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Last week, Richard Mille launched the second watch created in collaboration with Ferrari: the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari. I was privileged to be invited to its unveiling during a major international event in Paris. The three-day event was full of top-level experiences, the highlight of which was undoubtedly the presentation of the new watch. Or, more precisely, two new pieces, since the collection consists of one model made from titanium and Carbon TPT and another made entirely from Carbon TPT.
Let me start by saying this. In this article, I will not discuss the technical details of the watch in depth; I will cover these later. Given its characteristics, it is worth taking a little time to understand and appreciate it. However, from an editorial perspective, it would be unreasonable to wait any longer to discuss the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari.
So, while I was in Paris, I took full advantage of the opportunity to see, touch and wear the watch, and to hear first-hand from those who witnessed its creation. The key figures at Richard Mille and Ferrari were present. Among them Richard’s children, Amanda and Alexandre Mille, who now hold the positions of Brand and Partnerships Director and Sales Director respectively. I also met Tim Malachard (Marketing Director), Salvador Arbona (Technical Movement Director) and Maxime Guenat (Operations Director). Of the Ferrari managers I met, there was Gianfranco Saracino, Partnership Design Manager at the Ferrari Design Centre, and Francesca Vernia, Head of Licensing and Partnerships at Ferrari.
A very Richard Mille watch
The collaboration between Richard Mille and Ferrari began with initial discussions in 2020, resulting in the launch of the partnership the following year. In 2022, as I’m sure you’ll recall, this culminated in the incredible RM UP-01. Considering that watch was neither particularly reminiscent of Richard Mille nor Ferrari, I expected to find myself with a very ‘Prancing Horse’ watch in my hands when I went to the event in Paris. Those with a good memory will recall that it reflects the philosophy of the 2021 RM 40-01 McLaren Speedtail. This piece has a teardrop-shaped case that mirrors the bodywork of the British supercar of the same name.
Neither of the above. The RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari is unmistakably a Richard Mille. The influence of the Ferrari Design Centre is more apparent in the details than in the overall architecture. Alexandre Mille confirmed this when he told us that «the UP-01 was outside the box in terms of what people expected from our collaboration with Ferrari. In a way, the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph is more classic in design and embodies the racing watch we always dreamed of creating with the Prancing Horse».
Improving the case’s aerodynamics
Saracino also emphasised that attention to detail is the key to Ferrari’s aesthetic appeal. He said: «We tried to create a fluid and aerodynamic design. Even the bezel sits lower on the case than in previous models. The buttons’ shape is directly inspired by the rear lights of the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. These lights demonstrate the balance between tradition and innovation, as well as the modernisation of design codes sought by Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari’s Design Director since 2010».
However, to improve the case’s aerodynamics, the ‘pillars’ – a hallmark of Richard Mille designs – had to be removed from the middle.
The inspiration behind the RM 43-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph
As a watch designed for speed, the RM 43-01 naturally features a split-seconds chronograph complication. As Salvador Arbona reminded us: «The split-seconds chronograph fits naturally into the world of motor racing. It allows you to stop one hand to measure an intermediate time, which is ideal for recording lap times on the track».
To help us better understand the technology behind the watch, Richard Mille created 1:18 scale working replicas of key sections for the presentation. Models of the tourbillon, of split-seconds mechanism, and of the power reserve indicator were shown.
After all, the RM43-01 calibre was developed in collaboration with Richard Mille’s long-standing partner, Audemars Piguet Le Locle (APLL). This latest model continues the brand’s tradition of split-seconds chronographs. The list includes the RM 008 from 2003, the RM 50 from 2012, the RM 50-02 from 2018 and the RM 50-04 from 2019. Arbona reminded us that, compared to the base movement, «we changed the position of the elements to achieve a harmony inspired by Ferrari engines and Richard Mille. We moved the tourbillon to 5 o’clock – an unusual choice – to create a movement that evokes the design of an engine».
This freed up a significant amount of space at 7 o’clock that needed to be filled. This was achieved by inserting a floating element engraved with the Prancing Horse. A design inspired by the wing support shape of the Ferrari 499P ‒ «the one that won twice at Le Mans», as Gianfranco Saracino remarked. Along with the red and yellow accents on the chronograph hands, this is the only feature that instantly evokes the heritage of Maranello racing cars.
RM 43-01: Prices and availability
As mentioned above, I would prefer to omit the technical details for now. I can devote a separate article to the watch at a later date. For now, I will leave you with the prices, which are unmistakably Richard Mille. The titanium and Carbon TPT version costs 1,150,000 Swiss francs, while the Carbon TPT version costs 1,350,000 Swiss francs. Although these prices are lower than those of the RM UP-01, which cost around 1.5 million Swiss francs, they are still significant. There are 75 pieces of each variant in the limited edition, of which around 30 are already available.
“It’s never the price that dictates what we do. For us, innovation always comes first, without compromise’, Maxime Guenat told us. He also hinted that the next creations to arise from the collaboration with Ferrari will be equally unexpected. We believe him.
