• 12^th edition of Le Mans Classic from July 3 to 6
  
• A new limited edition of 150 timepieces, the RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic

Established in 2002 as a biennial celebration of racing cars that made history in the greatest endurance race of all time, the 12^th edition of Le Mans Classic will run from July 3 through 6, 2025. The legendary 13.6 km Sarthe circuit will host impressive race cars dating from 1923 through the 2000s, about 750 of which are competiting. Like the previous 11 editions, the cars compete over the course of 24 hours in six different categories (“grids”), one for each of the major eras of automobiles having taken part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1923 through to 1981. The support races make for another high-octane animation.

While around 1 000 drivers vie for race titles, the grounds and village of Le Mans will be awash with more than 9 000 classic cars on exhibit from around 80 different brands and more than 200 automobile clubs as well as private collectors. In the first edition, the Le Mans Classic welcomed around 30,000 spectators, while in 2023 it received more than 235 000, successfully continuing to expand.

Since 2002, Richard Mille, as a principal partner of the event, has consistently shared the same values of celebrating mechanical beauty, honouring the past and demonstrating unwavering commitment – even on the track, with members of the brand taking the wheel themselves.

Following in the tracks of Richard Mille and Dominique Guenat, Maxime son of the latter follows in the footsteps of the founders by competing in historic car racing of the highest level. Proof that the automotive inspiration of the brand is also carried through the next generation both on and off track.

Richard Mille has specifically developed timepieces in honour of every edition of Le Mans Classic since 2008, culminating in all in ten special-edition watches, each incorporating in Le Mans Classic’s corporate colours of green and white. The 150-piece limited-edition RM 30-01 celebrates the 12^th edition of Le Mans Classic in 2025 and is no different in this respect with its case consisting of titanium bezels sandwiching a Green Quartz TPT^® caseband. Green and orange interior details, a checkered flag framing the oversized date window, the famous Le Mans Classic logo on the sapphire crystal caseback and a racing-vented green rubber strap complete this new piece paying homage to an event that is so dear to the brand.

The technical details of this timepiece, developed with the same precision as a racing car is constructed, saw the Calibre RMAR2 modified to accommodate a new 24-hour counter whose “16” numeral is shaded in green in reference to the start time of the legendary endurance race (which is also sometimes named the “green flag”). This addition lends a new look to the watch dial, the reinterpreted skeletonised dial design evoking the outlines of a racing circuit. Through titanium bridges and the skeletonised baseplate, its course is pursued by the 55-hour power reserve display. The clutch engagement indicator (at 11 o’clock) shows the owner whether the rotor is operating in the winding phase (on) or is disengaged (off), while the function selector (3 o’clock) aids the wearer in choosing a crown setting.

The RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic proudly wears its racing spirit inside and out, just like the classic racing event honours the centenary old iconic race.

Limited edition of 150 pieces in grade 5 titanium for the front and back bezels, the caseband is in Green Quartz TPT^®.

Calibre RMAR2: Skeletonised automatic-winding movement with hours, minutes, seconds, oversize date, function selector, clutch engagement and power reserve indicators and a declutchable variable-geometry rotor.

Case dimensions: 42.00 x 49.94 x 17.59 mm



Power reserve: Circa 55 hours (± 10 %)

Baseplate and bridges made of grade 5 titanium
These components in grade 5 titanium with grey electroplasma treatment provide the whole assembly superior rigidity as well as precise surface flatness, which is essential for perfect functioning of the gear train. The skeletonised baseplate was subjected to separate and extensive validation tests to ensure it met rigorous optimal strength requirements.

24-hour display
Placed at 2 o’clock and driven by the hour wheel.

“16” numeral is shaded in green in reference to the start time of the legendary endurance race.

Oversize date display
Semi-instantaneous, placed in a horizontal aperture at 4 o’clock.

Function selector
In a manner similar to a car’s gearbox, a push-button located at 2 o’clock allows one to select the hand-setting, date-setting and winding functions with a simple push. A hand at 3 o’clock displays the selected function.

Free-sprung balance with variable inertia
This type of balance wheel represents the ultimate in innovation. It guarantees greater reliability when subjected to shock and during movement assembly or disassembly, hence better chronometric results over time. The regulator index is eliminated and a more accurate and repeatable calibration is possible thanks to 4 small adjustable. weights located directly on the balance.

