It took a handful of years, a dozen or so prototypes, and a mere 6,000 hours to bring the RM UP-01 Ferrari — aka the world’s thinnest mechanical watch — to life. (Fun fact: UP stands for Ultra Plat, which is French for “ultra flat.”)
The ultra-flat — and ultra-expensive — timepiece is a collaboration between the acclaimed Italian luxury sports car manufacturers and the watch innovators at Richard Mille, an upscale Swiss brand launched in 2001.
How flat is “ultra flat?” A mere 1.75 millimeters thick (aka .07 inches). The core material is grade 5 titanium, which is often used by aerospace and automotive companies for its biocompatibility, resistance to corrosion, and light weight; the casebook and bezel are finished with satin and polished bezels and 45 hours of power reserve.
Only 150 of the RM UP-01 Ferrari watches will be sold and will cost $1.8 million each. Put another way, this watch will cost more than triple the 2023 Ferrari 296 GTS — a hybrid V6 supercar that goes for $318,000.
We know, decisions, decisions…
