Description

The present watch is the Richard Mille RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic, a masterpiece of technical horology released to commemorate the 12th edition of the legendary biennial vintage motor race. Marking the tenth collaborative release between Richard Mille and the Le Mans Classic since 2008, this edition is a vibrant celebration of endurance racing, combining the brand’s cutting-edge “declutchable” technology with the iconic green and white livery of the Circuit de la Sarthe.

The case architecture represents a sophisticated mix of materials, measuring 42 mm x 49.9 mm with a height of 17.59 mm. It features a Grade 5 titanium front bezel and caseback frame, sandwiching a midcase crafted from Green Quartz TPT®. This high-performance composite provides a striking aesthetic contrast and exceptional durability, matched perfectly by an integrated green rubber strap. The design is punctuated by motorsport-inspired details, most notably a green and white checkered flag motif framing the oversized date window at 4 o’clock.

At the heart of this timepiece is the Calibre RMAR2, an automatic movement specifically modified for this edition. It features a unique 24-hour counter at 2 o’clock, where the numeral “16” is shaded in green—a direct reference to the traditional 4:00 PM (16:00) start time of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The dial also features a track-inspired power reserve indicator, showing the 55 hours of energy available.

True to Richard Mille’s philosophy of mechanical efficiency, the movement is equipped with a declutchable rotor. To prevent over-tensioning of the mainspring and reduce internal wear, the rotor automatically disengages once the power reserve reaches its maximum. The wearer can monitor this via the engagement indicator at 11 o’clock, which displays “on” or “off.” Furthermore, the signature function selector pusher at 2 o’clock allows the user to toggle the crown’s utility between winding (W), date-setting (D), and hand-setting (H), much like a car’s gearbox.

Limited to just 150 pieces, the RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic is a definitive collector’s piece that bridges the gap between high-performance engineering and historical motorsport lore. It is a bold, legible, and mechanically superior tribute to the world’s most famous endurance race.

Richard Mille – Bio

Richard Mille (born 13 February 1951, in France) started work at Finhor, a local watchmaking company in 1974. The company was bought by Matra in 1981 and Richard Mille rose to manage Matra’s watchmaking business, which then included the brands Yema and Cupillard Rième. Matra’s watchmaking activities were sold to Seiko, who Mille left in 1992 to start a watchmaking business for jewellery firm Mauboussin. In 1999 he founded the company Richard Mille SA in collaboration with Audemars Piguet. Its first product, the RM001 went on sale in 2001