Cover Rafael Nadal ready for action (Photo: Richard Mille)
Rafael Nadal ready for action (Photo: Richard Mille)
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Richard Mille’s RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal embodies the watchmaker’s resolve to empower athletes at their peak and in everyday life with lighter, high-precision timepieces
An enduring mainstay in the Richard Mille sports collection, the timepieces of the Rafael Nadal collection reflect the unwavering pursuit of excellence of the 22-time Grand Slam champion. With a keen focus on combining high-precision timekeeping with weightless wear, the all-new RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal marks the climactic pinnacle of Richard Mille’s quest to develop the ultimate sporting watch.
Boasting an impressive technical data sheet, the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal sets the record with its lightweight construction of 11.5 grams, excluding the strap. A reassuring weight on the wrist of the 14-time French Open champion, the featherlight watch can withstand rigorous rallies and powerful volleys with a remarkable shock resistance of up to 14,000 g-force—a velocity no ordinary person is likely to encounter. A genuine feat of engineering excellence, the new watch is limited to just 80 pieces worldwide, reinforcing its status as a necessary acquisition among serious collectors.
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Above The RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
The RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
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Although the RM 27-05 project launched in 2019, the origins of the watch date back as early as 2008, when Richard Mille first connected with Nadal to discuss a potential collaboration. So began a fruitful friendship that birthed the RM 027 Tourbillon in 2010—a precursor to the modern marvel. As the king of clay continued to rack up wins with Richard Mille watches on his wrist, his experiences inspired the watchmaker to push the boundaries of innovation, refining their vision for horological advancement.
In 2011, Richard Mille released the RM 035 Baby Nadal, reaching the milestone of being the watchmaker’s first Chronofiable certified timepiece. The “Baby Nadal” featured a case made of a blend of aluminium, magnesium and copper alloy commonly seen in Formula 1 car pistons, known for their extreme resistance to mechanical pressure.
As watchmakers, Richard Mille values maintaining long-standing partnerships with sports icons like Nadal and pro-golfer Bubba Watson, understanding the need to grasp the challenges elite athletes face while tapping those same champions to put Richard Mille watches to the test on the course, court, pitch or track.
See also: A closer look at Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc’s Richard Mille watch during Monaco Grand Prix
The featherlight watch can withstand rigorous rallies
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The RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal represents over 4,000 hours of craftsmanship poured into designing the case and ultra-thin RMUP-01 calibre, with a power reserve of 55 hours and a flying tourbillon that oscillates at a frequency of 3 Hz. The impressive watch uses cutting-edge materials like Carbon TPT B.4, which underwent five years of development to achieve a composite that would be denser, stiffer and stronger than all other Carbon TPT, allowing a lightweight structure without compromising structural integrity.
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Representing a dedication to “hypertechnology”, according to the brand, the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal speaks to the mesmerising collision of futuristic materials and precise craftsmanship. The final watch in this high-performance sports collection is genre-defining, embodying a wealth of research and the vision to exceed limitations amid an exploration of clever engineering solutions. Ultimately, the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal is as much a work of art as an instrument of precision timekeeping.
As Alexander Mille, commercial director of Richard Mille, describes it, “What truly binds us is the human side—the strength of our friendship with Rafa. After all the time we’ve spent together, we’re looking forward to continuing our exchanges for many years to come. The RM 27-05 is a testament to this long friendship and our shared enjoyment. And, looking to the future, the techniques used to develop the RM 27-05 will undoubtedly benefit all our future creations.”
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Images: Richard Mille
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