Hands on review of the Richard Mille RM11-03 Le Mans Classic
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Le Mans Classic is an event of extreme importance for Richard Mille. At each edition, the watch brand unveils a commemorative piece, but its commitment goes far beyond the presentation of a novelty. First of all, Richard Mille is not a mere sponsor but the partner and the official timekeeper of Le Mans Classic. Then, the history of the brand is intimately linked to the automobile event one since Richard Mille has been committed since the very first edition. Moreover, a parallel can be made between the two. Created at about the same time, the two entities represent today the references in their respective fields of activity. Richard Mille is considered as the brand of the high end segment which is the most audacious and, daring to say, the one that is performing the best. Le Mans Classic is the rendez-vous not to be missed by any enthusiast or owner of a classic racing car. During 3 days, Le Mans Classic celebrates the great hours of the legendary endurance race by staging prestigious racing cars in different categories. It is far from a museum or a friendly concours d'élégance: cars are racing on the track as in the best days and it is in this context that the true fans prefer to see them.
Finally, such an event gives the opportunity to Richard Mille to invite collectors from around the world to immerse in this unique mechanical atmosphere that mixes power and style, much like the watch brand.
This year, as it was the case in 2012 and 2016, it is an RM11 that is used as the basis for the definition of the watch of the event. Logically, after the RM11 of 2012, the RM11-02 of 2016, it is the RM11-03 that enters the track in 2018. In itself, the RM11-03 Le Mans Classic is not the most surprising Richard Mille piece. First because there are already several variations of the RM11-03 which gradually becomes the basic watch of the catalog. Secondly because the aesthetic treatment is consistent with the previous watches dedicated to Le Mans Classic and in particular the 2014 and 2016 watches.
A Richard Mille Le Mans Classic stands out at first glance and this RM11-03 is no exception. Forget the presence of the logo of the event at 12 o'clock. This is not the reason. What makes this Richard Mille so recognizable is its color scheme that combines a white and black case with "british racing" green touches on both the dial, the pushers and the crown. Such a chromatic range would have been very difficult to consider in the context of any other brand. But with Richard Mille, it works without problem. In fact, a white watch is very difficult to achieve. The strength of Richard Mille is to propose a white case featuring an interesting and non-uniform texture that avoids the "sink" effect when the white case is too smooth. The white ceramic ATZ is for me a real success. The white rendering is bright but doesn't shine. It offers a technical aspect consistent with the spirit of the watch and the ceramic is pleasant when I touch it. The case is however not 100% white since the middle part is made of carbon NTPT which allows to break a design that would have been too uniform. And the mix of materials that harmoniously match is Richard Mille's hallmark.
The link with Le Mans Classic is not only manifested in these colors. The watch includes many details that appear as references to motorsport. We only need to have a look at the pushers designed like pedals, the crown that evokes a clutch plate, the shape of the hands and the scales of the counters, the peripheral tachymeter on the flange ... all obviously in the context of a open dial that reinforces the technical dimension of the piece. The typical shape of the RM11-03 case also contributes to this immersion in the world of racing cars.
One of the criticisms usually made against Richard Mille watches and especially chronographs is the uncertain readability of the displays. I don't agree with this point of view. The chronograph information is visible without any concern thanks to the contrasts between the scales, the hands and the open dial. As far as the two main hands are concerned, the contrast is satisfactory (without being as clear as with the small hands) but their shapes and the luminescent ends attract the eye.
This is good news because we tend to forget it: the RM11-03 is not a simple chronograph. The watch has several additional complications such as an annual calendar (the month is discreetly positioned at 4:30) or a countdown to 9h. Finally, the chronograph is flyback. Note that the hours counter allows you to measure up to 24 hours (the symbol is obvious to explain) which distinguishes it from other RM11-03. At Richard Mille, care to detail always counts.
Unsurprisingly, the movement that powers the RM11-03 Le Mans Classic is the RMAC3 automatic caliber. I really like the presentation of this movement that highlights its architecture and its winding mass. The structure of the oscillating mass reminds that its inertia can be modified by changing the position of the small fins. However, this operation requires the intervention of the watchmaker what is a pity.
The performance of the movement (a Vaucher base which powers a Dubois-Depraz module) is excellent thanks to the technical solutions and the double barrel which goal is not to increase the power reserve (it is however correct with a duration of 55 hours for a 4hz frequency) but to obtain the best thrust and stability of behavior. The movement which is made of grade 5 titanium and PVD treated offers a very nice contrast between the winding mass, the moving parts and the other elements.
With a case size of 50mm x 44.5mm for a thickness of 16.15mm, the RM11-03 Le Mans Classic can not be considered a small watch. These dimensions are even imposing and with a larger width than RM11-02 of 2016. However, as often with Richard Mille, the watch is placed very effectively on the wrist and is perfectly maintained thanks to the rubber strap. In addition, the shape of the case and the fluidity of the lines make the watch slender and "lighter" visually speaking than it is actually. It also manages to offer more character (in my opinion) than the RM11-02 of 2016 thanks to the evolution of the case. On the other hand, I regret the removal of the second timezone display which was very practical and very appreciated on the RM11-02.
The RM11-03 is still a real success and a new demonstration of know-how. Once again, the watch is a hit because it is consistent with the event it celebrates. The price is of course extremely high (more than 180.000 euros TTC) but, and we always come back to this point, it is the entry ticket for an exclusive club and a world of excellence, mixing technicity and style. Richard Mille definitely has the magic recipe and he knows very well that when the product is desirable, the price becomes less problematic.
The RM11-03 is sold in the context of a limited edition of 150 pieces.
Pros:
+ the rendering of the white ceramic ATZ
+ the quality of the finishes
+ the performances of the RMAC3 movement
+ the comfort on the wrist despite the size
Cons:
+ the variable inertia of the winding mass can be adjusted only by the watchmaker
+ I regret the removal of the second time zone display compared with the 2016 piece.
Comments:
grahamhar July 24th, 2018-14:26
I think removal of second time zone is a pro and makes for a cleaner design, great review as always.
InHavenPro July 24th, 2018-17:18
Super piece :). Lovely review! Thanks a lot for the top photos, if I was ever to get a RM this would be a top contender. Cheers, Filip
xxcesar July 24th, 2018-22:18
Thanks Super review, thanks a lot for sharing. Personally, still not sold on the -3 over the original case design.
grahamhar July 24th, 2018-23:57
Agree on case Although I think the 3 variant case in NTPT or ceramic looks much better than the 3 variant in titanium or gold
patrick_y July 30th, 2018-14:29
Another problem: Not obtainable! Always been a big fan of the RM-011 in all its iterations. But now, these RM-011s have become unobtainable!
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Hands on review of the Richard Mille RM67-01 medium set version
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During a recent trip, I had the chance to meet a young lady who was wearing the medium set version of the RM67-01. I found this watch perfect on her wrist because it also gave off a lot of elegance and character. We tend to forget it but Richard Mille has been involved in ladies' watches for many years. This long history began in 2005 with the RM007 and is still very dynamic.
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