Richard Mille and McLaren Automotive have revealed their first jointly-commissioned timepiece, the RM 11-03 McLaren Automatic Flyback Chronograph, at the Geneva International Motor Show during a reception hosted by McLaren Automotive CEO, Mr Mike Flewitt and Richard Mille CEO, Mr Richard Mille. Limited to just 500 pieces globally and priced at 180,000CHF plus tax, the watch will be made available initially mainly to McLaren Ultimate Series clients.

The RM 11-03 McLaren, created in close collaboration between McLaren Design Director Rob Melville and Richard Mille Engineer Fabrice Namura, has been in development since McLaren Automotive and Richard Mille partnered last year uniting a mutual interest in unique design, the use of new materials and modern craftsmanship.

“The idea was to take on a real technical challenge, and come up with something other than a mere dial with an inscription, for example. I find the 720S designed by Rob Melville mesmerising beautiful, and we wanted to give the RM 11-03 McLaren curves that were similarly both aesthetic and functional,” says Namura. These influences, as well as design cues borrowed from McLaren’s range of luxury sports and super cars, are reflected in this special timepiece.

The case of the RM 11-03 McLaren is made of Carbon TPT® interlaced with Orange Quartz TPT®, resulting in an extremely resistant and light-weight case while paying tribute to a colour that is synonymous with McLaren. The Carbon TPT® enhances the mechanical performance of the RM 11-03 and offers resistance to harsh environments. The titanium pushers fitted to the Carbon TPT® case echo the design of the distinctive headlights of the McLaren 720S. Titanium inserts, similar in shape to the iconic McLaren F1’s air-intake snorkel and bearing the McLaren logo, adorn the bezel. The complex grade 5 titanium crown is shaped like a McLaren lightweight wheel. While the McLaren Speedmark logo is incorporated on the rubber strap specifically developed for this edition.

Under the bonnet of the RM 11-03 beats the automatic RMAC3 calibre, first launched in 2016, with a flyback chronograph ready to literally race on the track. The instant return of the counter to zero makes it possible to quickly restart the stopwatch function. Powered by two barrels mounted in parallel and a balance wheel with variable inertia, the movement has a 55-hour power reserve. Barrel winding is ensured by a variable-geometry rotor that enables personalised winding adjusted to the wearer’s activity level, further evidence of Richard Mille’s characteristic attentiveness.

The fact that a race car’s chassis must always exhibit tremendous torque resistance while remaining light in weight inspired the brand, which adopted these requirements as its own in producing the baseplate and bridges for this calibre of PVD-treated grade 5 titanium to ensure the requisite stiffness and perfect functioning of the going train. The satin-finish grade 5 titanium upper bridge further accentuates the depth of the calibre, creating a visual trajectory around the annual calendar and oversized date as well as the 12-hour chronograph and countdown counters.

With such technical specifications, it comes as no surprise to find the new RM 11-03 McLaren previewed on their booth at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. The RM 11-03 will be offered to McLaren Ultimate Series customers exclusively through Richard Mille Boutiques.

McLaren customers will have the opportunity to match their edition number of 1 to 500 of their McLaren Ultimate Series to the caseback number of their RM 11-03 McLaren.

Price Inc VAT: 196 500 € - 194 000 CHF

RMAC3 Calibre: skeletonised, automatic winding movement with variable-geometry rotor offering hours, minutes, seconds, flyback chronograph, 60-minute countdown timer at 9 o’clock, 12-hour totalizer, oversize date and month indicator.

Dimensions : 49.94 x 44.50 x 16.23 mm.


Power reserve: Circa 55 hours (±10%).

Baseplate and bridges made of grade 5 titanium
The baseplate and the bridges are crafted of grade 5 titanium, a biocompatible, highly corrosion-resistant and remarkably rigid alloy, which enables the gear train to function effortlessly. The alloy is 90% grade 5 titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. This combination further increases the material’s mechanical properties, which explains its frequent use in the aerospace, aeronautical and automobile industries. The baseplate of the RMAC3 calibre has been optimised to achieve an extremely low weight/resistance ratio.
The skeletonised baseplate and the bridges have been subjected to intensive and complete validation tests to optimise their resistance capacities.

Flyback chronograph
Using the pusher located between 4 and 5 o’clock, the running chronograph can be reset without first having to stop the mechanism. This was originally developed for pilots to avoid wasting time (and therefore accuracy) as a result of stopping, resetting and starting the chronograph whilst crossing a navigational point.
When the chronograph function is activated, the hours and minutes show the time elapsed thanks to the counters at 6 and 9 o’clock, while the central hand indicates the seconds.
Function:
The user can start or stop the chronograph function via the pusher located between 1 and 2 o’clock.
The flyback function can be continuously reset by depressing the pusher located between 4 and 5 o’clock.

