THE WATCH AFFAIR

RICHARD MILLE RM11 L.E. FORMULA 1 FELIPE MASSA

It’s been a long-time coming – 5 years in fact – but Formula 1 is finally set to make its triumphant return to the United States later this year. To celebrate this special occasion Richard Mille, in collaboration with F1 driver Felipe Massa, has created a new, limited edition RM 011 Felipe Massa Flyback Chronograph that will be available exclusively from the Richard Mille Boutique in Beverly Hills, California.

The first thing you notice about the new RM 011 is the use of color. It’s very bright but in a good, sporty way and is reticent of the brightly colored helmet that Massa himself wears when racing. The use of color also contrasts nicely against the muted tones of the black carbon tripartite case and the matching yellow on the dial helps to break things up a little, although whether it improves legibility in any way at all is debatable.

As with most Richard Mille timepieces, the RM 011 is packed with features including a flyback chronograph, 60-minute countdown timer, 12-hour totalizer, annual calendar and oversize date and month. The automatic winding movement has been skeletonized and includes adjustable rotor geometry however, as often is the case with RM timepieces, I find the skeletonizing of the movements makes the dial more difficult to read.

The carbon case is quite large at 50mm x 40mm however that, combined with the bright colors, should make the RM 011 easier to spot on Massa’s wrist when he wears it at the US F1 Grand Prix scheduled to take place in Austin, Texas in November this year.

OUR EXPERT OPINION 

Although I must admit I found the dial a bit beguiling at first glance, once my eyes adjusted to the bright colors and the ‘noise’ I realized that the RM 011 is easier to read than other Richard Mille timepieces. I like the use of contrasting color and the yellow helmet at 7 o’clock is a nice final touch to let you know that this is a timepiece associated with F1 without having to broadcast it all over the dial.

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