29 Uncovering the Exclusive Versions of the Richard Mille RM 67-02-Extra-Flat
The Richard Mille RM67-02 is arguably the most impressive sports watch ever made, not just by the Richard Mille brand but also by any watchmaker. The collection is impressive despite not having any intriguing complications or special features. Instead, Richard Mille simply focused on making the RM 67-02 do what a sports watch is meant to do in the most effective way possible.
The brand achieved this by building a sports watch that was lightweight, resistant and reliable, important attributes of a luxury sports watch. Richard Mille RM67-02 is an ultra-light timepiece. In fact, it has been called the lightest luxury sports watch ever made, with a maximum weight of 32 grams. Despite being so light, this watch was designed for high performance. Athletes could wear it conveniently due to its extreme comfort, and the watch could hold up against the extreme conditions of athletic training and on-track performance.
Richard Mille achieved this through the use of some of the most advanced watchmaking materials, such as Carbon and Quart TPT. These proprietary materials allowed Richard Mille to achieve a level of robustness and minimal weight unseen in any other sports watch. The watch also had a remarkably thin body and slim profile.
In creating the RM67-02, Richard Mille planned to create a timepiece that could be a second skin for athletes. The company took inspiration from the already lightweight and ergonomic RM 67-01 timepiece and simply refined it further to create a perfect symbiote that could merge seamlessly with the wearer and enhance their athletic qualities.
Exclusive Versions of the Richard Mille RM 67-02-Extra-Flat
In addition to its sporty aesthetics, another unique attribute of the RM 67-02 is the ease with which it can be adapted to different sporting situations without compromising its style. Thanks to this versatility, Richard Mille has produced different versions of this watch, with each model adapted to a specific sport or physical activity.
These exclusive models were designed in collaboration with top athletes in different disciplines, with attributes that celebrate the talent and resilience of these athletes. While these variants are almost identical in terms of their build and performance, each one comes in unique colors that pay homage to the athlete’s country of origin. Richard Mille also varies the case back and bezel materials for each model. Here’s an overview of some of the most popular limited edition versions of the Richard Mille RM 67-02.
RM67-02, Flat Sebastien Ogier
Six-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier has been a long-term friend of the Richard Mille brand. The race car driver has been wearing a Richard Mille watch for his races since as far back as 2016 wear he wore a Richard Mille RM 011 Flyback Chronograph timepiece.
Sebastien Ogier now wears the ultimate racing accessory, a Richard Mille RM67-02 designed with his help. The case is made from carbon TPT materials, while the bridge has been hand-painted with the colors of the French flag, which is Sebastien’s home country.
Referring to the RM67-02, Sebastien refers to the wristwatch as a second skin. According to him, the lightness of the watch gives him confidence. In addition to the lightweight design, the reliability of the chronograph is one of Sebastien Ogier’s favorite attributes of this watch.
Richard Mille RM 67-02 “Italy”
The Richard Mille RM 67-02 Automatic ‘Italy’ is a limited edition of this watch released in 2023. Unlike other versions named after a specific athlete or celebrity, the RM 67-02 “Italy” is designed to pay tribute to Italy’s rich cultural heritage and national identity. Although not named after any athletes, this timepiece features the same athletic aesthetics and qualities as the other models and it measures a mere 32 grams as well.
The timepiece is housed in a lightweight carbon NTPT casing and powered by an automatic CRMA7 caliber that ensures reliable performance. The dial bridges are painted in sleek black colors and adorned with green, white, and red, the colors of the Italian flag. This unique design makes this watch a symbol of patriotic pride.
Richard Mille RM 67-02 Alexis Pinturault
Ski champion Alexis Pinturault became a Richard Mille Ambassador in 2014. The French alpine skier has won two Olympic silver and one bronze. He has more ski titles than any other athlete from his country. The RM 67-02 timepiece named after him embodies the high performance and efficiency that the Athlete himself is known for.
