Richard Mile RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
The partnership between Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal is a 14-year journey defined by a shared passion, enduring friendship, and relentless pursuit of technological innovation.
Richard Mille contacted Rafael Nadal in 2008 about wearing one of his watches during tennis matches. Rafael, who had never worn anything on his wrists, found the idea impossible. Initially, he didn’t want to pursue it, but a good friend advised him to explore the opportunity. His main condition was that the watch had to be extremely light.
In 2010, Richard visited Rafael in Mallorca with the first prototype. As a joke, Richard handed him a heavy platinum watch. Then Richard revealed the actual prototype: the RM 027, a lightweight watch with a spectacular design. Rafael was immediately impressed. They had to make a few adjustments, like fixing how the band rubbed against his skin and ensuring sweat didn’t affect its performance.
Rafael wore the RM 027 Tourbillon for the first time during the 2010 French Open. Richard and his team were nervous, fearing it might fall off or distract him. Thankfully, it didn’t, and Rafael won three Grand Slam tournaments that year: the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open. Since then, Richard Mille watches have become essential to his equipment, to the point that he feels strange without one.
For 14 years, Richard Mille has designed Rafael’s watch collection, and the latest model, the RM 27-05, ups the ante even more. The RM 27-05 marks the pinnacle of Richard Mille’s quest for innovation and excellence. Weighing a mere 11.5 grams without its strap and able to withstand forces of up to 14,000 g, this watch sets new records for a manual winding tourbillon.
The RM 27-05 represents the height of Richard Mille’s technical prowess. Based on the ultra-thin RMUP-01 calibre, the watch features a 55-hour power reserve and a flying tourbillon oscillating at 3 Hz. Its PVD-treated titanium baseplate and grade 5 titanium and Carbon TPT® bridges are skeletonized and hand-finished, contributing to the watch’s light weight of just 3.79 grams for the calibre 3.75 mm thick.
A significant amount of effort—4,000 hours—was dedicated to designing the calibre and case of the RM 27-05. The movement is housed in a monobloc back/case band unit, secured without screws by the flange and bezel. This design innovation was made possible by a new composite material, Carbon TPT® B.4, developed with North Thin Ply Technology (NTPTTM). This material, which is 4% denser, 15% stiffer, and 30% stronger than previous iterations, allows for thinner and lighter case sections without compromising rigidity.
The RM 27-05’s strength and durability are enhanced by the Carbon TPT® B. 4’s unique 70° layer orientation. This ensures optimal weight, performance, and rigidity. Detailed simulations and impact tests confirmed the design’s effectiveness, allowing the calibre to be positioned just 0.05 mm from the case back on six support points. This precise engineering provides the watch with extraordinary endurance, capable of withstanding accelerations over 14,000 g.
Using a PMMA crystal, a polymer with an anti-scratch treatment, further reduces the watch’s weight, as traditional sapphire was deemed too heavy. Julien Boillat, Technical Director of Casings, credits these innovations for the RM 27-05’s unprecedented resistance and lightness. Every gram removed enhances the value and performance of this extraordinary timepiece.
The RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal is a testament to Richard Mille’s relentless pursuit of innovation. This exceptional timepiece redefines the boundaries of weight and performance in watchmaking, embodying the spirit of its namesake and creator.
Price & Availability
The Richard Mile RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal is available at select Richard Mille Authorized Retailers worldwide.
- Price: CHF 980,000 excluding tax
