RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic

Automatic Winding with Declutchable Rotor Le Mans Classic

Skeletonised automatic-winding movement with hours, minutes, seconds, oversize date, clutch engagement and power-reserve indicators, function selector and declutchable variable-geometry rotor.

Limited edition of 150 pieces

Around 55 hours (± 10%).

The baseplate and the bridges are crafted of grade 5 titanium, a biocompatible, highly corrosion-resistant and remarkably rigid alloy, which enables the gear train to function effortlessly. The alloy is 90% grade 5 titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. This combination further increases the material’s mechanical properties, which explains its frequent use in the aerospace, aeronautics and automobile industries. The baseplate of the RMAR1 calibre has been optimised to achieve an extremely low weight/resistance ratio.

The skeletonised baseplate and bridges were subjected to separate and extensive validation tests to ensure they met rigorous strength requirements.

Placed at 2 o’clock and driven by the hour wheel.

“16” numeral is shaded in green in reference to the start time of the legendary endurance race.

The winding of an automatic wristwatch is accomplished by a small rotor that revolves when moved. Its cyclical movement provides energy to the winding barrel, which reaches its optimal tension once it is fully wound. After this point, excess tension due to overwinding can easily occur and must be avoided. This is traditionally achieved using a sliding flange that allows the spring to slip, preventing the movement from becoming overwound.

However, this traditional system allows harmful debris to build up inside, as the flange brakes on the winding barrel’s interior overextended periods, especially when a person is particularly active.

• • Central flange in grade 5 titanium

• • Heavy metal weight segment

• • 18K white gold wings with 5 possible positions adjusted by screws in grade 5 titanium

• • Ceramic ball bearings

• • Unidirectional anti-clockwise winding

Movement dimensions: 31.25 x 29.45 mm

Thickness: 5.41 mm

Number of jewels: 38

Barrel arbour: AP 20 steel

Balance: Glucydur®, 4 arms, 4 setting weights, moment of inertia 4.8 mg•cm2, angle of lift 53°

Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz)

Balance spring: elinvar by Nivarox®

Shock protection: INCABLOC 908.22.211.100 (transparent)

Escapement wheel jewels: Rubifix (transparent)

Richard Mille has specifically developed timepieces in honour of every edition of Le Mans Classic since 2008, culminating in all in ten special-edition watches, each incorporating in Le Mans Classic’s corporate colours of green and white. The 150-piece limited-edition RM 30-01 celebrates the 12th edition of Le Mans Classic in 2025 and is no different in this respect with its case consisting of titanium bezels sandwiching a Green Quartz TPT® caseband. Green and orange interior details, a checkered flag framing the oversized date window, the famous Le Mans Classic logo on the sapphire crystal caseback and a racing-vented green rubber strap complete this new piece paying homage to an event that is so dear to the brand.

• • Baseplate and bridges in hand-ground grade 5 titanium, wet sandblasted, Titalyt® treated

• • Barrel bridges PVD coated

• • Burnished pivots

• • Pinions with undercuts

• • Sapphire blasted and hand-drawn surfaces

• • Screw slots and screws bevelled and polished with rounded and polished tip

• • Anglage and polishing by hand

• • Sandblasted and rhodium plated, bevelled wheels (before cutting the teeth)

• • Minimal corrections applied to the wheels in order to preserve geometry and performance

The double-barrel system helps to improve torque stability over a longer period. This is achieved by distributing the stored energy across two winding barrels instead of one, which increases the number of rotations and reduces pressure on the teeth, bearings and pivots, resulting in better long-term performance.

The free-sprung balance offers better reliability in the event of shocks, movement assembly or disassembly, and also guarantees better chronometric results over time. The regulator index is eliminated, and a more accurate and repeatable calibration is possible thanks to 4 small adjustable weights located directly on the balance.

This permits better control of the torque applied to screws during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.