It’s always the quiet drops that hit the hardest. No countdowns. No celebrity-heavy promo reels. Just a subtle flex on Charles Leclerc’s wrist as he strolled through the paddock in Miami, with a dog, no less. Turns out, the RM72-01 Charles Leclerc has been in plain sight for weeks, and almost no one caught it. Now that Richard Mille has officially confirmed the release, we finally get to obsess over every glorious detail of this motorsport-meets-haute-horlogerie timepiece.
For those of us who scan F1 footage for wristwear the way others watch for race results, this is the kind of drop that makes you pause, rewind, and zoom. The RM72-01 Charles Leclerc quietly arrived on the scene without a bang, but it’s already making noise in collector circles.
The RM72-01 Charles Leclerc
Built off the base of Richard Mille’s flyback chronograph platform, the RM72-01, this limited edition adds a few sharp, track-ready twists tailored for Charles himself.
The case is crafted from white quartz TPT, yes, that’s the same ultralight, ultra-strong material we’ve seen on pieces like the RM 38-02 Bubba Watson. But the RM72-01 Charles Leclerc gets an F1-ready remix with vivid red accents running across the caseband and top surface. That color combo? It directly references the Monegasque flag. And on Charles, it looks right at home.
The dial is stripped back and skeletonized, with no numerals on the hours, just bold contrast from the red and white color scheme playing across the chronograph counters and running seconds subdial. Even the crown pulls off a clever flex. It’s shaped like a tire twisting under torque, with that same red and black punch to match the race aesthetic.
From a visual standpoint, this thing screams “track-side elite,” but it’s doing it with such stealth that it’s kind of genius.
What Makes The RM72-01 Charles Leclerc Unique?
The RM72-01 Charles Leclerc is a watch built specifically for an F1 driver, and it reflects both personality and precision. From the color palette to the silent drop strategy, this is classic Mille mischief with Ferrari flair.
What really sets it apart isn’t just the design, it’s the movement under the hood. Richard Mille’s CRMC-1 caliber is a beast. We’re talking flyback chronograph with a 30-minute and 24-hour totalizer, a semi-instantaneous date, and a winding rotor made of platinum on ceramic ball bearings. The architecture is wild: a double tilting pinion clutch system and a column wheel that operates with absurd fluidity.
At 28,800 vph, this is a piece of mechanical engineering that can keep up with the demands of motorsport timing. The 50-hour power reserve? Just icing. And then there’s that function indicator near the crown, letting you know exactly what mode you’re in, winding, time-setting, or date.
It’s the kind of movement that reminds us why Richard Mille still owns this high-performance lane. While others are trying to look sporty, the RM72-01 Charles Leclerc was literally made for speed.
Charles Leclerc Watch Nerd Moment
Charles has been quietly flexing this watch since the Bahrain Grand Prix, and honestly, we missed it. It took a dachshund video, yes, we’re serious, for some of us to connect the dots. His dog Leo’s happy post-race clip sent one very sharp-eyed collector down a rabbit hole, noticing the red-and-white RM72-01 case that didn’t match any previously released colorway.
That kicked off a wave of fan-sleuthing and deep Instagram dives, eventually leading to a Dubai dealer’s post that confirmed the watch wasn’t a one-off. The RM72-01 Charles Leclerc was, in fact, a full production model, and it was already landing on collectors' wrists. Richard Mille had kept things quiet, letting the watch speak through its ambassador rather than through a press blast.
It’s a move that feels so on-brand for Charles, who’s polished, fast, and never overly flashy off-track. This watch doesn’t shout for attention, it quietly stands out. It’s the one you notice after a second glance, and the one that stays with you the longest.
How Many RM72-01 Charles Leclerc Watches Were Made?
The RM72-01 Charles Leclerc was produced in an extremely limited run of just 150 pieces. That’s it. And as of now, it’s already being delivered to collectors around the world. With a retail price of $330,000 and this level of exclusivity, you already know where this is going. If the RM72-01 Le Mans Classic edition is anything to go by, we can expect secondary market prices to head straight to orbit.
Color That Speaks in Code
We can't ignore the colors. White and red isn’t new to Richard Mille, it’s part of their motorsport palette, but on the RM72-01 Charles Leclerc, it hits different. It’s less Ferrari and more Monaco. Less corporate, more personal.
The red striping that runs across the white quartz TPT case is clean and sharp. It gives the watch a “race stripe” aesthetic without shouting it. The red-framed subdials and date window are small details that elevate the watch visually and tie it back to Charles himself. It’s a watch you notice for the texture first, then the story.
And the crown? It’s one of our favorite parts. Shaped like a tire being torqued under acceleration, it’s a clever little nod to the F1 connection without being cheesy. You look at it and think, “Yep, that’s for a driver.”
For anyone who likes their watches with a bit of coded meaning, like a secret handshake between enthusiasts, this piece nails it.
Compared to Other RM72-01s
If you’re already a fan of the RM72-01 series, you know it’s one of Richard Mille’s most versatile lines. The base platform is solid, adaptable, and sleek. We’ve seen playful editions like the Le Mans Classic, which leaned more vintage. We’ve seen stealthier ones like the all-black RM72-01 for those who like to go low profile.
But the RM72-01 stands apart because it leans into bold colors while keeping the form factor classic. At 38.4mm by 47.34mm and just under 12mm thick, it wears light and snug like a race glove. The rubber strap anchors the look in sporty territory, while the materials and mechanics make it unmistakably Richard Mille.
It’s not trying to reinvent the RM72-01, it’s sharpening it for someone who lives at 200mph.
Who’s It Really For?
Here’s the deal: the RM72-01 Charles Leclerc isn’t for everyone. At $330,000, this is elite territory, and it comes with all the exclusivity Richard Mille is known for. This is the kind of watch you earn access to, reserved for those already deep in the game. That could mean being a longtime collector, a Richard Mille VIP, or someone with the right network.
But if you're the kind of person who obsesses over case materials, movement specs, and has Leclerc’s pole position lap burned into your brain, this is your grail. This piece speaks quietly but confidently; an “if you know, you know” flex.
And in the rare case you find one for sale, act fast. These 150 pieces won’t stay in rotation long. Most are already in private collections or tucked into vaults next to the likes of the RM35-02 Rafael Nadal or the Richard Mille RM011 Felipe Massa.
The Impact of the RM72-01 Charles Leclerc
The RM72-01 Charles Leclerc wasn’t dropped with fanfare, but it still managed to steal the spotlight. It’s rare, rooted in performance, and tied to one of the sharpest drivers in F1 today. With only 150 pieces out there, it’s already a legend among collectors, and the kind of piece that reminds us why we fell in love with watches in the first place.
Looking for the RM72-01 Charles Leclerc? While we don’t currently have this model in stock, our team at Timepiece Trading can help you track it down through trusted channels. If you're ready to start the search or have your eye on other Richard Mille references, contact us directly. We’re here to help you find the perfect match.
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