One on One: Speaking With Richard Mille At The McLaren Technology Centre

By Victoria Townsend | February 22, 2016

“It all happened so quickly!” Life in the fast lane seems natural for Richard Mille, and while the Chairman & CEO of Richard Mille Horométrie S.A. was referring to the watchbrand’s 10 – year partnership agreement with McLaren-Honda Formula 1 announced last Friday, he could just as easily have been talking about the creation and development of his eponymous high watchmaking brand in only 15 years.

Synonymous with ultra-light, ultra-resistant and high performance under extreme conditions, made from innovative carbon, titanium and ceramic materials used in the aeronautics and automobile industries, subject to severe lab controls and featuring details and designs that are now recognizable at a glance, Richard Mille timepieces have come a long way in a short time.

French-born Mille was intrigued by watches from a very early age. “I took apart my watch that was a gift for my First Communion” he told us in Woking. After positions to create watch divisions at Matra France and Mauboussin, he decided in 1991 to set up his own company, bringing with him his years of experience and dreams to come true.

This fan of automobiles and the world of racing, owner himself of 50 classic racing cars from the 70s, tells us “in my watches, you can see my love for cars. Ron Dennis (Chairman & CEO McLaren Group) hates gimmicks, and there is not one screw in my watches that has no purpose”.

Mille appreciates “above all ‘the spirit of a contract’ that has to be felt on both sides to work” and is delighted to have just “renewed with Rafa (Rafael Nadal) for 10 years”, constantly seeking solutions to Nadal’s specific needs on the tennis courts.

Jenson Button Close Up Portrait — F1 Champion Jenson Button

As for Formula 1 world champions Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button who will drive the new McLaren-Honda MP4-31 revealed yesterday to the world, Mille is listening closely to their needs too.

“You can expect specific products from this new partnership with McLaren-Honda” says Mille. “We are a young brand, but with incredible know-how in materials, so we can be quick in development.” In the meantime, for the 2016 season, the drivers are wearing the RM 001 Black Night, with an automatic flyback chronograph movement in a NTPT® carbon case.