A perennial favourite in Richard Mille sports collection, the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal collection is among the most highly recognisable timepieces from the brand.
On the demanding clay courts of Roland Garros, Nadal’s choice of timepiece speaks volumes as the RM 27-05 is renowned for its exceptional shock resistance of 14,000 g-forces and lightweight construction of 11.5g (excluding strap). This makes for a two-fold record for a manual winding tourbillon watch.
The RM 027 Tourbillon was born as the answer to a challenge – the quest for remarkable lightness and superlative performance.
With the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, this Richard Mille saga has reached a climactic conclusion.
This newest addition to the collection showcases the ground-breaking Carbon TPT B.4 that is denser, stiffer and stronger than all previous Carbon TPT, elevating both technical performance and aesthetic appeal.
Nadal wearing Richard Mille.
Richard Mille’s prioritising research and development to constantly push the boundaries of high watchmaking is evident in the RM27-05, which is as much a work of art as it is an instrument of precision timekeeping.
This dedication to “hypertechnology,” as the brand terms it, is a defining characteristic of Richard Mille’s approach to watchmaking.
The RM 27-05 project may have launched in 2019, but its story is rooted much earlier.
This watch is the fruit of a meeting that has since grown into a true friendship.
RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal.
“I still remember the day in 2008 when Richard contacted me to discuss working together. I’d never worn anything on my wrist,” says Nadal.
Then in 2010, the 22-time Grand Slam champion was presented with a prototype of the RM 027.
“It was a surprisingly light watch with spectacular lines,” he recalls.
Since then, Nadal has seized one victory after another in tennis championships, with Richard Mille watches on his wrist.
The watch is 3.75mm thick and weighs 11.5g (without strap) but capable of withstanding shocks of over 14,000 g’s.
The RM 27-05’s movement, based on the ultra-thin RMUP-01 calibre, incorporates a flying tourbillon that oscillates at a frequency of 3 Hz and has a power reserve of 55 hours.
Its PVD-treated titanium baseplate is optimally skeletonised and hand-finished, even the hidden parts.
The bridges are also made of grade 5 titanium and Carbon TPT to make them even lighter.
The calibre measures 3.75mm thick and weighs just 3.79g.
The making of RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal.
“Thanks to a base fitted with ball bearings, the tourbillon retains its performance while making it possible to do away with a bridge,” says Salvador Arbona, who is Richard Mille technical director for movements.
Designing the calibre and case took 4,000 hours of work.
Rethinking the watchmaking process has been a leitmotiv at every stage of its development.
There are no screws holding the movement to the case. The entire mechanism rests inside the monobloc back/caseband unit, which is then topped by the flange and bezel.
The whole assembly presses down on the calibre to hold it firmly in place.
What gives this model a major advantage are the qualities of a new composite, Carbon TPT B.4, developed over a period of five years with the brand’s Swiss partner North Thin Ply Technology.
Compared with earlier Carbon TPT, the new composite is 4% denser, the fibre 15% stiffer and the resin 30% stronger. These characteristics make it possible to lighten the whole without losing stiffness.
Finite element calculations, multiple simulations and analyses, tomography and numerous impact tests were used to confirm the relevance of each technical option over the course of the prototypes, endowing the RM 27-05 with extraordinary endurance at accelerations in excess of 14,000 g.
“All the research into materials contributed to this record resistance and lightness,” says Julien Boillat, technical director of casings.
“Credit for this achievement is also due to our use of a crystal made of PMMA, a polymer with an anti-scratch treatment. Sapphire was too heavy for the challenge,” he reveals.
The watch components.
Thanks to bold and exclusive innovations, every gramme removed to complete the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal adds value to this unparalleled watch.
The weight of time takes on a new dimension.
Richard Mille commercial director Alexandre Mille says: “What truly binds us is the human side – the strength of our friendship with Rafa.
“After all the time we’ve spent together, we’re looking forward to continuing our exchanges for many years to come.
“The RM 27-05 is a testament to both this long friendship and our shared enjoyment.
“The techniques used to develop the RM 27-05 will undoubtedly benefit all our future creations.”
With the watch being limited to only 80 pieces worldwide, the all-new RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal is a true collector’s item.
