Measuring a wispy 1.75mm thick, Richard Mille’s new RM UP-01 Ferrari just surpassed (by .05mm) the recently released Bulgari Octo Finissimo Ultra as the thinnest mechanical watch available.
The new titanium watch reaches its record-breaking dimensions with its entire movement built within its case rather than atop a baseplate/caseback, the method used by Bulgari and previous record-holder Piaget. 
The watch’s titanium-based Caliber RM UP-01 manual-winding movement is also encased within titanium and powers displays for hours, minutes and a function selector.
The watch’s going train, baseplate and skeletonized bridges are made with grade-5 titanium to create the watch’s impressive flatness – and strength. Richard Mille says its new watch will withstand accelerations of more than 5,000 g’s.
And with the assistance of engineers from Audemars Piguet Le Locle, Richard Mille developed a new type of strong escapement with a balance wheel in titanium that reduces the caliber’s thickness to only 1.18mm. Engineers fitted the extra-flat barrel with a super fine hairspring that still delivers a full 45 hours of power reserve.
To reach ultimate thinness, engineers also removed the winding stem. In its place, Richard Mille offers two wheels, one for function selection, the other to utilize the selected function, each integrated in the left side of the case.
“In this quest for absolute flatness, we had to offer a watch that, far from being a ‘concept watch’, was up to the task of following a user’s daily life, whatever the circumstances,” explains Salvador Arbona, Technical Director for Movements at Richard Mille.
On the 51mm by 39mm rounded rectangular case, Richard Mille minimized the need for sapphire, placing the clear, strong mineral only atop the red-handed dial and the regulator (balance wheel-spring assembly). (See specifications below for more detail).
Richard Mille’s new RM UP-01 Ferrari is a limited edition of 150 timepieces and is the first result of the partnership with the Italian racing legend. Price: $1.89 million.
Specifications: Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari
Movement: RMUP-01 Ultra flat manual winding with hours, minutes and function selector. Measures 1.18mm thick. The baseplate and bridges in grade-5 titanium (an alloy of 90% grade 5 titanium, 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium). New ultra-flat escapement, fast-rotating barrel (6 hours per revolution instead of 7.5 hours), regulator index eliminated with calibration via 6 adjustable weights located directly on the balance. 28,800 vph.
Case: 51mm by 39mm x 1.75mm titanium monobloc construction assembled using 13 grade-5 titanium spline screws and abrasion-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel. Surrounding the crowns, two black ceramic inserts protect the bezel from friction and ensure water resistance. The caseback and bezel are satin-finished, with polished bevels. Laser-engraved Ferrari prancing horse. Water resistance to 10 meters.
Dial: Time display, function selector located between 10 and 11 o’clock allows one to select the winding (W) or the hand-setting (H) function. Setting the time or winding the barrel is then possible by turning the second crown located between 7 and 8 o’clock.
Bracelet: Leather strap.
Price: $1.89 million.
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