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Rafael Nadal unveils his latest watch collaboration with Richard Mille at the French Open
By Shivani Dubey | 29 May 2024 | Culture, Design, Sport
Tennis sensation Rafael Nadal has a long collaborative history with luxury watch brand Richard Mille, with the latest addition being the new RM 27-05
Rafael Nadal has been a force to be reckoned with in the world of tennis for years. He is also one of the few players who wears a timepiece while he competes on the tennis court. The Spaniard has had a longstanding relationship with luxury watch brand Richard Mille since 2010, with the brand collaborating with him on numerous occasions — the latest one being the new RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal.
Nadal wore the watch at the French Open on 27 May, but there was a time when wearing watches while playing professional tennis was an unthinkable notion for the star.
“I still remember the day in 2008 when Richard contacted me to discuss working together. It was unthinkable for me, as I’d never worn anything on my wrist,” recalls Nadal. “It all came together in 2010, when he came to visit me in Mallorca.”
“As a joke, he first presented me with a very heavy platinum watch. When I reacted as you might expect, he quickly held up a prototype of the RM 027: a surprisingly light watch with spectacular lines,” says Nadal.
The new RM 27-05 builds on Richard Mille’s 14 year relationship with Rafael Nadal. With a weight of just 11.5 grams (excluding the strap) and constructed from a new composite, it can withstand g-forces up to 14,000 and was created through 4,000 hours of design work.
The movement, based on the ultra-thin RMUP-01 calibre, incorporates a flying tourbillon that oscillates at a frequency of 3 Hz. It has a PVD-treated titanium baseplate which is optimally skeletonised and hand-finished. The bridges incorporate grade 5 titanium and Carbon TPT to make them even lighter.
The RM 27-05 is the lightest and the most resilient tourbillon watch ever made and is limited to just 80 pieces. And it prominently features on the wrist of one of the most prominent tennis players of this generation — not just in photo shoots but on the court as well.
And while Rafa might have lost out on his shot at his 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open this past weekend, he is sure to be back for more — all with the new Richard Mille watch strapped to his wrist.