RM 65-01 McLaren W1: Best Collaboration So Far
The Richard Mille RM 65-01 McLaren W1 pushes the boundaries of both watchmaking and design. With the use of a Carbon TPT case, the watch flaunts swooping lines inspired by McLaren’s supercars. While we have seen a similar pattern before with other Carbon TPT-based Richard Mille watches, this one just manages to hit differently. The watch is powered by the RMAC4 automatic chronograph movement that helps Richard Mille to stand on its dedication to creating a “racing machine for the wrist.” But beyond the technical specifications, what really captures the imagination is how this watch looks and feels.
As someone who loves both cars and watches, I just cannot get over the fact of how cool this watch looks. Until I get to have a hands-on with the watch, I will not be able to say much about it. Though I have tested the RM 65-01 before and I know RM picked the right watch to go with this collaboration.
The Swiss watchmaker has made sure that it uses the McLaren orange colors for the details of the watch. I must say that they skillfully integrated the color into the design without feeling overpowering. The use of the McLaren “aero-cell” architecture influences every aspect of the watch. Starting from the placement of the chronograph pushers to the ergonomic design of the crown, which is an absolute joy to operate.
What I particularly appreciate about the RM 65-01 is how it balances technical complexity with wearability. Despite the impressive 480-part movement inside, this RM has managed to create a piece that feels robust but not cumbersome. The skeletonized dial itself has taken inspiration from McLaren’s wheel rims, which are just mesmerizing to look at.
In terms of the complication, RM was wise enough to pick the Split Seconds Chronograph as there is not other watch complication that would signify racing and fast cars better than this.
McLaren W1: The Supercar that also deserves attention
While this is a website about luxury watches, our focus tends to go towards the watch first. However, it would be criminal not to talk about an impressive machine like the McLaren W1 that indeed inspired RM to design a whole new watch for. Being a successor to the McLaren P1, there were high expectations from the W1 and the company did manage to live up to those expectations. This is supposed to be the quickest accelerating road-legal car that McLaren has ever produced.
The supercar is powered by an all-new V8 engine, which lets the driver rev up the car all the way up to 9,200rpm. It offers a whopping 928hp, but thanks to it being a hybrid, the car is able to produce a total maximum power output of 1275hp and 1340nm of torque.
RM x McLaren: A long-standing relationship
As mentioned above, this is not the first watch for which the two brands have collaborated. RM has designed three other luxury men’s watches before this one for McLaren. The first partnership took place in 2017 when they announced the launch of the RM 50-03 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph. Following that collaboration, the RM 11-03 McLaren and RM 40-01 McLaren Speedtail were released in 2018 and 2021, respectively.
