Richard Mille Rm 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic Watch

We suggest that you keep the July of 2022 a bit flexible, because if you are an automotive junkie, the Le Mans dates should be finalized by the coming September 2021. Created in 2002, Le Mans Classic offers a formidable retrospective of the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1923 to 1979. In 2016, it opened, with the Group C, another period from the 80’s to the beginning of the 90’s. The greatest endurance race, marked by sportiness, quest for achievement and innovation, has forged a heroic chapter in automotive history since 1923.

Everyone knows the 24 Hours of Le Mans, everyone keeps one or the other image, a particularly tight finish, the absolute speed of a prototype launched in the Hunaudières, the beauty, which owes nothing to the stylists, of a bodywork aerodynamic. Since 1923, at a rate of 24 hours per year, except during major conflicts of the 20th century, the best drivers at the wheel of the best cars, often designed on purpose, came to compete in spectacular jousting came, above all, confront this “endurance criterion”, undoubtedly the most demanding there is.

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 events.

The RM 029 Automatic Le Mans Classic, with total case dimensions of 40.10 x 48.15 x 13.10 mm, has a case-band 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 have 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).

We’ll see you at the circuit next year!