Hands-On The Richard Mille RM 65-01 'Sand'

Photos by Jasper Karolewski, Jamie Weiss and Richard Mille.

Ahead of our readers arriving, I had the chance to spend some time with this coveted chrono, which stands out as one of the more interesting pieces in Richard Mille’s increasingly voluminous catalogue. Good thing, too - I needed all the time I could get with the RM 65-01 'Sand' before I took on hosting duties and had to explain how this intricate watch works to our inquisitive, well-read guests.

The RM 65-01 made its debut in 2020, and remains the most complex automatic (non-limited-edition) watch to be produced by the brand. While pieces like 2022’s RM UP-01 Ferrari, which previously held the title for the world’s thinnest mechanical watch, might encourage greater horological superlatives, the RM 65-01 is still a highly impressive watch.

Since its debut six years ago, the RM 65-01 has been produced in several variations: initially launched with a carbon TPT and titanium case, subsequent versions have featured coloured quartz TPT or solid gold cases, and there’s also a limited edition McLaren W1 version with a uniquely shaped carbon TPT/titanium bezel and different case hardware. This ‘Sand’ variant is new for 2026 and has not been widely publicised by the brand, making it a particularly exciting watch to have an exclusive on.

While the Richard Mille team were keen to share the RM 65-01 ‘Sand’ with us because it resembles Australia’s sporting colours, I’ve had a few collectors note that the colour combination – a sand-coloured quartz TPT case with a dark green rubber strap – evokes avocado more than it does the Wallabies. In saying that, considering our national obsession with smashed avo, that still feels plenty Aussie. Truthfully, however, the colour combination gives the watch more of a military fatigue, purposeful look, which gels quite well with its open dial and extremely technical movement. This is a proper piece of kit, after all.

Before we discuss the movement, it’s worth explaining what TPT is for those who are not familiar. TPT stands for Thin Ply Technology, an ultra-lightweight, high-strength composite technology Richard Mille uses prolifically across its range. TPT is made with either carbon or silica (i.e. quartz) filaments, each separated to a maximum thickness of 30 microns - roughly one-third the width of a human hair - stacked at alternating 45-degree angles to the layer below, cured in an autoclave under pressure. The result is an extremely stress- and shock-resistant material. Carbon TPT has a unique woodgrain texture, whereas quartz TPT can be imbued with extremely vivid colours.

The sand-coloured quartz TPT case used in this RM 65-01 ranks as one of the more subtle shades of this material, but it’s still a striking thing to encounter. It’s got an unusual matte texture, but it’s also extremely light. Unlike some Richard Mille models, the RM 65-01 ‘Sand’ has a quartz TPT caseband as well as bezel and caseback, with the crown and pushers in titanium. The crown additionally has rubber knurling: this is a feature that I would personally ditch if I were designing a Richard Mille, as the rubber feels somewhat insubstantial compared to the more robust materials used throughout the rest of the RM 65-01.

As for how the watch wears: at 44.50 mm wide and 49.94 mm long, this is not a small watch (few RMs are), but it’s also 16.1mm thick, making this one of the larger models in the RM range. Yet, thanks to the materials used in its construction (even its movement is predominantly titanium), it’s disconcertingly light on the wrist for its size. To this end, it wears smaller than you might expect. Richard Mille watches are meant to be unmissable statement pieces, and I’ve admittedly got pretty big 19cm wrists, but this is a surprisingly easy watch to wear, with the sand-coloured case helping soften its presence somewhat.

The thickness can also be somewhat excused by the RM 65-01’s movement: the calibre RMAC4, produced by Vaucher and originally based on the architecture and layout of the Parmigiani calibre PF361, which contains around 600 components. It’s an automatic split-seconds chronograph movement, but it’s a lot more than that, too.

Firstly, it beats at 5 Hz and boasts both a variable-inertia balance and a variable-geometry automatic rotor. The former feature makes it easier for a watchmaker to adjust the accuracy of the calibre, ditching the typical regulator index in favour of four weights directly on the balance. The latter allows a watchmaker to modify the rotor’s inertia depending on how active the wearer is: speeding up winding for a more sedentary owner, or slowing it down for a more active one, perhaps one who wants to wear their watch while playing sports.

Another novel feature of the RMAC4 (and my personal favourite) is the rapid winding system. If your RM 65-01 has run out of charge, you can pump this pusher at 8 o’clock to quickly rearm the watch before the rotor takes over – like a mechanical jump-start for the movement. Continuing the automotive analogies, the pusher within the RM 65-01’s crown acts as a function selector for the RMAC4’s gearbox, letting you cycle between winding, date-setting and hand-setting modes, with a dedicated indicator between 4 and 5 o’clock showing you which mode you’re in.

Is this all massively overengineered and complicated? Yes. But it’s also a lot of fun and really makes Richard Mille’s “a racing machine on the wrist” tagline feel particularly apt.

Any Richard Mille is hard to describe succinctly (or even objectively), but the RM 65-01 is particularly hard to evaluate in less than 2,000 words. Richard Mille watches, on some level, are designed to overwhelm: with their technicality, with their aesthetic, and also with their price tags. The RM 65-01 is particularly overwhelming thanks to the complexity of its movement, as well as its overall rarity.

Richard Mille’s Sydney boutique has been open for almost a year now, but the novelty of being able to experience such coveted, rare timepieces in my hometown hasn’t worn off yet. The brand only makes around 6,000 watches a year, and for comparison, Patek Philippe makes around 72,000 watches a year, while Rolex produces over a million. Any Richard Mille that makes its way Down Under is, by definition, a rare thing – but one that’s so complicated and features a colour scheme that resonates with Australians is rarer still.

Do I like the RM 65-01 ‘Sand’? Yes, I do. It’s a ridiculous watch that I’m glad exists, and as a revhead, I love how its complications are so unashamedly inspired by the automotive world. Not just for the sake of vibes: they’re surprisingly intuitive and represent real utility for the wearer. This colourway ranks as one of, if not the best, for the watch, too.

Big thanks again to the Richard Mille Sydney and Asia teams for bringing these watches to Australia for our readers, and for all those who attended our event last month. It won't be the last.

If you're interested in diving a little deeper into the world of Richard Mille, I interviewed Sam Kerr – football superstar, one of Australia’s greatest athletes and a Richard Mille ambassador – for Hodinkee ANZ Vol. 1. Get your copy here.

Brand: Richard Mille
Model: RM 65-01 Automatic Winding Split-seconds Chronograph
Case Dimensions: 44.50 x 49.94 mm
Thickness: 16.1mm
Case Material: Sand-coloured quartz TPT (as tested)
Glass: Sapphire crystal front and back
Dial: Open
Lume: Yes, Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 50 metres
Strap: Integrated green rubber strap with titanium spring-loaded butterfly deployant clasp

Calibre: RMAC4
Movement Dimensions: 31.78 x 29.98 mm
Thickness: 8.69 mm
Functions: Hours, minutes, running seconds, date, split-seconds chronograph, function selector, rapid winding system
Power Reserve: Around 60 hours (±10%) without chronograph running
Winding: Automatic with variable-geometry rotor and fast-rotating barrel
Frequency: 5 Hz (36,000 vph)
Jewels: 51
Additional Details: Glucydur balance, 4 arms, moment of inertia 7.5 mg•cm2, angle of lift 53°

Price: Upon request
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: Yes, 150 individually numbered pieces

For more, click here.