Charles Leclerc’s new RM 72-01 is his next collab with long-time supporter Richard Mille
Borna Bošnjak- Bedecked in the colours of the driver’s home, the new Richard Mille RM 72-01 Charles Leclerc is also his second signature model.
- It’s a rare example of an RM 72-01 in quartz TPT, before used in a Le Mans LE, but usually found in metallic cases.
- The RM 72-01 Charles Leclerc is limited to 150 pieces, and priced at US$330,000.
Though he just missed out on the win this past Sunday, Charles Leclerc can at least revel in the fact that he’s got a pretty decent watch on his wrist. That said, he’s been under Richard Mille’s wing for quite some time now, and the new RM 72-01 Charles Leclerc is not the Monégasque’s first collaboration with the avant-garde brand that continues to strengthen its ties with Ferrari. Nonetheless, I’m sure it’ll help a bittersweet second place in his home race feel just a tad better.
Other than being a limited edition of 150 pieces, Leclerc’s variant stands out because it’s cased in RM’s signature quartz TPT, whereas most of the run-of-the-mill RM 72s use metallic or ceramic cases. At 38.4mm wide, (an impressive) 11.68mm thick, and 47.3mm lug-to-lug, you’d think it a compact wear on the wrist – but this is a bright white and red Richard Mille we’re talking about, so any delusions of subtlety are out of the question.
First released in 2020, the RM 72-01 brought to the tonneau-shaped table an in-house flyback chronograph movement, unlike the Vaucher-based RM 11 that built so much of the brand’s success. The CRMC-1 is a flyback chronograph operated by a column wheel, but what separates it from the rest is the usage of two oscillating pinions, one each for the hours and minutes, improving upon the thickness of the movement when compared to a vertical clutch, and also having a reduced impact on the power reserve of the watch even when the chronograph is running.
Decoration-wise, you can expect traditional touches like hand-finished chamfers (though with a considerable lack of interior angles), but applied in a thoroughly Richard Mille manner. This means lots of openworking of components for a look that’s more impressive because of its seemingly complex architecture rather than the finest of hand-finishing.
As for Leclerc, this is his second signature edition with Richard Mille. He’s been wearing the limited edition colourway for a few race weekends, replacing the RM 67-02 Charles Leclerc Prototype he usually favoured, though his RM repertoire also included the a “regular” 72-01, a couple of RM 35-01 and RM 35-03 Nadal signature models, and the RM 61-01 Ultimate Edition. This hasn’t stopped him from indulging in other brands, though, just like his fellow Formula 1 drivers…
Richard Mille RM 72-01 Charles Leclerc pricing and availability
The Richard Mille RM 72-01 Charles Leclerc is a limited edition of 150 pieces. Price: US$330,000
| Brand | Richard Mille |
| Model | RM 72-01 Charles Leclerc |
| Case Dimensions | 38.4mm (W) x 11.68mm (T) x 47.34mm (LTL) |
| Case Material | Quartz TPT |
| Water Resistance | 30 metres |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire front and back |
| Dial | Open |
| Strap | Integrated rubber, butterfly clasp |
| Movement | CRMC-1, in-house, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 50 hours |
| Functions |
Hours, minutes, small seconds, date, flyback chronograph
|
| Availability | 150 pieces |
| Price | US$330,000 |