On the occasion of the classic car event Le Mans Classic, Richard Mille presents the RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic, a limited special edition. The event was co-founded by the Manufacture and takes place every two years near Le Mans in France. The watch celebrates the return of the event in 2022, and accordingly features a green and white case – the colours of the event. However, the watch also offers several other references to racing and impressive mechanics under the hood.
Le Mans Classic usually takes place every second year in July on the site of the famous 24 heures du Mans race. At the event, which was co-founded by Richard Mille, drivers from all over the world compete with classic racing cars. The cars must be at least 40 years old. Since the first edition in 2002, Richard Mille has already presented seven special models dedicated to the event. The RM 029 Le Mans Classic is the eighth watch that celebrates the sport of racing.
Case & Materials of the RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic
The Richard Mille RM 029 Le Mans Classic comes in a three-piece 40.10 x 48.15 x 13.10 mm case. The white middle section consists of a solid block of white Quartz TPT. This material is composed of hundreds of layers of interwoven quartz fibres, which are heated to develop their unique pattern. The front and back bezel are meanwhile made of green Quartz TPT fixed to the middle section with screws. Two white stripes are embedded on the top – a tribute to the colours of the racing event.
The dial is, in fact, just a sapphire glass pane that allows a view of the mechanics. On it are the skeletonised hands with green tips that tell the time along with the Arabic numerals. Surrounding the dial is a green ring with fluorescent dot indices. Furthermore, there is a large date at 4 o’clock. The 24-hour display at 2 o’clock has a blue dot at 4 o’clock. This is the time at which the race starts. At 7 o’clock, the Manufacture has placed another reference to the event. The Le Mans Classic logo with the green and white chequered flag adorns the front.
Under the Bonnet of the RM 029 Le Mans Classic
The RMAS7 calibre powers the watch. The automatic winding system supplies two barrels with energy. Together, they provide a power reserve of approximately 55 hours. Meanwhile, the variable geometry rotor allows the winding speed to be adjusted to the wearer’s level of activity. Elsewhere, the free-sprung screw balance ensures reliability. The latter operates at a typical frequency of 4 hertz.
The Richard Mille RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic comes on a white, ventilated rubber strap. As a special edition
The silence has been eerie these last two years on the outskirts of Le Mans. Anyone familiar with the world’s most iconic historic racing event will know that every second July, the whole town vibrates to the sound of scorched tarmac in the distance. The legendary race, Le Mans Classic will return not only in 2022, but exceptionally the next year too, in 2023, to mark the centenary of the very first race on the Le Mans 24 Hours circuit.
Usually, 700 historic racing cars take to the legendary Bugatti circuit together with 8,500 others in the club areas. The event is more than likely to top next year the record of 135,000 spectators it last saw in 2018. Richard Mille has been a partner ever since its inception in 2002 and has created the 8th model dedicated specifically to this event, a limited edition of 150 timepieces, the RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic. Aficionados will instantly recognize the timeless green and white color combination of one of the world’s greatest historic racing event.
The RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic, with total case dimensions of 40.10 x 48.15 x 13.10 mm, has a caseband milled from a solid block of white Quartz TPT
, offset by front and back bezels in green Quartz TPT
. The front bezel sports the characteristic double Le Mans stripes. These have been created from separate pieces of white Quartz TPT
that has been inlaid into the green Quartz TPT
bezel at 12 and 6 o’clock – a first for the brand. The vibrancy of this classic color combination is perfectly accentuated by a sporty white vented strap in rubber, guaranteeing excellent long-term comfort.
The skeletonised grade 5 titanium calibre RMAS7 movement with its oversize date window at 4 o’clock and a unique variable geometry rotor system driving double winding barrels forms the heart of the new RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic. A dedicated and finely detailed 24-hour counter at 2 o’clock pays fitting homage not only to the event itself but also to the hundreds of automobiles and drivers who relay over the 24 hours, starting at 4pm (indicated by a blue arrow).
Day or night, this limited edition gets fans and drivers alike back where they belong – out on the circuit, crossing the legendary Le Mans black and white chequered flag in perfect time.