Declutchable variable-geometry rotor
The winding of an automatic wristwatch is accomplished by a small rotor that revolves when moved. Its cyclical movement provides energy to the winding barrel, which reaches its optimal tension once it is fully wound. After this point, excess tension due to over winding can easily occur and must be avoided. This is traditionally achieved using a sliding flange that allows the spring to slip, preventing the movement from becoming overwound. However, this traditional system allows harmful debris to build up inside, as the flange brakes on the winding barrel’s interior over extended periods, especially when a person is particularly active.

This, in turn, can severely hamper chronometric results. To avoid such adverse conditions, Richard Mille’s exclusive declutchable rotor automatically disconnects from the winding barrel at the moment when the spring is fully wound. Additionally, this mechanism is linked to the power-reserve indicator to provide an optimal winding control. This allows both the movement and the oscillator to operate at the ratio of constant torque/power providing the best possible chronometric performance.

Rotor specifications

• Central flange in grade 5 titanium
  
• Heavy metal weight segment
  
• 5-position weight segment adjusted by screws in grade 5 titanium
  
• 18K white gold wings
  
• Ceramic ball bearings
  
• Unidirectional anti-clockwise winding

This exclusive Richard Mille design allows the rewinding of the mainspring to be adapted effectively to the user’s activity level across sports or leisure environments. By adjusting the make sure it is written “ five-positional” setting of the rib’s placement, the rotor’s inertia is modified, either speeding up the winding process in the case of minimal arm and hand movements, or slowing it down when high-activity sports are pursued. This invention allows the movement’s winding mechanism to be optimised and personalised to the owner’s lifestyle.

Double-barrel system
The double-barrel system helps to improve the torque stability over a longer period. This is achieved by relying on more turns, thereby reducing pressure and friction on the teeth, bearings and pivots, resulting in improved long-term performance.

Spline screws in grade 5 titanium for the bridges and case
This permits better control of the torque applied to screws during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.

• Movement dimensions: 31.25 x 29.45 mm
  
• Thickness: 5.41 mm
  
• Jewels: 38
  
• Barrel arbor: AP 20 steel
  
• Balance: Glucydur®, 4 arms, 4 setting weights, moment of inertia 4.8 mg•cm², angle of lift 53°
  
• Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)
  
• Balance spring: elinvar
  
• Shock protection: Incabloc 908.22.211.100 (transparent)
  
• Escapement wheel jewels: Rubifix (transparent)

Case
The design and execution of the watch demonstrate a holistic approach to conception of the movement, case and dial. As a result, everything has been constructed according to extremely rigorous specifications, in the manner of the analytical engineering methods used in the design of Formula 1 racing cars, where the chassis and the engine are developed in complete harmony. For example, a casing ring is no longer used, and the movement is mounted on chassis mounting rubbers (ISO SW) fixed by 4 grade 5 titanium screws. Features such as these provide evidence of uncompromising workmanship.

The tripartite case is water resistant to 50 metres, ensured by 2 Nitrile O-ring seals. The case is assembled with 20 spline screws in grade 5 titanium and abrasion-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.

Interior flanges (upper and lower)
In carbon fibre and DLC treated grade 5 titanium, with index points filled with approved luminous material.

Dial
In sapphire (thickness: 0.40 mm) with anti-glare treatment (both sides), protected by 8 silicon braces inserted in the upper and lower grooves.

Crystal

• Bezel side: in sapphire (1,800 Vickers) with anti-glare treatment (both sides).
  Thickness: 1.50 mm.
  
• Caseback: in sapphire with anti-glare treatment (both sides).
  Thickness: 1.20 mm at the centre; outer edges 2.04 mm.

Movement

• Baseplate and bridges in hand-ground grade 5 titanium, wet sandblasted, grey eletroplasma treated
• Barrel bridges PVD coated
  
• Burnished pivots
  
• Pinions with undercuts

Steel parts

• Sapphire blasted and hand-drawn surfaces
  
• Screw slots and screws bevelled and polished with rounded and polished tip
  
• Anglage and polishing by hand

Wheels

• Sandblasted and rhodium-plated, bevelled wheels (before cutting the teeth)
  
• Minimal corrections applied to the wheels in order to preserve geometry and performance