The Richard Mille RM 67-02 Alexis Pinturault wristwatch was designed to hold up to the rigors of skiing in high altitude and extreme temperature conditions. In addition to this unrivaled durability, this watch also delivers flawless ergonomics to the wearer. The Bezel and case back of this watch are made from Quartz TPT material, while the case back is made from Carbon TPT. The satin-finished dial is hand-painted with the colors of the French flag, which is Pinturault’s home country.
Richard Mille RM 67-02 Wayde Van Niekerk
Wayde Van Niekerk is a 400-meter Olympic champion and world record holder. The South African sprinter has one of the best personal records in the world of athletics. He’s the first sprinter to achieve personal best times of less than 10 seconds in 100 meters, 20 seconds in 200 meters, and 44 seconds in 400 meters. Van Niekerk is the current world record holder in the 400-meter track event with a record time of 43.03 seconds.
It’s only fitting that such a remarkable athlete is a Richard Mille ambassador and has an RM 67-02 timepiece named after him. Van Niekerk has been a partner of the brand since 2016 and wears a personalized Richard Mille RM 67-02 ‘Sprint Van Niekerk’ designed specifically for him.
The lightest automatic watch in the Richard Mille is the perfect timepiece for one of the fastest athletes in the world. Richard Mille specifically developed it for optimum comfort and technical sophistication. The timepiece is further customized in the colors of the South African flag, Van Niekerk’s home country.
Unlike other RM 67-02 watches that have the flag colors on their dial alone, the Quart TPT case of the Sprint Van Niekerk is colored as well. The case has green and yellow colors, and the bridges are hand-painted with the same colors as well.
Richard Mille RM 67-02 Mutaz Essa Barshim
This is a limited edition Richard Mille RM 67-02 timepiece inspired by Olympic high jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshim. The Qatari athlete has been nicknamed the crown prince of the high jump due to his sterling performance in this sport. To celebrate his many achievements and his partnership with Richard Mille, the brand developed an extremely light and flexible watch that would not distract him during his jump.
In describing his ideal watch, Barshim says he “expects it to feel like part of my body.” This is exactly what the Richard Mille RM 67-02 stands for. In addition to being lightweight, Richard Mille also ensured that the watch was shock-resistant and durable enough for high-intensity activities like the high jump.
The RM 67-02 Mutaz Essa Barshim has a Bezel and caseback made from Crimson and white Quartz TPT material, while the caseband is made from Carbon TPT. The skeletonized dial is finished with a black DLC coating and was hand-painted with the colors of Mutaz Barshims’ home country of Qatar.
Richard Mille RM 67-02 Charles Leclerc
Ferrari Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc has been a long-time friend of the Richard Mille brand, and the racing champion has an RM 67-02 timepiece named after him. This limited edition timepiece has a white Quartz TPT case and a red strap. The dial was decorated with red and white, the colors of Charles Leclerc’s home country of Monaco.
In April 2022, Leclerc’s personal piece valued at $320,000 was stolen from his wrist while he was taking pictures with fans. The Richard Mille RM 67-02 price was probably higher than estimated since a similar prototype was sold the previous year for 2,100,000 Swiss francs (~ $2 million) at a Christie’s Auction.
Although police arrested some suspects, sources suggest that the timepiece probably ended up in Spain, where it was sold to a Spanish businessman. However, since it was a custom piece with Charles Leclerc’s signature emblazoned boldly on the body, the buyer will most likely have a difficult time selling the watch.
Conclusion
The Richard Mille RM 67-02 is a unique timepiece that embodies Richard Mille’s design philosophy perfectly. The level of design ingenuity and engineering expertise needed to create such an athletically superior timepiece is quite astounding. Richard Mille has also taken its time to customize each limited edition piece with unique elements that give them a unique identity while associating their identity with high-fliers in various sporting categories. It’s a masterclass in creating the perfect, timeless wristwatch of all time.