Richard Mille has once again proven why they are one of the world’s most impressive watch brands, with the launch of the Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari that sets a new world record for the thinnest mechanical wristwatch. The remarkable timepiece measures just 1.75mm thick, or for those playing at home, the thickness of two credit cards.
The record for the thinnest mechanical watch has been a competitive one over the last couple of years, with Piaget’s Altiplano Ultimate Concept setting the record at 2mm back in 2021. Only three months ago, the folks at Bulgari set a new record at 1.8mm with the Octo Finissimo Ultra, which has today been eclipsed by Richard Mille by just 0.05mm.
Not only has Richard Mille rewritten the history books in terms of thickness, but they’ve also made the most robust ultra-thin timepiece ever as well, with the RM UP-01 Ferrari capable of withstanding an outrageous 5,000 Gs of force, as well as being water-resistant to 100m. Truly mind-bending stuff from the Les Breuleux-based independent watchmaker.
RELATED: Rafael Nadal Just Won His 14th French Open Title Wearing A Richard Mille Worth $3.5 Million
The impressive strength of the calibre inside the timepiece was possible thanks to the Richard Mille team entirely rethinking the construction of the escapement and case, which is a different approach than both Piaget and Bulgari. The rectangular case shape measures 51mm by 39mm and is made from an alloy that is 90% grade 5 titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium to offer the optimum blend of strength and lightness.
The titanium movement has been skeletonised and stands just 1.18mm thick, as a manually wound calibre that houses 45 hours of power reserve (the same as a Patek Philippe Nautilus ref. 5711). Instead of the conventional Swiss anchor escapement, Richard Mille has developed a patented new escapement system that eliminates unnecessary height without sacrificing any shock protection.
As you’d expect from Richard Mille, the RM UP-01 Ferrari isn’t going to be produced in large quantities, as a limited edition of 150 pieces with an RRP of US$1,888,000 (AU$2,771,742). While it’s unlikely any of us will spot one of these out in the wild, it’s cool that watchmaking continues to push the boundaries of what is actually possible.
