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Richard Mille RM 011

Reviewed by the Fine Watch Guide team · October 2026

2007-presentFlyback chronograph

The RM 011, introduced in 2007 and associated with racing driver Felipe Massa, is a flyback chronograph with an annual calendar and oversized date in Richard Mille's tonneau case.

The RM 011 became one of Richard Mille's signature models soon after its 2007 debut: a flyback chronograph with an annual calendar, an oversized date and the brand's curved tonneau case, produced over the years in many materials and limited editions. Its complexity is the key fact for owners. This is a chronograph with a calendar module, and both need specialist care.

What the RM 011's complications mean for service

A flyback chronograph can be reset and restarted with a single push, which takes a more complex mechanism than a standard chronograph. Add an annual calendar, which needs adjusting only once a year at the end of February, and you have a movement with a lot of interacting parts. Service is a job for the brand's network, which has the parts, training and testing equipment for this caliber.

Owners can help by using the watch correctly: avoid adjusting the date close to midnight when the calendar mechanism is engaged, and don't operate the chronograph pushers while the watch is underwater. Those two habits prevent a lot of avoidable repairs on calendar chronographs in general.

Materials and editions

The RM 011 has appeared in titanium, red gold, ceramic and carbon composites, plus many limited editions with distinct colors and finishes. That variety matters when buying or servicing, because case parts are specific to each version. A specialist will want the exact reference and material to quote accurately and order the right components.

Composite cases resist scratches but are replaced rather than refinished when damaged. Gold versions mark more easily and can be refinished, though with the usual caution that every polish removes metal.

Buying an RM 011 pre-owned

As one of the brand's best-known models, the RM 011 is a common target for counterfeiters. Insist on original papers, a service record, and authentication by the brand or an independent specialist who examines the movement directly. Confirm that the case material and edition match the paperwork; mismatches are a warning sign.

Ask about the last service and whether the chronograph and calendar functions were tested. A watch that comes with a recent brand service is easier to own and easier to sell later.

What to check on a Richard Mille RM 011

Common questions

What does flyback mean on the RM 011?

A flyback chronograph resets and restarts timing with a single push of the pusher, instead of the usual stop, reset and start.

How often does the RM 011 calendar need adjusting?

As an annual calendar, it needs correcting once a year, at the end of February.

Who should service an RM 011?

The brand's own service network, which has the parts and training for its chronograph and calendar movement.

When was the RM 011 introduced?

In 2007, and it has since been made in many materials and limited editions.

Find a Richard Mille specialist

Richard Mille RM 011 owners use Richard Mille specialists for servicing, authentication and restoration.

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