Richard Mille's RM 43-01 is a fusion of performance with purpose
[SINGAPORE] Picture this: You're admiring a Ferrari engine bay, marvelling at the intricate dance of precision-engineered components working in perfect harmony. Now imagine that same engineering philosophy shrunk down to fit on your wrist. That's exactly what happens when Richard Mille and Ferrari join forces.
Their latest collaboration, the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari, isn't just a timepiece – it's a mechanical dialogue between two houses defined by their obsession with performance, precision and bold design.
The watch is the second chapter in a partnership that was established in 2021, and which resulted in the RM UP-01 Ultraflat Ferrari – a watch just 1.75 mm thick – being unveiled the following year.
The 'gentleman driver' version of the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari in microblasted and polished Grade 5 titanium. PHOTO: RICHARD MILLE
The new watch will be available in two distinct personalities, as Richard Mille's casing technical director, Julien Boillat, puts it: there is the 'gentleman driver' version in microblasted and polished Grade 5 titanium with a Carbon TPT (a lightweight and durable thin-ply composite used exclusively for Richard Mille) caseband, as well as the 'high-octane' Carbon TPT variant for those who prefer their luxury with more attitude. Both are limited to 75 pieces each.
What makes this collaboration fascinating isn't just the prestige factor. Ferrari's Centro Stile design team didn't just slap their logo on an existing watch. Instead, they worked alongside Richard Mille's engineers for two years, influencing everything from the angular crown, sculpted pushers and strap, which echoes the patterning of the Purosangue's interior. Even the hands take their cues from Ferrari's design language.
Every curve, surface and treatment serves a dual purpose – stylistic and functional. The rear of the calibre reveals a titanium plate engraved with the Prancing Horse emblem, its form echoing the design of the 499P's rear wing.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle
Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself.
Sign Up
Sign Up
The 'high octane' Carbon TPT version of the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari. PHOTO: RICHARD MILLE
The dial, open-worked and three-dimensional, offers a clear view of the split-seconds chronograph's mechanical choreography and the off-centre tourbillon escapement. An innovative active seconds display – its rotating blades read off a 12-second scale – adds an element of kinetic energy to the dial.
The torque and function indicators echo a high-performance instrument cluster; much like a Ferrari dashboard, the layout is always technical but yet highly legible. Pushers are dynamic, case flanks are detailed with angular ridges, and golden socket-head screws contrast with blackened bridgework – a visual reference to the tension and complexity of engine blocks and crankcases.
The calibre houses a tourbillon and a split-seconds chronograph, all supported by a skeletonised titanium baseplate with bridges in both titanium and Carbon TPT. PHOTO: RICHARD MILLE
Technically, the RM 43-01 is among the most complex watches the maison has ever produced. The calibre – developed over three years in collaboration with Audemars Piguet Le Locle – houses a tourbillon and a split-seconds chronograph, all supported by a skeletonised titanium baseplate with bridges in both titanium and Carbon TPT. It delivers a 70-hour power reserve.
Throughout the development, material selection and engineering decisions were guided by the same principles that shape Ferrari's most demanding prototypes: performance, durability and visual coherence.
Every element has undergone rigorous testing, simulation and structural optimisation. The result is a watch that pushes the envelope in both watchmaking and design – proof that mechanical complexity and aesthetic sophistication aren't mutually exclusive.
Richard Mille's RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari watches, worn by Scuderia Ferrari. PHOTO: RICHARD MILLE
The RM 43-01 doesn't just attract attention – it earns it through detail, proportion and purpose. Whether at the races or on your wrist, the watch is a wearable celebration of two brands that refuse to compromise on performance.