Oversize date display
Semi-instantaneous, placed in a horizontal aperture under 12 o’clock with automatic adjustment for months of 30 or 31 days.

Month display
Semi-instantaneous, indicated by Arabic numerals placed between 4 and 5 o’clock.

Free sprung balance with variable inertia
This type of balance wheel represents the ultimate in innovation. It guarantees greater reliability when subjected to shocks and also during movement assembly and disassembly, hence better chronometric results over time.
The regulator index is eliminated and a more accurate and repeatable calibration is possible thanks to 4 small adjustable weights located directly on the balance.

Variable-geometry rotor

• Central flange in grade 5 titanium
  
• 18K white gold weight segment
  
• Weight segment with 6 possible positions adjusted by screws in grade 5 titanium
  
• 18K white gold wings
  
• Ceramic ball bearings
  
• Unidirectional anti-clockwise winding

This exclusive Richard Mille design makes it possible to effectively adapt rewinding of the mainspring to the user’s activity level, whether in sporting or non-sporting environments. By adjusting the placement of the wing, the rotor’s inertia is modified to either speed up the winding process in the case of leisurely arm movements, or to slow it down during sporting activities. As a result, this invention allows the movement’s winding mechanism to be optimised and personalised to the owner’s lifestyle.

Double barrel system
The double barrel system contributes to torque stability over a longer period. This is achieved by using higher rotations of the barrel, thereby reducing pressure and wear on the teeth, bearings and pivots, improving long-term performance.

Spline screws in grade 5 titanium for the movement
This permits better control of the torque applied to the screws during assembly. These screws are unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.

• Dimensions of movement: 30.25 x 28.45 mm
  
• Thickness: 9.00 mm
  
• Number of jewels: 68
  
• Barrel arbour – in AP 20 steel
  
• Balance: Glucydur®, 4 arms, moment of inertia 4.8 mg.cm² angle of lift 53°
  
• Frequency: 28’800 vph (4 Hz)
  
• Balance spring: AK3
  
• Shock protection: INCABLOC 908.22.211.100 (transparent)
  
• Escapement wheel jewels: Rubifix (transparent)
  
• Three-position winding stem: W (Winding) – D (Date) – H (Hand Setting)

Case
The case of the RM 11-03 McLaren is made from Carbon TPT® and Quartz TPT®.
Carbon TPT® and orange Quartz TPT® are exclusive material with a unique appearance. Their remarkable surface displays extremely regular undulations, as they are composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fiber or silica threads. These layers, with a maximum thickness of 45 microns, are impregnated with resin then woven on a special machine that modifies the direction of the weft by 45° between layers (Quartz TPT® layers are saturated in a orange resin developed specially for Richard Mille).
Heated to 120°C at a pressure of 6 bars, these materials are then ready to be processed on a CNC machine in Richard Mille’s case factory.

The case of the RM 11-03 is water resistant to 50 meters, ensured by two Nitrile O-ring seals.
The case is assembled with 20 spline screws in grade 5 titanium and abrasion resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.

Spline screws in grade 5 titanium for the case
This permits better control of the torque applied to the screws during assembly.
These screws are unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.

Flanges
In carbon fibre filled with an approved luminescent material.

Dial
Sapphire (thickness: 0.40 mm) with anti-glare treatment (2-sided), protected by 8 silicon braces fitted into grooves on the upper and lower flanges.

Crystal
Bezel side: sapphire (1800 Vickers) with anti-glare treatment (both side)
Thickness: 1.50 mm
Caseback: sapphire with anti-glare treatment (both side)
Thickness: at the centre 1.20 mm and outer edges 2.04 mm

Movement

• Baseplate and bridges in titanium, wet sandblasted, PVD treated
  
• Chamfered and polished by hand
  
• Hand-polished locking sections
  
• Burnished pivots
  
• Diamond-polished sinks
  
• Pinions with undercuts
  
• Bevelled wheels, sandblasted and rhodium-plated

Steel parts

• Sapphire-blasted surfaces
  
• Chamfered and polished by hand
  
• Screw slot and screws bevelled and polished for a rounded, polished tip

Wheels

• Concave chamfering with a diamond tool
  
• Diamond polished angles
  
• Circular finished faces
  
• Rhodium-plating (before cutting the teeth)