RM 72-01: In-Depth With Richard Mille’s Le Mans Classic Watch for Race Centenary

Created in 2002 and hosted on the grounds of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, the Le Mans Classic is the world’s largest gathering of classic cars. There are over 800 racing cars on the track and 8,500 classic cars displayed around the event, many of which have competed in the Le Mans endurance race at one point in time. Richard Mille, a long-standing partner of the Le Mans Classic, has produced a special watch for the event since 2008. For 2023, on the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Richard Mille introduced its latest RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic watch, dressed in a green and white Quartz TPT livery and limited to 150 pieces.

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Richard Mille RM 72-01 Automatic Winding Flyback Chronograph Le Mans Classic

The newest Le Mans Classic watch by Richard Mille is a RM 72-01 automatic winding flyback chronograph, complete with the company’s first flyback chronograph with a patented double oscillating pinion clutch mechanism for optimum performance. This patented flyback chronograph is essentially disengaged from the time-telling portion of the watch, which means that the rate of the base movement is not impacted when the chronograph is activated.

Back to Basics: What is a Chronograph Watch?

The redesigned skeletonized automatic movement, the in-house CRMC1, includes hours, minutes, small seconds, date, and flyback chronograph, as well as a gear-box-designed function indicator on the dial. The movement supplies the watch with 50 hours of power reserve, regardless if the chronograph function is in use or not. The rotor, visible from the back of the watch, is fashioned from platinum with ceramic ball bearings, which translates to better winding despite its compact size.

If we turn our attention to the titanium dial, the tribute to the legendary race is clear. There’s the checkered flag pattern peppered on the dial, the “Le Mans Classic” logo between 10 and 11, and the red-colored “16” on the hour counter in honor of the race’s start time. Of course, just like the Le Mans race, the hour counter on the watch spans 24 hours. That hour counter is found at 5 o’clock, whereas the 60-minute counter is positioned at 2, and the small seconds display at 9.

The vertical date display sits at 7 o’clock while the function indicator, positioned at 3 on the dial, tells you if the watch is in winding (W), date adjusting (D), or hand-setting (H) mode. In true Richard Mille fashion, there’s plenty packed into the dial, and the white, green, and orange colorway is super dynamic.

Richard Mille RM 72-01 LMC in Green & White Quartz TPT

The tonneau-shaped case of the 2023 Richard Mille RM 72-01 LMC watch is made of Quartz TPT, including 600 layers of parallel filaments saturated in white or green resin. The pair of black TZP ceramic pushers flank the grade 5 titanium and black TZP ceramic crown, which is shrouded in green rubber. The three-part case is held together with 20 titanium spline screws, fastened with stainless steel washers.

Finally, finishing off the look of the racing watch is the sporty white rubber strap, furnished with a folding buckle.

Limited to only 150 pieces, the official retail price of the Richard Mille RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic watch is $335,000. However, the market value of the watch will likely be much higher than that – Richard Mille watches typically are, and the Le Mans Classic editions are a fan favorite.

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All the Richard Mille Le Mans Classic Watches So Far

As Richard Mille Le Mans Classic watches are a popular sub-set of RM watches and highly collectible in the market, let’s have a look at all the editions made so far.

• RM 029 Automatic Winding Le Mans Classic (2021)
• RM 11-03 Le Mans Classic (2018)
• RM 11-02 Le Mans Classic (2016)
• RM 030 Le Mans Classic (2014)
• RM 008 LMC Tourbillon Chronograph Watch (2012)
• RM 011 LMC Automatic Chronograph (2012)
• RM 010 Le Mans Classic (2010)
• RM 011 Flyback Chronograph Le Mans Classic (2008)

Usually held once every two years, the Le Mans Classic will be back for an unprecedented third straight year in 2023 to celebrate the centenary of the Le Mans endurance race. And we have no doubts that Richard Mille’s latest Le Mans Classic RM-072 watch will be a hit in the market.

Other 2023 Watch Releases:
MB&F Introduces the Limited LMX Paris Edition Watch
Audemars Piguet Just Dropped the Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon Spider-Man
Vacheron Constantin Overseas Chronograph “Panda” for 2023
Patek Philippe Watches for 2023