Call it a statement of synergy: where form follows function, and both speak fluently in the language of speed. Just like admiring that Ferrari engine bay, the RM 43-01 reminds us that sometimes the most beautiful things are the ones engineered to perfection.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business Times
Richard Mille's RM 43-01 is a fusion of performance with purpose
[SINGAPORE] Picture this: You're admiring a Ferrari engine bay, marvelling at the intricate dance of precision-engineered components working in perfect harmony. Now imagine that same engineering philosophy shrunk down to fit on your wrist. That's exactly what happens when Richard Mille and Ferrari join forces. Their latest collaboration, the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari, isn't just a timepiece – it's a mechanical dialogue between two houses defined by their obsession with performance, precision and bold design. The watch is the second chapter in a partnership that was established in 2021, and which resulted in the RM UP-01 Ultraflat Ferrari – a watch just 1.75 mm thick – being unveiled the following year. The 'gentleman driver' version of the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari in microblasted and polished Grade 5 titanium. PHOTO: RICHARD MILLE The new watch will be available in two distinct personalities, as Richard Mille's casing technical director, Julien Boillat, puts it: there is the 'gentleman driver' version in microblasted and polished Grade 5 titanium with a Carbon TPT (a lightweight and durable thin-ply composite used exclusively for Richard Mille) caseband, as well as the 'high-octane' Carbon TPT variant for those who prefer their luxury with more attitude. Both are limited to 75 pieces each. What makes this collaboration fascinating isn't just the prestige factor. Ferrari's Centro Stile design team didn't just slap their logo on an existing watch. Instead, they worked alongside Richard Mille's engineers for two years, influencing everything from the angular crown, sculpted pushers and strap, which echoes the patterning of the Purosangue's interior. Even the hands take their cues from Ferrari's design language. Every curve, surface and treatment serves a dual purpose – stylistic and functional. The rear of the calibre reveals a titanium plate engraved with the Prancing Horse emblem, its form echoing the design of the 499P's rear wing. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up The 'high octane' Carbon TPT version of the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari. PHOTO: RICHARD MILLE The dial, open-worked and three-dimensional, offers a clear view of the split-seconds chronograph's mechanical choreography and the off-centre tourbillon escapement. An innovative active seconds display – its rotating blades read off a 12-second scale – adds an element of kinetic energy to the dial. The torque and function indicators echo a high-performance instrument cluster; much like a Ferrari dashboard, the layout is always technical but yet highly legible. Pushers are dynamic, case flanks are detailed with angular ridges, and golden socket-head screws contrast with blackened bridgework – a visual reference to the tension and complexity of engine blocks and crankcases. The calibre houses a tourbillon and a split-seconds chronograph, all supported by a skeletonised titanium baseplate with bridges in both titanium and Carbon TPT. PHOTO: RICHARD MILLE Technically, the RM 43-01 is among the most complex watches the maison has ever produced. The calibre – developed over three years in collaboration with Audemars Piguet Le Locle – houses a tourbillon and a split-seconds chronograph, all supported by a skeletonised titanium baseplate with bridges in both titanium and Carbon TPT. It delivers a 70-hour power reserve. Throughout the development, material selection and engineering decisions were guided by the same principles that shape Ferrari's most demanding prototypes: performance, durability and visual coherence. Every element has undergone rigorous testing, simulation and structural optimisation. The result is a watch that pushes the envelope in both watchmaking and design – proof that mechanical complexity and aesthetic sophistication aren't mutually exclusive. Richard Mille's RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari watches, worn by Scuderia Ferrari. PHOTO: RICHARD MILLE The RM 43-01 doesn't just attract attention – it earns it through detail, proportion and purpose. Whether at the races or on your wrist, the watch is a wearable celebration of two brands that refuse to compromise on performance. Call it a statement of synergy: where form follows function, and both speak fluently in the language of speed. Just like admiring that Ferrari engine bay, the RM 43-01 reminds us that sometimes the most beautiful things are the ones engineered to perfection.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Fast Lane: New Nissan Leaf preview, Aston Martin Valkyrie as Lego, fastest SUV from Bentley
