The Guide to All the Richard Mille “Rafa Nadal”
A few days ago the latest model of this collaboration was released, for the occasion we have catalogued all the watches of this iconic collaboration
Barring incredible about-faces, 2024 will be Rafael Nadal's last season as a professional. The Spanish tennis player who is about to end one of the most important careers in tennis history by collecting countless trophies, as well as a fair collection of dedicated Richard Mille. The one with The Manacor left-hander is the most iconic partnership of the maison that has lasted for a good 13 years, when, with a blitz in Majorca, Richard himself put on Nadal's wrist the prototype of the RM 027 Tourbillon, weighing 20 grams (including the strap), designed for him and to be worn during matches.
In this article we will go over all the models produced in collaboration from 2010 to the present. The models produced together follow two branches: on the one hand there is the main collection with all declinations of the RM027 and on the other hand the line also known as "Baby Nadal" related to the RM035.
This is the first part where we will talk about all the models related precisely to the main collection, the one worn by Rafa during matches, in part 2 you will find all the RM035.
RM 027
It all starts, as mentioned, in 2010, when Rafa became a brand ambassador and the first dedicated watch was presented. At the time of its release it is the lightest mechanical watch with tourbillon ever created. the movement is 3.83 grams and the watch (including the strap) weighs less than 20 grams. We will see that this is not the only record this collection will break.
The watch is designed to give a feeling of extreme comfort combined with uncommon strength, so that this can be worn during tennis matches. To arrive at an extraordinary result such as this the maison told that a very important research and development work was done in addition to an important testing phase done directly by Nadal during his training sessions.
Once they arrived at the final product this was made in only 50 pieces, including the Spanish tennis player's that was worn during Roland Garros that season.
RM 27-01
Three years later, in 2013, there is the second chapter in this collection with the RM 27-01, with Richard Mille's desire to break the record for the lightest watch ever. The challenge was met, with a weight of 18.83 grams including the straps, this model enters watchmaking history.
To achieve such lightness, but at the same time ensure strength during games, the company, as it explains, designed a baseplate attached to the case by four braided steel cables only 0.35 mm in diameter. This structure combines strength and flexibility to protect the movement, which weighs only 3.5 grams, thanks to the use of grade 5 titanium for the base and carriage of the tourbillon and aluminum-lithium for the barrel bridges and gear wheels. The installation and tensioning of the cables are extremely delicate operations. Excessive tension could break the cables and attachments at any time and damage the movement, while insufficient tension could send the movement into a resonance phase, disturbing its chronometric performance. Designed to remain suspended inside the case, this exceptional caliber can withstand accelerations of more than 5,000 g.
Again, only 50 pieces were made.
RM 27-02
Research toward ever more avant-garde technologies continues, and only two years later, in 2015, Richard Mille unveiled the RM 27-02, also limited to only 50 pieces.
The big news is the debut of the very first skeletonized baseplate known as 'unibody', in which the case and baseplate have been fused into a single piece, removing the need to attach the two components together. This structure, inspired by the chassis of racing cars, enhances rigidity and resistance to impacts when used in watchmaking.
Innovation, however, is not only limited to the construction technique but also concerns the materials used. With this reference, Quartz TPT, composed of hundreds of layers of overlapping quartz filaments, is launched. These fibers are exceptionally resistant to high temperatures and are characterized by extreme strength and transparency to electromagnetic waves. It will be a material that will also be used in some of the later models.
RM 27-03
In 2017 Richard Mille continues the work begun with the previous model by bringing remarkable technical advancements.
The carbon TPT ‘unibody’ case on which the tourbillon rests is reintroduced, the latter being the most important innovation in this watch. The tourbillon caliber is capable of withstanding shocks up to 10,000 g. This threshold was achieved through years of research and development and countless hours of testing, most notably the "pendulum shock test," which simulates the linear acceleration that occurs as a result of the wearer's sudden movement or shock.
Quartz TPT in this case is worked to achieve an alternation of yellow and red as a reminder of the Spanish flag while the skeletonization recalls the head of a bull, a symbol representing both the Iberian nation and Rafa himself.
RM 27-04
Completing the RM027 collection is the model presented in 2020, as well as the reference celebrating ten years of collaboration of the two excellences of watchmaking and tennis. Here again we are faced with new innovations, stunning as well.
