Cover Rafael Nadal wears the RM 27‑05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal wears the RM 27‑05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
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After a more than decade‑long collaboration, Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal cap their inimitable RM 027 collection with a final timepiece that is lighter and tougher than ever before
The partnership between Spanish tennis champion Rafael Nadal and Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille officially began more than a decade ago in 2010, when Nadal wore the RM 027 Tourbillon, a lightweight and highly durable watch designed to withstand the rigours of professional tennis, for the first time during the 2010 French Open. That year, the star player won three Grand Slam tournaments in a row: the French Open, the Wimbledon and the US Open.
“Since then, Richard Mille watches have become an essential part of my equipment, to the point that I feel strange if I’m not wearing one,” admits the record‑holding 14‑time French Open champion.
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Above Rafael Nadal wears the RM 27‑05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal wears the RM 27‑05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
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Over the years, this collaboration has led to the release of several more iterations such as the RM 27‑01, RM 27‑02, RM 27‑03, RM 27‑04 and RM 27‑05. Each one features innovative materials and engineering tailored to the tennis star’s specifications and performance requirements, with the watchmaker striving for each new timepiece to be lighter and more comfortable than the one before.
Unbeknownst to many, however, this long‑standing partnership might not have happened and was almost brushed off by Nadal in the beginning. When Richard Mille first reached out to him in 2008, the athlete was initially hesitant about wearing a watch while playing tennis, as he had never done so before. “Between managing nerves and requiring total concentration during a game, any small distraction can be critical. I didn’t want to pursue it any further,” recalls Nadal. However, a conversation with a friend changed his mind. “[He said,] ‘If you’re going to explore this opportunity with anyone, it should be with Richard Mille.’ I listened to his advice and contacted Richard.” He shared his main condition for wearing a watch during a competition: that it be light, as he “didn’t want to feel it on my wrist”.
Above The RM 27‑05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal is limited to 80 pieces worldwide
The RM 27‑05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal is limited to 80 pieces worldwide
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As Nadal tells it, “Everything changed in 2010 when the first prototype was ready. Richard came to visit me in Mallorca [in Spain], and as a joke, he presented me with a very heavy platinum watch. Seeing my worried reaction, he quickly revealed the real prototype: the RM 027, a surprisingly light watch with a spectacular design. I was immediately won over.”
Fast forward to today, and the Rafael Nadal collection of watches, especially the RM 027, has become a strong pillar for Richard Mille, standing out for its enduring appeal and comprising some of the most highly recognisable timepieces from the brand. In a momentous move, Richard Mille and Nadal are rounding out the RM 027 collection after 14 years with one final timepiece.
Above Richard Mille’s new RM 27‑05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal has a case crafted from Carbon TPT B.4, a composite material used in Formula One
Richard Mille’s new RM 27‑05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal has a case crafted from Carbon TPT B.4, a composite material used in Formula One
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This latest and last addition is the new RM 27‑05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, limited to 80 pieces worldwide. Yet another showcase of Richard Mille’s expertise in technical advancements and unwavering quest to push the limits of watchmaking, it weighs a mere 11.5 grams without its strap and is able to withstand shocks beyond 14,000 g’s.
Its lightness and durability are thanks to the materials used for both its shell and its components. Its 37.25 by 47.25 mm monobloc case is made of Carbon TPT B.4, a new material the brand developed over the course of five years on the basis of Carbon TPT. Compared with Carbon TPT, the new composite is 4 per cent denser, with fibres that are 15 per cent stiffer and a resin that is 30 per cent stronger. With the optimised anisotropic material, it is now also possible to machine the case to thinner cross sections. Additionally, the dial is protected by a crystal made of lightweight PMMA polymer with a scratch‑resistant coating instead of sapphire crystal, which weighs more.
Above Tennis champion Rafael Nadal
Tennis champion Rafael Nadal
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The watch’s beating heart, meanwhile, is a manual‑winding movement based on the ultra‑thin RMUP‑01 calibre. Measuring 3.75 mm thick, it offers a power reserve of 55 hours. Its flying tourbillon comes without the conventional upper bridge, lending to a distinctive design that offers an unimpeded view of its complex workings and also shaves down the overall weight of the timepiece.
The movement’s baseplate comes in titanium treated with physical vapour deposition and, in line with Richard Mille’s strict standards of craftsmanship, is optimally skeletonised and hand‑finished, including the parts that are hidden. The bridges are also made of grade 5 titanium and Carbon TPT to make them even lighter, resulting in a calibre weighing just 3.79 grams.
With more than 4,000 hours of work going into the designing of its case and calibre, this new groundbreaking watch is certainly a worthy testament to Richard Mille’s expertise and innovation as well as its enduring relationship with the tennis great.
Credits
Images: Richard Mille
Annabel Tan is the Editor of Watches and Jewellery at Tatler Singapore, where she covers all things luxury timepieces and fine jewellery across both print and digital platforms. She is also the Editor of Tatler GMT Singapore, a role that deepens her fascination with the ever-evolving world of watchmaking. Outside of work, she’s usually on the hunt for her next favourite watch that she can’t afford, planning her next beach getaway, or catching up on the latest Formula 1 race.
