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Read the full article: Video: Unboxing the Richard Mille RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic
Richard Mille RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic: 150-Piece Flyback Chronograph in Quartz TPT
The Richard Mille RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic is a 150-piece limited edition flyback chronograph. The case pairs white and green Quartz TPT to mark Richard Mille's tie to the Le Mans Classic vintage racing event, and the whole watch leans into the motorsport theme, from the tachymeter flange to the checkered-flag logo on the dial. Here is what stood out to us with one in hand.
Watch the full unboxing
Table of Contents
The Watch
The RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic in white and green Quartz TPT.
The Le Mans Classic Connection
Richard Mille is the title partner of the Le Mans Classic, the biennial vintage racing meeting held at the Circuit de la Sarthe that runs on the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This edition carries the event's checkered-flag logo on the dial at the 11 o'clock position. It is a straight motorsport brief: the timing gear is on display, the flange reads as a tachymeter, and the case splits green and white.
The Le Mans Classic checkered-flag logo sits at 11 o'clock.
White and Green Quartz TPT Case
The case pairs two colors of Quartz TPT: a white bezel up front and a white Quartz TPT rear frame, with a green caseband running between them, plus a green crown and pushers. Quartz TPT is built from over 600 layers of silica filaments, fused under heat and pressure into a composite that is light and scratch-resistant. Because the layers get cut at slightly different points, the grain runs a little differently on every case, so no two come out identical.
White Quartz TPT over the green Quartz TPT caseband.
The curved tonneau profile in white and green Quartz TPT.
The case measures 38.4mm wide and 47.34mm lug to lug, with a thickness of 11.68mm. Water resistance is 30 meters, and the strap is white rubber on a titanium buckle.
The 38.4mm tonneau case on its white rubber strap.
Skeletonized Dial and Flyback Chronograph
The dial is fully skeletonized, so the chronograph bridges and wheels show through from the front. Three counters sit across it in a triangular layout, with a date window down at 7 o'clock, a tachymeter scale printed around the flange, and the Le Mans Classic logo up at 11 o'clock. This is a flyback chronograph, which means a single push resets and restarts the timing in one action, the setup racers and pilots have long used for back-to-back interval timing.
The fully skeletonized dial with its three counters and tachymeter flange.
The skeletonized chronograph architecture, seen at an angle.
In-House Caliber CRMC1
Inside is the in-house caliber CRMC1, Richard Mille's first in-house automatic flyback chronograph. It holds roughly a 50-hour power reserve. Turn the watch over and the movement is on full display through a sapphire caseback, including the skeletonized winding rotor and the "Le Mans Classic" engraving around the movement ring.
The CRMC1 movement and skeletonized rotor through the sapphire caseback.
On the Wrist
The 38.4mm tonneau case wears compactly because the curved caseband follows the arm instead of sitting flat on top of it. Quartz TPT keeps the weight down, so even with the chronograph it wears light. The white rubber strap keeps it in sport-tool territory, and the green accents give it away as the Le Mans piece from across a room.
On the wrist, the curved case follows the arm.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic pieces were made?
150 pieces total. It is one of Richard Mille's commemorative editions tied to the brand's role with the Le Mans Classic vintage racing event, which keeps the run small and the green-and-white treatment specific to this piece.
What is Quartz TPT?
Quartz TPT is a composite made from over 600 layers of silica filaments compressed under heat and pressure. It is light and scratch-resistant, and the layering leaves a marbled grain that runs differently on every case, so no two come out the same.
Is the RM 72-01 a flyback chronograph?
Yes. Caliber CRMC1 is Richard Mille's in-house automatic flyback chronograph, which means a single push resets and restarts the timing in one action. That is the setup used for back-to-back interval timing, and it is at the center of the Le Mans motorsport theme here.
How much does the RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic cost, and can you still get one?
It was a 150-piece limited edition, so availability now runs through the pre-owned and grey market rather than a boutique. Pricing moves with condition and what is actually available, so we quote this one on request. Reach out and we will tell you where it stands.
Final Thoughts
The RM 72-01 Le Mans Classic puts two colors of Quartz TPT, a skeletonized dial, and an in-house flyback chronograph into one of the more distinctive RM 72-01 executions. We think the white-and-green treatment is one of the cleaner recent RM commemoratives, and the dial reads quickly in person even with everything opened up.