The third-generation Nissan Leaf will be making its global debut later in June. PHOTO: NISSAN Nissan turns over a new Leaf Ahead of the global unveiling of the third-generation Leaf electric vehicle (EV) at the end of June, Nissan has released the first of a three-part video giving insights into how the new car was created. This includes the target to be able to add 250km of driving range in 14 minutes – the average time a motorist spends to fill up a car with petrol. The latest Leaf uses the CMF-EV platform, which is an architecture shared between Nissan and its alliance partner, Renault. One of the platform's features is how it can be adapted for a crossover, like the Leaf, or a taller sport utility vehicle (SUV). Based on the positive experience with the Nissan Ariya, an electric SUV that uses the CMF-EV, the Leaf may be an EV worth waiting for. Nissan was an early mover in electrification, launching the first-generation Leaf in 2010 and delivering close to 700,000 units globally to date. The replacement cannot come soon enough in Singapore as EV adoption is accelerating. Nissan had six Leaf registrations in 2024, down from 10 units in 2023. Check out the video of the new Leaf at Aston Martin Valkyrie in Lego form The Aston Martin Valkyrie in real life is a 1,140hp hybrid hypercar. PHOTO: ASTON MARTIN The Aston Martin Valkyrie, a hybrid hypercar that was developed with Red Bull Racing Advanced Technologies, lives on as a Lego Technic kit. Consisting of 707 pieces, the finished vehicle measures 29cm long, 13cm wide and 7cm tall. Meant for children aged nine and older, the toy features moving elements like the pistons in its V12 engine, working wheel differential, opening gullwing doors and steerable front wheels. The kit is available at the Lego online store. Production of the actual Valkyrie ended in November 2024 after 275 units. The two-seat, carbon-fibre hypercar uses a Cosworth-developed 6.5-litre V12 engine with hybridisation. This boasts a system output of 1,140hp, enabling the Valkyrie to get from 0-100kmh in 2.5 seconds, something that is not replicated in the Lego model. Motor festival in Modena Italian brands like Ferrari and Maserati will be out in force at the Motor Valley Fest in Modena over the weekend. PHOTO: MASERATI To celebrate illustrious automotive brands such as Ferrari, Maserati and Ducati, Motor Valley Fest 2025 will be held in Modena, Italy, from June 6 to 8 . This is the seventh year that the event is held. The name is a reference to the Emilia-Romagna region in the northern part of Italy, where many evocative motoring brands are based. Ferrari will be exhibiting its F80, a 1,183hp hybrid hypercar, along with other models in the range at the open-air exhibition in the city of Modena. The GT2 Stradale supercar in a unique Powder Nude is the star at the Maserati display, along with the electric GranCrabio Folgore, finished in an Orange Devil hue. Other than the chance to see the exotic cars up close, Motor Valley Fest also features talks and roundtable discussions on automotive industry topics like autonomous driving, automotive supply chain and motorsports. Bentley Bentayga Speed is the carmaker's fastest SUV The Bentley Bentayga Speed with its tuned-up, 4-litre V8 engine is the fastest SUV from the brand. PHOTO: BENTLEY Legend has it that Mr Ettore Bugatti, founder of French supercar brand Bugatti, derided Bentley's entry at the 1930 French Grand Prix as the 'world's fastest lorry' for being heavier than the racers of its day. The Speed, which is the top-of-the-line variant of the Bentley Bentayga range, takes that idea further. The output from the 4-litre, twin-turbo V8 has been cranked up to 641hp, 100hp more than the standard model. This is enough to give the Bentayga a top speed of 310kmh and a 0-100kmh timing of 3.4 seconds. This is an improvement over the previous Bentayga Speed, which had a 6-litre W12 engine that made 626hp and took 3.9 seconds to complete the century sprint. The driving dynamics of the Bentayga are said to have been beefed up to suit its positioning as the performance flagship. For the first time in the model's history, the Speed is equipped with a launch control function and a setting that allows the driver to do 'power drifts' without the safety systems cutting in because it thinks the car is going to crash. In Sport mode, the suspension is 15 per cent stiffer than the standard V8 model's. The Bentley Bentayga Speed is available on indent basis in Singapore with the price on application. The Bentayga V8 is priced at $1.2 million before options and certificate of entitlement. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
CNA
2 days ago
- CNA
What makes Richard Mille tick? We find out on a visit to its watch manufacture in Switzerland
In a car winding through the scenic roads of Switzerland, I watched as quaint villages, seemingly endless greenery and snow-capped mountains whizz by. I was on a drive from Geneva to Les Breuleux, a municipality in the district of Franches-Montagnes, in the canton of Jura. The purpose of this visit? I was part of a small group of journalists from Singapore and Malaysia, here to tour the watchmaking facilities of Richard Mille, where their extraordinary timepieces are crafted. Launching its first watch in the early 2000s, Richard Mille is considered a relative newcomer in the watchmaking world compared to other brands that boast about their centuries of traditions. Yet despite its young age, Richard Mille has managed to rise through the ranks to become a serious contender. According to Morgan Stanley and Luxe Consult's annual Swiss luxury watch report, Richard Mille is listed as the industry's sixth highest watch brand in terms of sales revenue. Taking the top five positions are big name brands Rolex, Cartier Watches, Omega, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe respectively. Curiously, Richard Mille has achieved its position with conservative production numbers – in 2023, the brand produced only 5,600 watches, followed by 5,900 in 2024. And with an average price point of CHF 290,000 (US$354,405; S$455,794), it operates in the ultra-high-end segment, making watches for only a select few. Its clientele includes billionaire collectors, and its watches have been spotted on the wrists of high-profile athletes