Introducing: Richard Mille Quietly Dropped A New Limited Release With Ferrari’s Formula 1 Driver – The RM72-01 ‘Charles LeClerc’
What We Know
Fresh off a thrilling race weekend at the Miami Grand Prix, we’ve got more Formula 1 news with the surprise discovery that Richard Mille quietly launched a new model with a long-time friend of the brand (read: ambassador) and Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. The new RM72-01 “Charles Leclerc” edition takes the brand’s automatic flyback chronograph platform and adds a number of tweaks for the beloved Monégasque F1 driver.
Charles LeClerc and Carlos Sainz leaving the paddock in Miami. Photo credit Kym Illman/Getty Images
The most obvious design change here is the use of a white carbon TPT case with red stripes and caseband that is a nod to the Monegasque flag. The skeletonized chronograph display ditches any numerals for the hours while sticking to that same red and white theme for the running seconds and chronograph counters. The black crown resembles a tire twisting under the torque of a car’s acceleration, and the date window is also framed in red and white.
The watch is powered by Richard Mille’s caliber CRMC-1, a flyback chronograph with 30-minute and 24-hour totalizers, running seconds, and a column-wheel control system and double tilting pinion clutch system. The movement also features a function indicator to show the position of the crown (winding, setting, or date adjustment) and semi-instantaneous date. The watch runs at 28,800 vph with a cupro-beryllium (CuBe) freesprung adjustable mass balance, fast-rotating mainspring barrel, and has a 50-hour power reserve. The automatic winding system uses a platinum rotor running on ceramic bearings.
The watch is a limited edition of only 150 pieces that’s already being delivered to customers. The retail price is $330,000, but if the equally limited RM72-01 LeMans Classic is any sign of how things go, the eventual prices on the secondary market will get a bit bonkers.
What We Think
Story time: This is my first-ever dog-powered watch spotting. While a lot of brands do everything they can to leverage Formula 1 and their ambassadors to launch a watch, Richard Mille didn’t say a thing about this release. Instead, I was sent an adorable video of the ever-excited star of F1, Leo Leclerc (Charles Leclerc’s adorable dachshund), playing with Charles after the Miami Grand Prix. I recognized that the watch that Charles was wearing wasn’t something I’d seen before – it was close to Bubba Watson’s pink and white carbon case, but very obviously an RM72-01. Then I looked back at his Instagram, past my preferred content (dogs, dogs, and more dogs), and saw that he’s been wearing this watch for a while.
Photo credit Hector Vivas/Getty Images.
That prompted me to do some Googling, and the only information I could find (as of early Tuesday) was a post from a dealer in Dubai who had a picture of the watch in hand, despite the fact that Charles has been wearing this watch since the Bahrain GP, and seemingly no one noticed. Luckily, I was able to get the official details from Richard Mille directly, and now we have the info on the RM72-01 “Leo Leclerc” – I mean… “Charles Leclerc” Edition. And my take? I really like it – maybe not for me, but definitely for Leclerc.
There’s no use litigating a price of a Richard Mille – these are hyper limited, extremely exclusive, and fantastically expensive watches, and that’s the point. They are often extremely loud as well, so why not lean into that the way that Richard Mille has for one of their closest friends? Yes, this has a little bit of “peppermint candy cane” vibes, but who cares? Sure, I would personally always go for a more low-key option like an RM67-02 in black, but for the Monegasque Ferrari driver, this watch is perfect.
The Basics
Brand: Richard Mille
Model: RM72-01 ‘Charles Leclerc’
Diameter: 38.4mm (wide) by 47.34mm (end to end)
Thickness: 11.68mm
Case Material: White carbon TPT with red accents and stripes
Dial Color: Skeletonized
Indexes: Tachymeter rehaut and printed display
Lume: On hands and indices
Water Resistance: 30 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Rubber strap
The Movement
Caliber: RM Caliber CRMC-1
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, and flyback chronograph with 60-minute and 24-hour counter
Diameter: 29.10 by 31.25 mm
Thickness: 6.05mm
Power Reserve: 50 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 vph
Jewels: 39
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Micro-blasted and hand-chamfered movement; CuBe balance (4 arms, 4 setting weights, moment of inertia 7.5 mg•cm2 , angle of lift 50°); Shock protection from transparent INCABLOC 908.22.211.100 system
Pricing & Availability
Price: $330,000
Availability: Immediately
Limited Edition: Yes, 150 pieces
For more, click here.
Lead photo credit Mark Thompson/Getty Images.
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