In the name of extreme performance, the long-standing collaboration between Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal finds its incredible conclusion in a tourbillon weighing just 11.5 grams, but capable of withstanding accelerations of over 14,000 g.
In 2010, the Tourbillon RM 027 by Richard Mille inaugurated the collaboration with Spanish tennis champion Rafael Nadal. Objective: maximum lightness, performance and comfort, consolidating a relationship that has led to continuous technical innovations. "I still remember the day in 2008 when Richard contacted me to discuss how to collaborate. For me it was unthinkable, as I had never worn anything on my wrist.
It all took shape in 2010, when he came to visit me in Mallorca. Jokingly, he initially showed me a very heavy platinum watch. When I reacted as one might expect, he immediately showed me a prototype of the RM 027: a surprisingly light watch with spectacular lines,' Nadal recalled. The latest chapter in the saga takes shape in the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal: it weighs just 11.5 grams (excluding the strap) and boasts extraordinary robustness, being able to withstand accelerations of over 14,000 g.
One-piece design for the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
Richard Mille: the new frontiers of materials.
The RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal uses Carbon TPT B.4a new material, initially used in Formula 1, developed for Richard Mille by North Thin Ply Technology on the basis of Carbon TPT. Compared to the latter, is denser than 4%, its fibres are stiffer than 15% and the resin is stronger than 30%.
Qualities that make it possible to machine thinner parts and thus lighten the assembly without loss of rigidity, as in this case on the back and the one-piece carrure. There are no screws holding the movement and case together. The entire mechanism is located inside the one-piece case backsurmounted by the flange, bezel and glass.
Richard Mille makes an ultra-thin, ultra-light tourbillon
Grade 5 titanium and Carbon TPT plate and bridges for the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal movement.
The RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal by Richard Mille features a movement based on the ultra-thin RMUP-01 Ferrari calibrewith a 55-hour power reserve and a flying tourbillon oscillating at a frequency of 3 Hz. The grade 5 titanium plate with Pvd coating, skeletonised and hand-finished, and the grade 5 titanium and Carbon TPT bridges make this watch extraordinarily light and resistant.
Thanks to a support fitted with ball bearings, the tourbillon keeps its performance constant while allowing the upper bridge to be removed. The end result, a movement with a thickness of 3.75 millimetres and a weight of only 3.79 grams.
Price980,000 Swiss francs (+ VAT).