and celebrities such as Pharrell Williams, Michelle Yeoh, Rafael Nadal, Jackie Chan and more. The Richard Mille name has also become synonymous with innovation in watchmaking, having introduced unconventional materials such as Carbon TPT and graphene into the industry. In terms of design, the brand is known for its bold, avant-garde aesthetic. What accounts for its success in such a short amount of time? How has the brand managed to distinguish itself from other players in the watchmaking world? On our visit to its watchmaking facilities, we got a behind-the-scenes look at the elaborate methods, expert artisanship and relentless pursuit of perfection that brings Richard Mille's timepieces to life. A GENERATIONAL LEGACY So scenic was the view from the car that the two-and-a-half-hour journey flew by. A short nap later (our drive started early in the morning), we arrived at our first stop, Horometrie SA, which produces the watch cases, including the iconic tonneau-shaped cases, and other components such as baseplates and bridges. But first, a quick history lesson on how Richard Mille was born. In 1999, Frenchman Richard Mille joined forces with his longtime friend, Dominique Guenat, to build the eponymous watch brand. Mille, a watch and jewellery industry veteran, wanted to create a brand that would break away from traditional watchmaking conventions and redefine all the rules. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Richard Mille (@richardmille) The Guenat family's involvement in watchmaking goes back generations to Dominique's grandfather Ali Guenat, who became the owner of a small watchmaking enterprise in 1900. Today, this company is Guenat SA Montres Valgine, and its building is where Richard Mille's in-house movements are today assembled, and its watches serviced. In 2001, the pair launched the RM 001 behind the scenes at watchmaking fair Baselworld. It shook the industry with its futuristic tonneau-shaped case and its many technical innovations, such as the world's first torque indicator and titanium baseplates. Mille famously hurled the watch onto the ground, showcasing the watch's exceptional durability and shock resistance, challenging the traditional perception of tourbillon watches as delicate instruments. More than 20 years after the launch of the RM 001, the brand continues to craft timepieces that are both technically advanced and visually distinctive. This commitment to innovation and artistry is now being carried forward by the next generation of leadership. The Mille and Guenat children today hold key positions within the company – Alexandre Mille serves as commercial director, while Amanda Mille oversees brand and partnership initiatives. Cecile Guenat leads as creative director, and the youngest of the children, Maxime Guenat, has taken on the role of general director of the manufacture. THE PURSUIT OF PERFECTION Across both Horometrie SA and Guenat SA Montres Valgine (the latter was our second stop of the day), a total of 245 employees work on the ideation, development, manufacturing, assembling and testing of Richard Mille watches. Handling the conceptualising and creation of new movements and cases is a team of 36. For Richard Mille, the movement is the core of every watch and drives the entire design process. The brand has developed a total of 15 in-house movements, which make up 55 per cent of its production. The remaining 45 per cent of movements are developed by its suppliers and partners, Manufacture Vaucher and Audemars Piguet Le Locle (APLL). In Switzerland, watchmaking is a prestigious affair. This was clearly evident at the Richard Mille premises, where the watchmakers were notably young. Some had even begun their careers in their teenage years, starting out as interns under the watchful supervision of seasoned professionals. Observing the entire watchmaking process, one gets the sense that Richard Mille strives for perfection. Although machines play an integral role throughout the process, a dedicated quality control team constantly oversees every step. Synergy between departments is evident. In fact, watches can be sent up and down departments several times before getting the final stamp of approval. Many tasks are done by hand, including the meticulous polishing of cases, the delicate setting of gemstones, and, naturally, the precise assembly of movements. In one room, watchmakers sit side by side in silent concentration, carefully assembling the tiny components of the movements as they peer through microscopes and loupes. So intricate is the process that a tourbillon watch is assembled from start to finish by a single watchmaker – a feat that can take up to three months to complete. NO COMPROMISE As a cycling fan, I've always wondered how Richard Mille watches hold up in a sport where crashes are par for the course. Despite cyclists like Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu Van der Poel pushing their limits and narrowly avoiding crashes – or even taking some tumbles in the case of Pogacar recently at the unforgiving Paris-Roubaix race – their Richard Mille watches remain unscathed at the finish line, a testament to the timepieces' rugged durability. Richard Mille's sporty DNA extends beyond cycling and is showcased in other arenas like tennis, where brand partner Rafael Nadal wore million-dollar timepieces on the court during his career. Similarly, in the world of Formula 1, the brand has forged partnerships with elite drivers and teams including Ferrari, McLaren and Charles Leclerc. In fact, much of Richard Mille's success story can be attributed to strategic athlete partnerships that have bolstered its image. But how does the brand guarantee performance and durability of its watches under extreme conditions? My question was answered at a testing lab, where the team has developed a total of 140 rigorous tests, including shock tests, drop tests, and ageing tests. In one demonstration, we watched as a Richard Mille watch was nonchalantly dropped from a height, emerging without nary a scratch. In another test, I flinched when a 4.5kg weight was mercilessly swung at a watch for a pendulum impact test, sending it flying into a catcher. Of course, the watch sustained no damage. After witnessing firsthand the meticulous processes involved in crafting a Richard Mille watch, it became clear why production numbers remain low – perfection simply takes time. Commercial director Alexandre Mille acknowledges the brand's conundrum. 