The world's thinnest wristwatch record now belongs to Richard Mille. With a case thickness of only 1.75mm, the RM UP-01 raised the bar to an unbelievable point.
The Piaget Altiplano Ultra-Thin was the watch that ignited the thinnest wristwatch race. The 2mm thick watch was recorded as one of the most prominent novelties in the industry in 2020 when it was introduced. Two years had passed since Piaget, with the Octo Finissimo Ultra model, Bulgari took the title of the thinnest mechanical wristwatch, improving Piaget's record by 0.2mm. Octo Finissimo Ultra with its 1.8mm thin case promised a unique engineering and visual feast.
While struggling to get used to the thinness of the 1.8mm value, Richard Mille came up with a unique micro-mechanical artwork: the RM UP-01 Ferrari. The title of the world's thinnest mechanical wristwatch has now passed to Richard Mille, for now. Bulgari's record has been improved by 0.05mm, reducing it to a seemingly impossible thickness of 1.75mm.
I must say from the beginning that it is highly likely that we will see watches that are a continuation of the RM UP series. Who knows, maybe Richard Mille will push their own record even further, but even the first version has breathtaking technical details.
The RM UP-01 is a watch developed in collaboration with Ferrari. At this point, I cannot predict how much Ferrari contributed to the development and production of the watch, but Richard Mille has a place among exotic cars, as Ferrari is among exotic cars. Long story short, once again the best in the field came together and a unique machine emerged, so we just have to enjoy this work of art.
The RM UP-01 is a watch that emerged after 6,000 hours of research and development. The model, which will be produced in a limited number of 150 pieces, is accompanied by the caliber RMUP-01 bearing the same name with its reference number. The main plate and bridges of the self-winding movement with a power reserve of 45 hours are made of Grade 5 titanium for both durability and lightness. The 1.18mm-thick mechanism has an impact resistance of up to 5000G. With the function selector on the front of the watch, it is possible to switch between the winding and time-setting functions. In the part just below it, there is the crown positioned for adjustment. The caliber, which has a variable-inertia titanium balance system, is equipped with a quick-return main spring, which is also found in other RM mechanisms. 23 jewels movement beats at 28800 vibrations per hour. Richard Mille did not neglect to benefit from the vast experience of their sister company Audemars Piguet for the production of this special caliber.
The case of the watch is made of Grade 5 titanium just like its mechanism. The bezel is attached to the case with 13 studs. The thickness of the sapphire crystal glass used in the window where the balance spring is visible is 0.2mm at the center and 0.3mm at the edges. The thickness of the sapphire crystal that covers the hour and minute hands is 0.45mm. The water resistance value of the watch is determined as 1 ATM (10 meters). The dial does not have any Super-LumiNOVA filling to make it easier to see in the dark.
Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari is fixed to the wrist with a rubber strap equipped with a velcro fastening system. As you can imagine, the thickness of the rubber strap is more than the case of the watch. If the list price of the model, hang tight, it was announced as 1,888,000 USD.
