The Best Entry-Level Richard Mille Watches

Celine Simon Sunday, March 9th, 2025 9 min. read
,

It’s no secret that Richard Mille makes the world’s most expensive watches. With prices regularly soaring into the six and even seven figures, the brand is synonymous with cutting-edge materials, avant-garde designs, and ultra-exclusive pricing. But while many Richard Mille timepieces are financially out of reach for most (they’re sometimes known as the billionaire’s secret handshake), there are still models that fall into the more attainable category — relatively speaking, of course. If you’re looking for the best entry-level Richard Mille watches, whether as a first step into the brand or as a more understated choice, here are a handful of references worth considering.

Entry-level Richard Mille watches
Entry-level Richard Mille watches: RM 028 and RM 67-01

RM 67-01 Automatic Winding Extra Flat

If there’s a perfect gateway into the world of Richard Mille, it’s the RM 67-01 Automatic Winding Extra Flat in titanium, which debuted in 2016. With its sleek profile, lightweight construction, and versatile style, this is an entry-level Richard Mille that doesn’t compromise on the brand’s signature look and feel.

Entry-Level Richard Mille: RM 67-01 in titanium

At just 7.75mm thick, the RM 67-01 is one of the thinnest watches in the RM lineup, making it an easy everyday option that slips effortlessly under a cuff. The 38.7mm x 47.5mm case retains the brand’s favorite tonneau shape, crafted from grade 5 titanium for durability without the bulk. While many Richard Mille watches make a bold, oversized statement, this one leans more refined.

The skeletonized dial reveals the in-house Caliber CRMA6, a slim automatic movement with a platinum rotor for efficient winding in a compact space. The baseplate and bridges, crafted from grade 5 titanium, provide a lightweight yet rigid foundation, ensuring optimal performance. The luminous numerals, sculpted from solid metal and mounted on two titanium rails attached directly to the movement, add a three-dimensional effect to the display. Aside from the hours, minutes, and date window, there’s also a function indicator at 2 o’clock displaying the following functions: W (Winding) – D (Date) – H (Hand Setting).

Entry-Level Richard Mille 67-01
Prices for RM 67-01 watches start at $160,000

For those entering the Richard Mille world, the RM 67-01 delivers everything collectors love about the brand — expert engineering, the unmistakable RM look, and a clever in-house-made movement — without the extreme dimensions or ultra-limited production runs of pricier models. It’s proof that entry-level Richard Mille watches can still pack a punch. Expect prices to start at around $160,000 for a Richard Mille RM 67-01 in titanium.

Loading, please wait…

RM 010 Automatic

For those looking for an entry-level Richard Mille with classic proportions, the RM 010 Automatic is a solid contender. Introduced in 2006 as an evolution of the RM 005, the larger RM 010 refined the brand’s signature tonneau case while keeping things relatively understated — at least by RM standards.

Entry-Level Richard Mille RM 010
Richard Mille RM 010 in Black DLC Titanium

The 39.3mm x 48mm case offers a balanced wearability, making it neither too compact nor too oversized. While Richard Mille is known for pushing boundaries with unconventional materials, the RM 010 was produced in a variety of classic metals, including titanium, rose gold, and white gold, making it a versatile choice for different tastes. Its skeletonized dial layout and bold Arabic numerals make for a highly legible yet distinct aesthetic, while the curved case ensures a comfortable fit on the wrist.

Inside is the Caliber RMAS7, an automatic movement with a variable geometry rotor, allowing the winding efficiency to be customized based on the wearer’s activity level. This mechanism, a hallmark of Richard Mille’s engineering, optimizes energy transmission while maintaining a 55-hour power reserve. The sapphire caseback offers a full view of the movement’s intricately finished bridges and rotor.

RM 010 in rose gold and set with diamonds

As an entry-level Richard Mille, the RM 010 embodies the spirit of the brand without veering into ultra-limited, experimental territory. It’s an instantly recognizable RM, making it an ideal choice for those stepping into high-end independent watchmaking at a lower price point. Prices vary depending on case material, but titanium versions start around $100,000, while gold models with diamonds command a premium.

RM 028 Automatic Dive Watch

Entry-level Richard Mille RM 028
Entry-level Richard Mille dive watch – RM 028

While Richard Mille is best known for its tonneau-shaped cases, the RM 028 Automatic Winding (released in 2010) takes a different approach. This bold 47mm dive watch features a round case, a rarity in the brand’s catalog. If you’re looking for an entry-level Richard Mille that delivers both high performance and unique design, the RM 028 is a strong contender.

Despite its oversized case, the RM 028 wears comfortably thanks to its ergonomic and lightweight titanium construction. The unidirectional rotating bezel is secured by a locking mechanism to prevent accidental adjustments, reinforcing its capability as a true diver. With a 300-meter water resistance rating, this isn’t just a Richard Mille for show — it’s a fully capable dive watch.

