Competition never ends
Some time ago the watch industry has assisted the phenomenal release of the thinnest wristwatch. It was neither Rolex nor Constantin Vacheron. It was Bulgari who proved that an astonishing design is absolutely compatible with a devastating thin case. If you ask about the thinness of this fantastic timepiece: it measures only 1.8mm and is known as Octo Finissimo Ultra. Therefore, some months ago, the watch industry thought such a standard was unbeatable.
However, it didn’t take long until Bulgari peaked at number two, ceding the top rank in favor of Richard Mille. With a slight difference of 0,05 mm, the new RM UP-01 Ferrari comes to delight the enthusiasts of thin timepieces. The watch is manufactured using titanium grade 5, which is known as an alpha-beta alloy. This material has overwhelming benefits which assure the durability of the timepiece, despite its thinness. Titanium 5 is a monumental material being able to withstand temperatures up to about 400 Celsius grades. In addition, the material has a strength-to-weight ratio- a factor that explains the choice of Richard Mille for the RM UP-01.
Moreover, the fantastic timepiece comes equipped with a hand-wound movement measuring almost 1,18mm high. To produce such a mind-blowing mechanism, Richard Mille has closely collaborated with Renaud & Papi. The last is a famous supplier of complications in the watch industry.
Details
As a matter of fact, the timepiece comes in a limited edition of only 150 pieces, so far. The brand has unveiled some insights into the manufacturing process and declared that it took about 6,000 hours to come to the final prototype of the timepiece. Despite the limited number of timepieces, the model was not released as a concept watch. On the contrary, it is as practical as possible and suits everyday activities. Therefore, the power reserve easily sustains 45 hours of functioning. In addition, the visual appearance focuses on indicating the hours, minutes, and a function marker.
The overall strength of the timepiece is empowered by a titanium grade 5 baseplate and architectural bridges. The overall construction of the escapement has undergone severe changes in the design. In addition, the manufacturers have removed the guard pin and the small plate of the balance in order to reduce the depth and assure maximal flatness. Therefore, the brand has replaced the eliminated components with some new horns and an elongated fork, which, in consequence, forms an ultra-flat escapement.
Lots of changes to provide maximal thinness
The changes do not stop here, obviously. The big challenge to surpass the record of thinness made the brand overthink the winding mechanism. The winding stem initially was too big to fit into the thin case. Therefore, the brand decided to eliminate it and integrate instead the function selection crown and the other crown to utilize the selected function. As a result, these both formed the new movement wheels.
To bring this timepiece to the highest levels of value, the brand integrated spline screws and an outstanding finishing touch. In addition, the tonneau-shaped case adds a fantastic visual effect. As for the price of this masterpiece, all we can add is that it’s sold at $1,888,000. A pretty justified price for such a refined technical and design approach.
When will replica manufacturers bring this watch into the replica industry?
The original model of the RM UP-01 Ferrari ultra-flat timepiece has launched in July 2022. The watch has immediately caught the attention of all watch enthusiasts. Obviously, few people can afford to have this masterpiece on their wrists and therefore, wonder how long it will take for the watch to be present in replica watch stores. There is no answer yet. The replica creation of such a thin work of art takes a lot of time. As with the original model, replica makers have to rethink the manufacturing process there are used to. One thing is evident: once the watch appears on the online replica stores, the demand for it will increase exponentially. This is because Richard Mille has taken into account all aspects: a significant functionality within an ultra-flat case, a prominent design, and significant practicability for daily use.