The case is made of a brand new material, TitaCarb, a carbon fiber reinforced polyamide, which is as strong as steel while remaining much lighter. Its solidity and rigidity, together with its low coefficient of thermal expansion and high resistance to moisture and temperature, make it the ideal material to meet the specifications of a watch intended to take to the court during a tennis march.
The other major innovation concerns the caliber, which remains suspended inside the watch so that it remains even more sheltered in case of any shocks. As the company explains, inspired by the process of stringing a tennis racket, the watchmaker begins by attaching the steel cable to the turnbuckle at 5 o'clock. He then proceeds to weave the link structure, threading the main strings one after the other before beginning to weave the cross strings. Then proceeds to weave the link structure, threading the main strings one after the other before beginning to weave the cross strings. Weaving over and under the main strings, the cord enters the hollowed titanium flange 38 times before ending its journey in the turnbuckle at 10 o'clock.The regular angles formed by these strings limit excessive friction and localized wear on the main strings during the many impacts experienced during a tennis match.The movement is then connected to the string link by five hooks made of grade 5 titanium polished with 5N gold PVD treatment, which are located on the back of the base plate.
RM 035
As mentioned above, in parallel with the main collection, Richard Mille and Nadal created this second collection, less linked to high performance, also called "Baby Nadal." In this case the models were not produced in a limited edition.
The RM 035 is presented in 2011, a year after the official start of the partnership, has as a major novelty its RMUL1 caliber.
The movement is skeletonized and weighs only 4.3 grams, to arrive at this lightness, but still retaining a strong aglinurti resistance that characterizes this collection, it took a year of work and countless tests.
RM 35-01
Three years later, in 2014, Richard Mille introduced the RM 35-01, with a new caliber, the RMUL3, with a power reserve of 55 hours provided by a double-barrel system, this extraordinary movement, weighing a mere 4 grams in total, is mounted within a unique case crafted in Carbon TPT. From this point on we see this material beginning to be used for this collection as well.
RM 35-02
In 2016 the third model in the collection makes its entrance and brings with it a new caliber, the RMAL1.
As the house explains, the RM 35-02 was born in response to the request of many Richard Mille customers for a self-winding mechanism in a Nadal watch. In addition to this, this movement features the brand's patented variable geometry rotor, a feature that we will also find in the next model.
This model is available in two variants: in Carbon TPT (left photo) or a daring bright Quartz-TPT Red with white highlights (right photo).
RM 35-03
On December 7, 2023 Richard Mille presented a new configuration of the RM035, in Carbon TPT with a black case and strap. This model is in addition to the two configurations unveiled in December 2021-one in blue Quartz TPT with a white Quartz TPT middle, the other in white Quartz TPT with a Carbon TPT middle. At the time of launch these two models had a list price of $220,000, while the new entry costs.
What most characterizes this reference is the "Butterfly" rotor. Already the RM 35-02 in its RMAL1 caliber incorporated an adjustable geometry rotor, a mechanism that distinguishes the Maison's automatic movements, but after 3 years of research and development this innovation was proposed. The "Butterfly "rotor allows the wearer of the RM 35-03 to interact directly on the watch, varying the speed of the winding system according to lifestyle and activity level.
The maison explains its operation as follows: “The butterfly rotor is made up of two weights in grade 5 titanium and metal. In their initial position, the weights cause a radial displacement of the center of gravity, generating the necessary torque to wind the barrel. With a simple pressure on the pusher at 7 o’clock (SPORT MODE), a gear train dedicated to the rotor deploys the two weights at 180°. The center of gravity is then brought back to the center, bringing the rotor into balance, canceling its winding power and thus any excessive winding of the calibre. This invention allows the movement’s winding mechanism to be optimised on demand. An ON/OFF indicator located at 6 o’clock allows the owner to see the status of the rotor, if it is activated or not.”
Having come to the end of this little guide to all the watches made in this collaboration, one cannot help but be enraptured by the extremely high technical level to which the maison has arrived during this partnership. Innovative materials, amazing mechanisms and a constant search for ever-increasing quality. The essence of Richard Mille and all the reasons that have made it great are embodied in this collaboration.
