Richard Mille RM 50-04 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Räikkönen Limited Edition

Formula 1’s Iceman got an equally cool and sophisticated RM to call himself.

Richard Mille is doing what they’re used to, announcing a new partnership with Finnish racing legend Kimi Raikkonen. Included in this announcement is a new limited edition watch, the Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Raikkönen (aka RM 50-04). As you might expect, it’s a watch fit for a robotic superhuman driver, still chasing podiums in the most technologically advanced racing series on the planet. A dazzling blend of advanced materials, complex engineering and cutting-edge watchmaking, the RM 50-04 is perfect for Richard Mille. And you know it has a matching price tag.

RM 50-04 The hand-wound RM 50-04 features a light white/cream 44.5mm case, mixed carbon TPT and quartz TPT, with 30-minute split-seconds chronograph, tourbillon, power reserve indicator (max approx. 70 hours), as well as an indication of function and torque. All of this is supported by the brand’s new skeletonized RM50-03 movement, which is crafted from carbon TPT and titanium. Tested by Richard Mille to withstand shocks of up to 5000 grams, this wild movement weighs 7 grams. For reference, a US quarter weighs 5.67 grams (for my fellow Canadians, a Toonie is closer to 6.92 grams).

The RM 50-04 is scheduled to officially announce the watch and their new link to Raikkonen at the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix (upcoming weekend), this RM 50-04 comes in a red colourway to match Rykko. Ning’s current position at the Alfa Romeo Racing Team is linked to the dial with an oversized “7” hour marker, as this is the number of Raikkonen’s cars. A true Formula 1 legend, and Finland’s sports ambassador since 2017, Raikkonen, dubbed “The Iceman” for his stoicism and highly focused attitude, seems like a perfect fit for Richard Mille as well as for something like this Look.

Here’s another really cool watch from copy Richard Mille. RM 50-04 as a product is a very expensive and rather stupid exercise in terms of branding and marketing, so limited and so expensive that it can only barely qualify as a product by itself. From my point of view, one deeply rooted in accessible steel sports watches and generally not fancy, I see these RMs as the supercars of the watch world: a wonderfully modern and sophisticated twist on what was originally designed. Avant-garde expressions to suit a need or purpose.

While I don’t need or plan to own a Richard Mille to call myself (nor have any legitimate dreams of getting a proper pairing from the automotive world), I love that the brand exists and that they make watches like the RM 50- 04 . We are human and not everything needs to be practical. Sometimes things can be about expression, fun, curiosity, experience, or even the unquantifiable need to find the limits in a given category. From this perspective, the RM 50-04 has a similar relationship to the overall concept of a watch, just as Formula 1 is to the concept of a car. In fact, the most practical aspect of the whole story may be the Iceman himself.

Base
Brand: Richard Mille
Model: Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Kimi Räikkönen
Reference number: RM 50-04

Diameter: 44.50 mm
Thickness: 16.10 mm
Case Material: Quartz TPT and Carbon TPT
Dial Color: Black and Red
Luminous: yes
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Textile

sports
Movement: Calibre RM50-03
Functions: hours, minutes, split-seconds chronograph, power reserve, torque indicator, function indicator, tourbillon.
Diameter: 31.1 x 31.15 mm
Thickness: 9.92 mm
Power reserve: 70 hours winding
: Manual
Frequency: 21,600 vph
Gems: 43
Additional details: free sprung balance, fast-rotating barrel for more accurate performance.