'Obviously, we want to increase our production numbers because demand has increased. But that cannot be done if it's not done the proper way. So as of now, I would say we are where we are, and we are going to keep it at this level. There might not be an increase for some years,' he said. So that Richard Mille watch you've been dreaming of? It will remain just as elusive, rare, and coveted as ever. 5 ACCLAIMED RICHARD MILLE WATCHES Take a closer look at five celebrated Richard Mille watches through the course of its history that have redefined the standards of haute horology. RM 001 One can't speak about Richard Mille without mentioning the timepiece that started it all – the RM 001. The watch, launched in 2001, established Richard Mille's design philosophy and marked a new era in watchmaking with its ergonomic tonneau case, titanium bridges and many other technical innovations, such as the world's first torque indicator and titanium baseplate. The watch also made jaws drop with its audacious price tag, which at US$135,000, was double the next most expensive tourbillon at the time. The bold pricing was considered a daring move for a fledging brand, but it captured the attention of collectors and the industry at large. RM 88 AUTOMATIC TOURBILLON SMILEY Richard Mille has a knack for doing the unexpected, and the RM 88 Automatic Tourbillon Smiley, launched in 2022, perfectly captures this spirit. This highly technical timepiece took three years to develop. Surrounding the tourbillon carriage is a cheerful explosion of decorative elements – a blossoming flower, the warm rays of the sun, a delicious pineapple, a blooming cactus, a pink flamingo, and a brightly coloured rainbow. These gold micro-sculptures, created by engraver Olivier Kuhn, weigh less than a gram and are engineered to withstand any type of shock. The in-house CRMT7 calibre – a skeletonised automatic tourbillon movement with hours, minutes, and a function indicator – is crafted from grade 5 titanium with a complex PVD coating. RM UP-01 ULTRA FLAT FERRARI The RM UP-01 Ultra Flat Ferrari is arguably the most talked about Richard Mille watch in recent years. At just 1.75mm thick, it set a world record as the thinnest mechanical wristwatch upon its release in 2022. While the watch breaks away from the brand's established stylistic codes, it remains faithful to its spirit of balancing technical innovation with radical design. The movement, measuring just 1.18mm, is assembled into the case itself. Despite its impossibly thin profile, the case also houses the hours, minutes, seconds and function selector. The UP-01 was the brand's debut timepiece created in partnership with Ferrari. In March 2025, Richard Mille launched its second collaboration watch with Ferrari – the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Second Chronograph Ferrari, an engineering masterpiece comprising a staggering 514 components. RM 07-01 AUTOMATIC Richard Mille is known for its bold, masculine watches, but the brand remains thoughtfully in tune with the tastes of the female audience. This is largely thanks to creative director Cecile Guenat, who brings her background in jewellery design into crafting distinctive pieces for the brand. The RM 07-01 is a core collection dedicated to women, proving that fashionable timepieces can be functional too. At the heart of the collection is the powerful CRMA2, an automatic self-winding calibre developed in-house. The RM 07-01 comes in a range of materials, including red gold, white gold, Carbon TPT, Gold Carbon TPT and more. The white and red gold versions in particular are a sparkling wonderland for the wrist – set with countless diamonds in a captivating 'snow setting' technique, which involves intricately arranging gemstones of varying sizes onto the case and dial, creating a shimmering effect akin to falling snow. RM 07-01 also features an open-link bracelet exclusive to the collection. Richard Mille's open-link bracelets are crafted with meticulous attention to detail, with each link hand-finished, micro-blasted, satin-brushed, and polished. In the case of the white gold and red gold version, diamonds are set into the bracelet too. BON BON COLLECTION When the Bon Bon collection was launched in 2019, it started a new design language for the brand's line of female watches. The collection comprises 10 models across two lines – Sweets and Fruits. In the pastel-coloured Sweets line, everything from cupcakes, to marshmallows, lollipops and liquorice are represented on the dial. The Fruits line pays homage to six fruity flavours – lemon, strawberry, blueberry, litchi, kiwi and cherry. The miniature sculptures integrated in the dial of the watch are designed to resemble a sachet full of tiny candies, turning the watch into a joyful, colourful treat. After all, serious watchmaking can be seriously fun too.
