Lot Essay
In true Richard Mille style, the ultra-flat RM UP-01 Ferrari is both an astonishing technical achievement and an entirely new aesthetic for the brand. It was created in pursuit of a single goal – to make the thinnest wristwatch possible that was practical to use as an everyday wearer. With a movement thinness of an incredible 1.18 mm. and an overall thinness of an equally incredible 1.75 mm., the RM UP-01 is a phenomenal and appropriate reflection of the partnership between Richard Mille and Ferrari that began in 2021.
Working collaboratively with the Ferrari team, the RM UP-01 took more than 6000 hours of development and testing over several years, and the production of many prototypes to perfect. The manufacturing challenges faced in the making of such a thin movement, which Richard Mille insisted must be produced as a separate entity, and not as an integral part of the case, were considerable. The realization of this single-minded ambition dictated the final design and form of the watch itself. The development of the movement was achieved by another highly impressive collaboration with Audemars Piguet Le Locle. It features a skeletonized base plate and bridges made of grade 5 titanium and a fast-rotating barrel providing around 45 hours of power reserve. An integral function selector on the front of the case is operated by the separate key for either winding or hand-setting. Most importantly, the engineers from Audemars Piguet Le Locle and Richard Mille developed a patented new type of escapement with a balance wheel in grade 5 titanium that drastically reduces the caliber's thinness whilst providing the same security as a conventional Swiss anchor escapement. The parts that add the most height in a traditional escapement are the guard pin and the safety roller. The new patented, ultra-flat escapement eliminates both these parts and re-situates the banking function directly on the anchor fork. As a result, the dart-free anchor is significantly reduced in height. The escapement transfers energy to a variable-inertia balance wheel, ensuring great stability during assembly, disassembly and exposure to shock or strong vibrations. The movement thus offers optimal chronometric precision for an extended period. The standard regulator index is also eliminated and a more accurate and repeatable calibration is possible thanks to 6 adjustable weights located directly on the balance itself.
This RM UP-01 Ferrari Ultra-Flat is an exciting prospect for those who appreciate the genius of Richard Mille, it exemplifies the constant innovation, uncompromising pursuit of excellence and great contemporary looks that are Richard Mille’s hallmark. As a collaboration with Ferrari, the RM UP-01 embodies the values and philosophies of F1 car development, that is, the single-minded goal of victory enabled by the most advanced minds and engineering technology available.
Working collaboratively with the Ferrari team, the RM UP-01 took more than 6000 hours of development and testing over several years, and the production of many prototypes to perfect. The manufacturing challenges faced in the making of such a thin movement, which Richard Mille insisted must be produced as a separate entity, and not as an integral part of the case, were considerable. The realization of this single-minded ambition dictated the final design and form of the watch itself. The development of the movement was achieved by another highly impressive collaboration with Audemars Piguet Le Locle. It features a skeletonized base plate and bridges made of grade 5 titanium and a fast-rotating barrel providing around 45 hours of power reserve. An integral function selector on the front of the case is operated by the separate key for either winding or hand-setting. Most importantly, the engineers from Audemars Piguet Le Locle and Richard Mille developed a patented new type of escapement with a balance wheel in grade 5 titanium that drastically reduces the caliber's thinness whilst providing the same security as a conventional Swiss anchor escapement. The parts that add the most height in a traditional escapement are the guard pin and the safety roller. The new patented, ultra-flat escapement eliminates both these parts and re-situates the banking function directly on the anchor fork. As a result, the dart-free anchor is significantly reduced in height. The escapement transfers energy to a variable-inertia balance wheel, ensuring great stability during assembly, disassembly and exposure to shock or strong vibrations. The movement thus offers optimal chronometric precision for an extended period. The standard regulator index is also eliminated and a more accurate and repeatable calibration is possible thanks to 6 adjustable weights located directly on the balance itself.
This RM UP-01 Ferrari Ultra-Flat is an exciting prospect for those who appreciate the genius of Richard Mille, it exemplifies the constant innovation, uncompromising pursuit of excellence and great contemporary looks that are Richard Mille’s hallmark. As a collaboration with Ferrari, the RM UP-01 embodies the values and philosophies of F1 car development, that is, the single-minded goal of victory enabled by the most advanced minds and engineering technology available.