partnership. The watchmaker’s designers
have gone beyond the superficial to
imbue the timepiece with the essence of
the two brands.
For instance, rather than merely have
a strap that resembles a tyre, the team
sought to incorporate many of McLaren’s
design cues, such as the carmaker
signature orange livery. The complex
grade 5 titanium crown is inspired by
McLaren lightweight wheel, and titanium
pushers fitted to the case echo the
design of the distinctive headlights of the
McLaren 720S.
Adorning the bezel are titanium
inserts that are similar in shape to the
iconic McLaren F1’s air-intake snorkel and
bears the carmaker’s logo. The McLaren
Speedmark logo is also incorporated on
the rubber strap specifically developed
for this edition.
The case of the RM 11-03 McLaren is
made of Carbon TPT® interlaced with
Orange Quartz TPT®, resulting in an
extremely resistant and lightweight
case that pays tribute to a color that is
synonymous with McLaren. The material
enhances the mechanical performance
of the RM 11-03 and offers resistance to
harsh environments.
“The idea is not to overpower what is a
fine-looking watch, but to create a unique
product that reflects both our companies’
core values and identities. The end result is
a fantastic looking timepiece,” says Flewitt.
“Our collaboration continues to
be focused on materials, details and
design, all key creative aspects. Cutting
straight to essentials, you really feel
the connection between the brands
in this latest watch. It is anything but
superficial,” he says.
The RM 11-03 was created in close
collaboration between McLaren Design
Director Rob Melville and Richard Mille
Engineer Fabrice Namura. “The idea was to
take on a real technical challenge and come
up with something other than a mere dial
with an inscription. I find the 720S designed
by Rob Melville mesmerizing beautiful, and
we wanted to give the RM 11-03 McLaren
curves that were similarly both aesthetic
and functional,” says Namura.
The RM 11-03 McLaren Automatic
Flyback Chronograph McLaren is the first
timepiece the two brands have worked
on together, and was unveiled at theGeneva International Motor Show during
a reception hosted by Flewitt and Mille. It
will be issued in a limited edition of 500
and available initially to mainly McLaren
Ultimate Series clients.
The RM 11-03 is an example of how
two brands from different fields can join
hands to produce something truly spec-
tacular if they share the same passions.
Says Mille: “The common denominator
our universes share, what our clients
ultimately expect, is passion. Heart is
everything. When we speak of emotion,
it’s not something frivolous, it is a very
important matter.”Under the bonnet of the RM 11-03 McLaren
The RM 11-03 McLaren Automatic Flyback Chronograph is the latest timepiece that
has emerged from the partnership between Richard Mille and McLaren Automotive.
Under the bonnet of the RM 11-03 beats the automatic RMAC3 caliber with a
flyback chronograph.
Inspired by speed, the instant return of the counter to zero makes it possible to
quickly restart the stopwatch function. The movement features a 55-hour power
reserve powered by two barrels mounted in parallel and a balance wheel with variable
inertia. Reflecting Richard Mille’s attention to detail, the winding of the watch can be
adjusted to the wearer’s activity level.
The baseplate and bridges for this caliber is made up of PVD-treated grade 5
titanium to ensure the requisite stiffness and perfect functioning of the going train.
This design was inspired by the chassis of a race car, which must always exhibit
tremendous torque resistance while remaining light in weight.
Meanwhile, the satin-finish grade 5 titanium upper bridge further accentuates
the depth of the caliber, creating a visual trajectory around the annual calendar and
oversized date as well as the 12-hour chronograph and countdown counters.PROMOTION