Richard Mille’s RM UP-01 Ferrari sets a new record for the world’s thinnest watch
Just when we thought watches couldn’t get any thinner, Richard Mille unveils the ultra thin RM UP-01 Ferrari timepiece, de-throning the Bulgari Octo Finissimo’s title of the world’s thinnest watch just months after its release.
In 2021, Richard Mille and Ferrari joined forces to create a long term partnership in the quest for perfection. With a shared goal for uncompromising performance as well as sporting mechanisms which are as elegant as they are recognisable, the two power houses celebrated their budding relationship with the release of the ultra thin timepiece RM-UP01 Ferrari.
The ultra-flat challenge
The RM-UP01 is the first watch born from the partnership between Richard Mille and Ferrari. The piece matches Ferrari’s values and in true Richard Mille style, rolls back the limits of possible by taking the ultra flat challenge.
With a thickness of just 1.75 mm, the RM UP-01 constitutes a triumph of technical prowess which has resulted in a new world record for the world’s thinnest watch, de-throning the previous record holders, Piaget’s AUC at 2.00mm and Bulgari’s Octo Finissimo Ultra at 1.8mm.
Unlike the previous record holders who used the back of the case as the baseplate of the watch, Richard Mille was determined to retain the traditional architecture in which the movement is assembled within the case. This was done to ensure total shock resistance.
‘For this type of project, it was necessary to set aside all the knowledge we had amassed, as well as all the years of practice and every conceivable standard of watchmaking,’ explains Julien Boillat, Technical Director for cases at Richard Mille. ‘This is precisely what we did throughout our collaboration with the laboratories of Audemars Piguet Le Locle, Shaving off those last hundredths of a millimetre from the depth was an extremely demanding and lengthy process.’
In order to meet the ultra-flat challenge, Richard Mille created a perfect symbiosis between the movement and the case to ensure necessary rigidity.
The design
The design of the RM UP-01 bears witness to a comprehensive conceptual approach to the movement and the case, which are developed in complete harmony. It represents the first appearance of this new and highly identifiable form within the Richard Mille collection. Its slimness symbolises the Richard Mille philosophy of letting technique dictate aesthetics. The entire case is machined from grade 5 titanium, a material offering great lightness combined with levels of resistance. The caseback and bezel are satin-finished, with polished bevels. The iconic prancing horse and all the references present on the case are laser-engraved.
The Movement
Ultraflat manual winding movement with hours, minutes and function selector, RMUP-01 Caliber, 1.18mm thick, 23 jewels, 4Hz frequency, 45 hour power reserve.
With a hefty price tag of €1.7 million we’ll leave it up to you to decide whether the RM UP-01 is a collector’s item or simply a watchmaking marvel worth appreciating.