Introducing – Richard Mille RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic

After a spectacular (in terms of execution and visual aspect) watch introduced a few days ago, the RM 68-01 Tourbillon decorated by street-artist Cyril Kongo, Richard Mille goes back to more fundamental inspirations, with a new limited edition of its Dual Time Zone chronograph dedicated to classic cars and racing, the Richard Mille RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic. A partner of the event since its inception in 2002, Richard Mille celebrates the Le Mans Classic by creating a new watch for each edition of the race. Here is the 2016 edition, limited to 150 pieces.

For this year’s edition of the Le Mans Classic, Richard Mille uses one of our favorites to create a limited edition, the RM 11. Favorite because this watch certainly best represents what a RM watch should be – without considering some totally crazy editions, like the Nadal watches. This watch is sporty, it has a chronograph, its design is bold and at the same time, it features impressive complications and technicality. The RM 11 isn’t new, it has been in the collection for some years, it’s not the most impressive of all the RM, but it’s certainly a great pleasure to see it again. Sometimes, a bit of pragmatism can make things as desirable.

This Richard Mille RM 11-02 celebrates the partnership between the watchmaker and the race organized each year in the French automotive Mecca, Le Mans. The Le Mans Classic brings to life over 80 years of automobile racing history, welcoming the cars and drivers responsible for the legendary standing of the world’s most famous race. The 2016 edition will take place from July 8th to the 10th, on the renowned Bugatti circuit (the short, permanent version of the Le Mans circuit). Its inception dates back 2002 and since then, Richard Mille has been one of the main partners of the race.

Each year means a new commemorative and limited edition and for 2016, Richard Mille chose the sporty and large chronograph of the brand, in its traveller’s version. The Richard Mille RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic is based on the known RM 11, a chronograph with large date at 12 and annual calendar, with display of the month in a window at 4h30. On this -02 edition, we see the addition of a 24-hour indication at 6 and an additional hand on the central axis, to bring a UTC function – the successor of the GMT time. it will allow you to keep trace of your home time when traveling or to display a second time zone when home.

The tonneau-shaped case of the Richard Mille RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic is executed in white ATZ ceramic for the bezel and the caseback, while the casebands are manufactured in NTPT carbon. The movement, in the tradition of Richard Mille, is executed in grade 5 titanium for the plates and bridges. It features a variable geometry rotor, a free sprung balance and a double barrel winding system – again, an impressive amount of deployed technology. The chronograph features a flyback function.