Text by Hadi Azmi
he RM 65-01 Automatic Split- Seconds Chronograph McLaren W1.
The RM 65-01 McLaren W1 is not just a watch—it’s a wearable race machine. Limited to 500 pieces, this latest collaboration between Richard Mille and McLaren channels the spirit of McLaren’s supercars right onto your wrist. The RM 65-01 Automatic Split- Seconds Chronograph McLaren W1 is a fusion of high-performance mechanics and sophisticated design crafted for those who thrive on speed.
Inside, you’ll find an automatic split-seconds chronograph movement that doesn’t just keep time but practically races with it. Housed in a titanium and Carbon TPT® case inspired by the McLaren W1’s swooping lines, every angle pays tribute to the car’s aerodynamic body.
Richard Mille has fine-tuned every detail, making this not just a beautiful watch, but one of their most advanced. Take a look at the ultra-thin bezel, just half a millimetre thick and layered with titanium—it’s a technical feat that gives the watch its distinctive depth and movement.
The ultra-thin bezel measures at just half a millimetre thick and is layered with titanium.
On the dial, McLaren’s signature wheel patterns hint at the car’s DNA without going overboard. And then there’s the function selector crown, a clever touch that lets you switch between winding, setting the date, and adjusting the time—just like shifting gears.
Despite being rooted in racing, the watch shines on and off the tracks with a versatile design that can be worn daily or on special occasions.
With a robust 480-part movement and a variable-geometry winding rotor that can be adjusted to the wearer’s lifestyle, it sports a new skeletonised titanium dial inspired by the W1’s wheel rim patterns, which enhances its practicality and makes it a stylish accessory.
The McLaren W1
Of course, it wouldn’t be a McLaren collab without that unmistakable papaya orange accent. The crown’s orange touch ties it right back to McLaren’s racing roots, and even the pushers are inspired by the lightweight seats in McLaren supercars, keeping things as functional as they are stylish.
Julien Boillat, Richard Mille’s Casing Technical Director, sees this watch as the perfect harmony between brands.
“Making this fourth watch in the series left us with the feeling that Richard Mille and McLaren are perfectly in tune,” he explained.
“Making this fourth watch in the series left us with the feeling that Richard Mille and McLaren are perfectly in-tune. We both work to the highest technical specifications with the most high-tech materials, ergonomics are as important to us as they are to them, and our design language really seems to have gelled. The interaction between our two teams and the partnership that it has created has, simply, become really strong.”
The McLaren Technology Centre in Woking, England.
McLaren’s Global Marketing Director Andrea Bermudez echoed this, noting, “The W1 was designed to give the driver everything they need and nothing they don’t.”
“It is a daunting task to reflect these attributes in a watch, but Richard Mille has exceeded expectations with the RM 65-01 McLaren W1.”
Like the McLaren W1, the RM 65-01 McLaren W1 is beyond the well-crafted tool it’s designed for; it’s for making a statement. It’s an all-out performance watch for those who love the thrill of speed and a well-crafted machine—both on the road and on the wrist.
