted in microblasted and polished grade 5 titanium with a Carbon TPT® caseband, and 75 in full Carbon TPT®, a material renowned for its lightweight durability. Each variant reflects a distinct personality, from the refined elegance of titanium to the high-octane performance aesthetic of Carbon TPT®.

At the heart of this timepiece is a manual winding tourbillon movement, meticulously engineered over a three-year development period. The Calibre RM43-01 features hours, minutes, and seconds, along with a split-seconds chronograph, a 30-minute totalizer, power reserve, torque, and function indicators. The combination of a skeletonized grade 5 titanium baseplate and bridges crafted from titanium and Carbon TPT® ensures exceptional strength while maintaining an incredibly lightweight structure.

The split-seconds chronograph mechanism, developed in collaboration with Audemars Piguet Le Locle (APLL), represents a breakthrough in chronograph efficiency. A six-column wheel optimizes lever movement, providing greater function locking and enhanced durability. The traditional helical spring has been replaced with a precision-engineered blade, significantly reducing torque variation and halving the chronograph’s energy consumption.

Ferrari’s design DNA is embedded throughout the RM 43-01, from its skeletonized dial to the crown, hands, and strap, which echo the craftsmanship of Ferrari’s Purosangue seats. The Prancing Horse logo, laser-engraved on a titanium plate, is inspired by the aerodynamic rear wing of the Ferrari 499P. Every detail, including the bridges’ microblasted finishes and golden hexagonal screws, pays homage to the complex geometries of Ferrari’s engine components.

An emphasis on three-dimensional movement design is evident in the barrel jewel setting, which mirrors a Ferrari V8 clutch wheel, and the angular exterior case details inspired by models like the 488 Challenge Evo, Daytona SP3, and SF90 Stradale. The skeletonized 30-minute totalizer, positioned prominently on the dial, reinforces the watch’s automotive influence, much like a tachometer dominates a Ferrari dashboard.

The off-center tourbillon escapement, housed within a titanium carriage, showcases kinetic artistry, enhanced by a radial blade seconds display read against a 12-second index. Performance enhancements extend to a fast-rotating barrel that completes a revolution in six hours, reducing internal friction and increasing efficiency. The addition of a torque indicator ensures optimal mainspring tension, while the function indicator, reminiscent of a car’s gearbox, allows the wearer to toggle between winding, neutral, and hand-setting positions.

Material selection plays a crucial role in the RM 43-01’s technical mastery. The Carbon TPT® case, constructed from hundreds of ultra-thin carbon fiber layers, is formed under extreme pressure and heat to achieve exceptional rigidity and resistance. The titanium version combines grade 5 titanium bezels with a Carbon TPT® caseband and pushers. Water-resistant up to 50 meters, the tripartite case is secured by 20 grade 5 titanium spline screws and abrasion-resistant washers.

The sapphire crystal dial, with its anti-reflective treatment, provides an unobstructed view of the intricate movement. Additional refinements include hand-polished bevels, sapphire-microblasted milled sections, burnished pivots, and circular-decorated wheels with rhodium plating. The meticulous craftsmanship ensures unparalleled precision and longevity, true to Richard Mille’s uncompromising standards.

Richard Mille and Ferrari share an unwavering commitment to performance-driven design, where every component serves both an aesthetic and functional purpose. This philosophy is embodied in the RM 43-01, a timepiece that seamlessly merges motorsport engineering with haute horology. The watch undergoes rigorous shock testing, withstanding forces of over 5,000 G, a remarkable feat for a tourbillon-equipped chronograph.

Limited to an elite few, the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari has already been spotted on drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc (as expected)—and we can’t wait to see who else it ends up on.