Richard Mille RM 028 dive watch
RM 028 dive watch

Inside the case is the Caliber RMAS7, an automatic movement equipped with RM’s famed variable-geometry rotor for adaptable winding, in addition to a baseplate and bridges in grade 5 titanium. There’s a semi-instantaneous date window at 7 o’clock accompanying the trio of hands at the center.

Richard Mille RM 028 dive watch
The RM 028 is available in several colorways

Design-wise, the RM 028 has been released in several variations, including titanium, coated titanium, and rose gold. There have also been some special editions with bold pops of color. This model brings something different to the entry-level Richard Mille lineup. It’s a serious dive watch with a distinct RM edge, making it one of the most accessible ways to get into the brand while still owning something unconventional. Prices typically start as low as $60,000, which is most definitely on the more affordable spectrum of Richard Mille prices.

RM 63-01 Dizzy Hands

For those who appreciate mechanical innovation beyond just materials and design, the Richard Mille RM 63-01 Dizzy Hands offers a different kind of entry-level experience. Released in 2014, this model is yet another round-cased Richard Mille, breaking from the brand’s signature tonneau-shaped designs.

Entry-level Richard Mille: RM 63-01 Dizzy Hands
RM 63-01 Dizzy Hands (Image: Richard Mille)

Housed in a 44.50mm 18k rose gold case, the RM 63-01 introduces one of the brand’s most whimsical complications: Dizzy Hands, a playful take on time perception. With a press of the pusher at 9 o’clock, the sapphire hour disc and central hands disengage from the movement and begin rotating freely, creating a hypnotic (dizzying?) effect. Press it again, and everything snaps back into place, resuming standard timekeeping.

At the heart of this complication is the Caliber CRMA3, an in-house movement that reinvents principles taken from chronograph design to achieve this unique visual effect. Unlike a traditional setup, the hour and minute functions are fully separated, requiring specially designed components to allow the time display to be selectively disengaged and re-engaged without affecting movement operation.

The RM 63-01 Dizzy Hands is one of the most unconventional entry-level Richard Mille watches money can buy. Prices start at around $100,000.

RM 011 Automatic Flyback Chronograph Felipe Massa

If there’s one watch that defines Richard Mille in the eyes of most collectors, it’s the RM 011 Automatic Flyback Chronograph Felipe Massa. First introduced in 2007 as a tribute to Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa, the RM 011 set the blueprint for the modern Richard Mille look: a bold, tonneau-shaped case, an open-worked dial, and a high-performance automatic chronograph movement.

Entry-level Richard Mille RM 011
The price of the iconic RM 011 FM has corrected in the last few years, starting below $150,000

The RM 011 in titanium remains one of the most recognizable models in the brand’s archives, featuring a 40mm x 50mm case crafted from grade 5 titanium. The tonneau shape ensures an ergonomic fit despite its substantial size while the tri-compax skeletonized dial showcases the movement beneath — the Caliber RMAC1 with a variable-geometry rotor. The flyback chronograph complication is accompanied by an annual calendar with an oversize date below 12 and a month indicator adjacent to the hour markers.

Carbon versions of the RM 011 are more expensive than titanium variants

What makes the RM 011 Felipe Massa in titanium particularly interesting in today’s market is its price trajectory. A few years ago, this model commanded prices exceeding $250,000. However, as the Richard Mille secondary market has adjusted, pricing on RM 011s — particularly in titanium — has become more accessible. Today, these models can often be found under $150,000, making them one of the most compelling entry-level Richard Mille watches for those looking to own a piece of the brand’s history without hitting the stratospheric prices of newer models.

The Rectangular Entry-Level Richard Mille: RM 016 Extra Flat

If you’d like the closest thing that Richard Mille has to a Cartier Tank alternative, another entry-level model to consider is the RM 016 Extra Flat. Whether you choose a titanium case (DLC-coated or not) or rose gold case (with diamonds or without), you should be able to find pre-owned examples for under $75,000.

Richard Mille RM 016
The rectangular RM 016 is another entry-level Richard Mille watch

Other Entry-Level Richard Mille Watches

Although we think the above watches are the best entry-level Richard Mille watches available, there are other less expensive RM models worth an honorable mention. In particular, the RM 005 can be found for just under $100,000 while prices for the RM 033 start at $70,000.

Finding the Right Entry-Level Richard Mille

For those looking to experience Richard Mille without venturing into its most extravagant price tiers, these entry-level Richard Mille models present a compelling option.

While still far from inexpensive, they offer a way to own a watch with the brand’s signature materials, engineering, and design language at a more attainable level. Whether it’s the ultra-thin RM 67-01, the unconventional RM 63-01, or the instantly recognizable RM 011, each of these models provides a distinct take on what makes Richard Mille so sought after—without reaching the astronomical prices of the brand’s latest releases.

Loading, please wait…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *