New Watch: Richard Mille RM011 Ti Americas White LE Watch

Richard Mille timepieces are a luxurious and thematic extension of what sports cars would be if they lived on your wrist-at least that is the idea given the race inspired numerals and subdial registers. Your Porsche 911 can now have a garage stable mate that costs as much, but takes up much less room. Tonneau shaped with large proportions and technically inspired details, the RM011 Ti is your all purpose timing instrument for the track, boat, plane, or even your desk.

Significant to this line of limited edition watches is their intended locale of sale. Swiss watches rarely get special versions for sale only in North America, but this is one of those rare occasions. As a celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Richard Mille will make the entire limited edition set only available at American and Canadian Richard Mille authorized dealers-with just 30 pieces to go around. Those who miss out can get other versions of the Richard Mille RM011 watch.

Bold in pictures and sexier in person, the watches by Richard Mille know how to pack an enthusiastic level of “wow” into each piece. The 40mm wide by 50mm tall case is in DLC (diamond like carbon) coated titanium for strength and scratch resistance. Night turns to day as the dark sheen of the case shifts to the bright white chapter ring, giving the RM011 Ti Americas White watch its name. Another white ring around the large crown helps assert the wintery white concept.
The subterranean clockwork under the transparent dial appears ludicrously complex-because it actually is. The watch features a series of useful complications including a 60-minute countdown timer, 12-hour chronograph, an annual calendar with a big-date window as well as a smaller numerical month indicator, and of course the time via large hands tipped with lume filled arrows. Countdown timers are rare on mechanical watches. A subsidiary dial counts down from 60 minutes while chronograph hands counts up. To accommodate the extra subsidiary dial for the countdown timer, Richard Mille was able to place both chronograph minutes and hour-counter into the same subdial. Completion of the racing theme includes a tachymeter scale (to measure speed with the chronograph based on a distance marker reference point) on the white chapter ring. Nevertheless, this latter function will doubtfully be used by any of the 30 people who will eventually adorn one of these-consider it cosmetic or vestigial at best.

Reading the dial is remarkably plausible given the incredible ménage of details seen on or through the watch face. You may however be distracted by observing the Richard Mille Caliber RM011S automatic flyback chronograph movement in action. The non-static image can allow you to appreciate the harmonious gears working in unison as the watch operates. Price for this limited edition Richard Mille RM011 Americas White watch is $90,000.




1. 40mm x 50mm DLC coated titanium case
2. Pushers for countdown timer and chronograph complications
3. Big date window for annual calendar
4. Subdial counter for chronograph minutes and hours
5. 60 minute countdown timer indicator subdial
6. Internal sapphire crystal with applied numerals and indicators over skeletonized movement
7. Rear of the watch has visible automatic rotor with adjustable winding geometry