Story by Ian Thorley
Lewis Hamilton isn’t only obsessed about jewellery but he’s a huge watch collector as well. Last Summer at one of his last engagements for Swiss watch brand IWC, and fulfilling his contract obligations as a Mercedes driver whom IWC partner with, he spoke eloquently and passionately at an event in Battersea about his love for the brand. He discussed how he’d even worked with the IWC design team to create a series of special edition watches including the Portugieser Tourbillon Rétrograde Chronograph as well as the Ingenieur Chronograph (Ref. IW379602) and the Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar (Ref. IW503002).
Once it was announced last year that Hamilton would be leaving Mercedes after more than a decade driving for them, for the Italian brand Ferrari it was clear that Hamilton would be wearing the uber technical Richard Mille brand with whom Ferrari have partnered since 2021.
The seven-time world champion driver is renowned for his love of bling – both watches and jewellery. In a standoff with FIA in 2022 about whether he could continue to wear his piercings while driving he appeared in a press conference wearing three watches, rings on every finger and stacked necklaces and bracelets in a not so subtle dig at Formula 1’s governing body. Meanwhile, in 2016, Hamilton told the New York Times, “They say, ‘diamonds are a woman’s best friend’. I disagree, because they can be the same for men. I’m probably the only man in my sport who wears diamonds.”
This week Hamilton was pictured wearing the new Richard Mille RM 45-01 Tourbillon Split-Seconds Chronograph Ferrari. This new Ferrari watch has an entry price of a cool $1.3 million and is limited to a mere 150 models. The new RM 45-03 follows up from the first Richard Mille Ferrari watch the RM UP-01 (as worn by Pharrell), which launched in 2022 and is an ultra thin model, this new version is the exact opposite, a chunky watch including multiple complications. The RM 45-03 comes in two versions, a titanium case and a carbon fibre TPT, each version limited to 75 pieces.
At the launch event at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris this week a video and pictures were released of both Ferrari drivers Hamilton and Leclerc play fighting over which watch they were going to wear, with Hamilton eventually settling on the carbon fibre version.
The RM 43-01 is collaboration is a meeting of minds between the values of a Ferrari engine and those used in a timepiece. Emphasis was placed on the three dimensional effect of the watch and its skeletonised dial mirrors the complexity of the Ferrari’s engine – the crankcases and engine blocks, whilst the case mirrors the car.
Flavio Manzoni, Ferrari Chief Design Officer says. “In terms of performance, anything that has a technical purpose can also be beautiful. The concept of functional beauty is something that we really love.” The technical details are as follows, a 70 hour power reserve, the tourbillon neatly positioned at 5 o’clock and the Ferrari logo at 7. The skeletonised dial beautifully illustrates the complexity of the Richard Mille movement, its wheelhouses, split seconds chronograph dial and power reserve.
At this point it’s unknown whether Hamilton will collaborate with Richard Mille in the style of his previous relationship with IWC. However, given his enthusiasm for watchmaking we can probably assume he will choose to involve himself in the design process. What’s next a Richard Mille Lewis Hamilton special edition? Whatever the answer it’s clear Hamilton retains his passion for all things horological including his collection of IWC watches.
Like this? Read about Lewis Hamilton’s incredible watch and jewellery collection
For more of the latest watch and jewellery news join our newsletter
