In just 23 years, the Richard Mille watch brand has risen through the ranks to become one of the most notable companies in the horological world. It’s incredible to be counted alongside century-old Swiss watchmaking giants like Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet.
Richard Mille maintains its industry dominance in grand style by creating super expensive watches with prizes bordering on ridiculous. The watchmaker also creates timepieces with unconventional designs that probably wouldn’t have gotten a second look back in the early days of watchmaking when timepieces were almost always round.
In addition to these unique designs, the Richard Mille brand is renowned for its adoption of high-end materials that have never before been seen in the world of horology. The watchmaker frequently borrows inspiration from the world of automotive and aeronautical engineering both in terms of the aesthetics and materials of its watches.
Richard Mille’s boldness to go where no one has ever dared to visit has led to the creation of some very impressive timepieces over the years. In this post, we will explore five out of this impressive roster of Richard Mille timepieces, discussing their features and what makes them so iconic and sought-after watches.
The Richard Mille RM 005 is one of the older watches in the watchmaker’s catalog, having made its debut in 2004 just a few years after the brand launched. At the time, it was Richard Mille’s first automatic timepiece, which is why it is a worthy addition to this list.
The RM 005 debuted the variable-geometry rotor functionality and a semi-instantaneous date display. The variable-geometry rotor would go on to become an important feature in future Richard Mille models and a basis for other notable horological innovations. This mechanism modifies the inertia of the rotor to adjust the movement’s winding based on the wearer’s activity level. It can speed up the winding process when the watch is at rest or slow it down during high activity to keep it from getting overwound.
This watch has a tonneau-shaped case that measures 37.8mm by 45mm, with a thickness of about 11.5mm. This dimension is perfect even for people with smaller wrists. The RM 005 has significant wrist presence without sacrificing comfort and elegance. Richard Mille produced multiple material variants of the RM 005. The collection includes titanium, rose gold, and white gold variants, with the same design and core specifications.
In 2010, Richard Mille achieved a significant milestone with the launch of its luxury sports watch designed specifically for Tennis Legend Rafael Nadal. The Majorcan had this watch on the court when he wore his fifth French Open title.
A year later, Richard Mille built on this remarkable legacy with the release of the RM 035. The timepiece immediately earned the nickname “Baby Nadal” which is a bit misleading in terms of its physical dimensions. The RM035 measures 39.7mm x 48mm, practically the same size as the RM 027. The nickname merely references the fact that the RM 035 is a slightly toned-down version of the original Rafael Nadal which was designed for more intense physical activities.
The Richard Mille RM 035 is a high-end luxury watch with refined aesthetics that makes it more suitable for everyday wear compared to the OG Nadal watch. Like the other Nadal watches, the RM 035 has an Alumagnessium casing which is durable and extremely lightweight. The internal components of this timepiece are made from PVD-treated titanium material, which is both rigid and lightweight as well.
As a testament to its durability and high performance, the RM 035 is the first Richard Mille timepiece to be Chronofiable® certified. The timepiece has been subjected to some of the most rigorous durability tests in the watch industry without breaking down or losing its performance.
Keeping with the company’s tradition of creating high-end watches that can be worn by athletes for various sports, Richard Mille created the RM 38 wristwatch in 2011. Like the Richard Mille Nadal timepiece, there was no better person to test the RM 38 than Gerry Lester Watson Jr (popularly known as Bubba Watson). He is one of the strongest hitters in the golf industry and also happens to be a watch enthusiast who loves to wear timepieces while playing.
To withstand the extreme force generated during gold swings, Richard Mille made the RM 38's case with an extremely rugged alloy known as magnesium WE 54. The alloy which consists of 89% magnesium, 6% yttrium, and 5% rare earths is commonly used on the wheels of Formula 1 racing cars. Despite being extremely durable, this magnesium alloy is also one of the lightest metals used in the manufacturing industry.
Richard Mille only made 38 examples of the original Bubba Watson timepiece, one of which was worn by Bubba Watson as he won the Masters title. The success of the RM 38 led to the creation of the RM 038-01 a few years later which featured a G-sensor and a tourbillon mechanism for good measure.
Richard Mille also launched the RM 38-02 in 2022, roughly a decade after the original Bubba Watson was launched. While it comes at a high price tag, the scarcity and remarkable legacy of RM 38 makes it worth having for anyone who can afford a Richard Mille piece as legendary as this.
The tonneau-shaped casing is a signature feature of the Richard Mille brand. But to create a diver’s watch, the watchmaker had to do away with this classic shape, in favor of a more conventional round shape to accommodate a unidirectional bezel.
The Richard Mille RM 032 is an Automatic Flyback chronograph diver’s watch. More than just an ordinary timer, the flyback chronograph function ensures increased accuracy especially when it’s time to reset the watch.
In addition to its chronograph functionality, the RM 032 also has an annual calendar function which displays the date and month in oversized windows on the dial. The watch has a running indicator and a totalizer function too. These are extremely useful complications but are fitting additions for a watch meant to dive to depths of up to 300 meters. All of these features make the RM 032 a versatile tool watch. It combines the innovative design of a typical Richard Mille with practical features useful in and out of the water.
Despite the unique round case of this watch, the RM 032 still looks every bit like a Richard Mille timepiece with its beautifully executed skeletonized dial and high-tech case design. The watch has a super-sporty appearance with an extremely busy dial that leaves you feeling like a horological genius as you figure out all the cool things this watch can do.
The RM 032 is ISO certified which means you can do some serious diving with this watch. However, it works just as well if you simply want a high-end luxury sports watch for your outdoor adventures.
Most people will be surprised to learn that Richard Mille had an ultra-thin timepiece. The watchmaker has a reputation for making bulky oversized timepieces, which is why the 7.5 mm definitely deserves a spot on this list of top Richard Mille watches.
Known as the Richard Mille RM 67-01 Automatic Extra Flat, this timepiece was created in 2015. Not only was the RM 67-01, one of the flattest Richard Mille watches at the time, it was the first extra flat watch to retain the watchmaker’s traditional tonneau-shaped casing.
Other flat watches manufactured by Richard Mille before the RM 67-01 such as the RM 016, RM 017, and RM 033 were either rectangular or round. This means they didn’t really look like your typical Richard Mille timepiece. The RM 67-01’s ultra-thin construction created a unique timepiece while staying true to the brand’s DNA.
In addition to being flatter than your typical Richard Mille watches, the RM 67-01 was also feather-light, with a skeletonized dial that showcased the intricate internal workings of the timepiece while also creating an illusion of depth. The minimalist, yet daring design of this watch means it works as a dressy Richard Mille timepiece, which is perfect for more conservative buyers.
There you have it! Our top pick for the top Richard Mille watches you can consider adding to your collection. The watchmaker has quite a rich catalog of high-quality, high-spec watches. This can make it difficult to narrow down the best ones to buy. At the end of the day, the best Richard Mille watch for you depends on your budget, specific needs, style, and preferences.