Richard Mille’s RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic: An Endurance Race in Watch Form

If you’re anything like me, you love seeing machines pushed to their absolute limit - whether that’s cars flying around a racetrack at 3 a.m. or a watch movement ticking away despite the chaos. That’s why I was pretty excited when I heard Richard Mille is back with another Le Mans Classic edition: the RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic.

Le Mans Classic is basically a dream weekend for any motorsport lover. Every two years, vintage race cars from all eras - from the 1920s to the early ’80s - hit the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe in France to relive the 24-hour madness. This year’s edition runs from July 3 to 6, and if you love the smell of burning rubber and the sound of roaring engines, it’s heaven.

Since 2008, Richard Mille has been dropping limited editions for this event. This new RM 30-01 is their tenth, and as you might expect, it’s loud, complicated, and very, very green.

Source: Hodinkee

What's New?

At first glance, you might think it’s just a new paint job - but it’s way more than that. The RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic rocks a titanium front and back bezel with a green Quartz TPT caseband. If you don’t speak “Richard Mille,” that means it’s lightweight, super strong, and looks like it belongs on the grid at Le Mans rather than in a quiet boardroom.

The big design cue here is the green-and-white combo, which directly points to the Le Mans Classic’s colour palette. There’s a big date window framed by a green-and-white checkered pattern at 4 o’clock, orange details around the dial, and a green rubber strap to tie it all together.

Inside, the watch uses the RMAR2 calibre - but with some cool tweaks. Most notably, there’s a new 24-hour counter that highlights “16” in green, marking the classic 4 p.m. start time of the race. There’s also a power reserve indicator that looks like a mini racetrack section, reminding you of the 55 hours of juice it holds when fully wound.

Another cool bit of engineering: when fully wound, the rotor automatically “declutches” (basically stops winding) to avoid overwinding. You can also see if it’s engaged or not via an indicator at 11 o’clock. And if you want to set the time or date, a pusher at 2 o’clock helps you select between winding, hand-setting, or date-setting modes.

Source: Hodinkee

The Specs

On the wrist, the RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic measures 42mm across and about 50mm lug-to-lug. It’s 17.59mm thick, so yeah - this is not a watch that hides under a shirt cuff. It’s rated for 50 meters of water resistance, which is more than enough for a sweaty pit lane, but don’t take it diving.

The movement is a skeletonised beauty, with titanium bridges and an openwork baseplate. Flip it over and you’ll see the Le Mans Classic logo on the sapphire caseback, partially covering the movement like a cheeky pit board.

Source: Hodinkee

Why It Works

Richard Mille doesn’t make quiet watches. You don’t buy one to blend in - you buy one because you want to wear a statement piece that shows “motorsport fanatic with serious budget.”

Compared to previous Le Mans editions, this one feels a bit more refined and slightly easier to read. I actually like that they toned it down visually, while still keeping all the technical weirdness that makes these watches so fun.

When I saw the press images, my first thought was: “Finally, a Le Mans edition that actually does something related to the race.” The 24-hour indicator is such a perfect detail for an endurance race watch, and it makes this edition stand out among the brand’s motorsport-themed releases.

Source: Hodinkee

The Details

• Brand: Richard Mille
  
  

• Model: RM 30-01 Le Mans Classic
  
  

• Case: 42mm x 50mm, 17.59mm thick
  
  

• Material: Titanium front and back, green Quartz TPT middle case
  
  

• Dial: Skeletonized with green-and-white checkerboard big date, orange accents
  
  

• Movement: Caliber RMAR2
  
  

• Hours, minutes, seconds
  
  

• Date
  
  

• 24-hour indicator
  
  

• Power reserve indicator (about 55 hours)
  
  

• Function selector
  
  

• Water Resistance: 50 meters
  
  

• Strap: Green rubber
  
  

• Limited Edition: 150 pieces
  
  

• Price: Around €215,000 (official price on request)
  

Source: Hodinkee

Why You Probably Won't See One

They’re only making 150 of these, and Richard Mille pieces move fast - especially among collectors who already have a garage full of cars and a paddock pass to Le Mans. Plus, the brand usually prefers to keep prices under wraps (likely because they know the figure will make most people spit out their coffee). But you can safely expect it to cost around €215,000 or more.

Source: Hodinkee

Final Thoughts

If you’re a motorsport addict with deep pockets, this watch makes perfect sense. It’s playful, technical, and absolutely unmissable on the wrist. If you’re not into race cars or don’t want a watch that might get you stopped in the street, maybe stick to something quieter.

But for me, I love that Richard Mille keeps doing these race-inspired pieces. They’re a celebration of engineering, adrenaline, and a bit of that “why not?” spirit that motorsport fans understand so well.