Overview

1.75 mm thick

The RM UP-01 Ferrari was released in 2022 in a limited edition of 150 pieces, developed with Ferrari and Audemars Piguet Renaud & Papi. At 1.75 mm overall it was the thinnest mechanical wristwatch made at the time of its release.

The construction spreads the movement across the plane rather than stacking it, creating what Richard Mille calls a symbiosis between movement and case, each providing the other’s rigidity. Notably, the brand kept the movement as a separate assembly inside the titanium case rather than using the caseback as the baseplate — the route its ultra-flat competitors took — specifically to preserve shock resistance.

The winding stem was eliminated, its minimum diameter of 1.5 mm being too great for the format. In its place two crowns are integrated into the case as movement wheels: a function selector between 10 and 11 o’clock, marked W and H, and a second at 7 o’clock that winds or sets according to what has been selected. The time is read from a recessed counter with red hands, the balance sits under its own crystal alongside, and the Ferrari shield is laser-engraved on the case.

Despite the thickness, the calibre withstands accelerations of over 5,000 g. Richard Mille records dozens of prototypes and more than 6,000 hours of research and laboratory testing.

Key details

Design and engineering

• Calibre RMUP-01Ultraflat manual winding movement with hours, minutes and a function selector. It measures 41.45 × 28.85 mm with a thickness of 1.18 mm, weighs 2.82 grams, runs on 23 jewels at 28,800 vph (4 Hz) and provides around 45 hours (± 10%) of power reserve.
• Patented ultra-flat escapementDeveloped with Audemars Piguet Le Locle, formerly Renaud & Papi. The small plate of the balance and the guard pin — the two parts that prevent the anchor slipping back during the balance’s free phase — were eliminated and replaced by an elongated fork with new horns, reducing depth while retaining the security of a Swiss lever escapement.
• Titanium balanceGrade 5 titanium alloy, three arms, six setting weights, moment of inertia 3 mg·cm², angle of lift 54°. The index is eliminated in favour of the weights.
• Baseplate and bridgesSkeletonised grade 5 titanium — 90% titanium, 6% aluminium, 4% vanadium. The baseplate was validated separately against strength requirements.
• Integrated crownsThe winding stem was removed and replaced by two crowns built into the case as movement wheels: the function selector between 10 and 11 o’clock, marked W and H, and the operating crown at 7 o’clock, engraved HOURS and WINDING.
• Grade 5 titanium caseVertically brushed with polished bevels, held by 13 spline screws. The complete watch weighs around 30 grams with the strap.
• Shock resistanceOver 5,000 g, which Richard Mille presents as the point of the exercise: extreme thinness held to the same validation requirements as the rest of the collection.

Specifications

Technical specifications

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Related references

RM HJ-02

Richard Mille · RM HJ-02