Case made of TPT® Quartz and NTPT® Carbon and the very first skeletonised baseplate unibody Also in NTPT® Carbon.
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Building on 2010′s stunning RM027 Tourbillon, watchmaker Richard Mille has unveiled his latest timepiece for tennis star Rafael Nadal: the RM 35-01. Sporting a carbon case manufactured using the proprietary NTPT technology recently developed by Mille – an undulating design of superior rigidity and strength created by impregnating several 30 microns-thick layers of parallel carbon filaments with a resin – the RM 35-01 is powered by a Calibre RMUL3 skeleton manual winding movement that weighs just four grams and comes crafted in titanium grade 5 black PVD throughout. Complete with Mille tech like variable inertia balance and titanium spline screws, Nadal’s latest signature watch will be available in the near future at an undisclosed price from select Mille dealers.
The new Richard Mille this year — multi-year athlete/ambassador and tennis superstar Rafael Nadal also gets a new piece. The new Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 27-01 ‘Rafael Nadal Watch’ — designed in collaboration with Rafael Nadal — follows the original RM 027 from 2010. Not only is the look is vastly different but so is the engineering. Its ultra-light carbon case and complex architecture reflects Mille’s desire to create a movement held in total suspension in its case. Indeed, this is one of the more avant-garde and innovative architectural constructions seen in recent times — I’ll walk you through all the details, below.
- Richard Mille Tourbillon RM 27-01 Rafael Nadal Watch
- Limited edition 50 pieces
- carbon case + Velcro strap (total=19 grams), movement suspended by tensioned cable & pulley architecture
The RM 27-01 has a baseplate attached by four braided steel cables just 0.35mm in diameter. The cables are held taut by an ingenious system of tensioners (located at 3′ and 9′) and pulleys positioned at the four corners of the movement. Each cable is fixed to the tensioner, passes over the upper pulley and into the movement before returning to the lower pulley. Once the cables are threaded, the watchmaker tensions them by rotating a central tensioner ring . All said and done, Mille suggests that this enables the caliber to withstand tensions of 5,000 G.
As one seeks to comprehend this process, I was reminded of the process of stringing a tennis racket and Voila! The Mille genius of building his watches to be sympatico with his athletes is recognized!
This structure combines strength and flexibility to protect the ultra-light movement which clocks in at a mere 3.5 grams. This ultra-light movement is due to the use of titanium baseplate and tourbillon carriage as well as aluminum-lithium for the barrel bridges and gear trains.
The overall watch weights in at a mere 19 grams — Velcro strap included. The original RM 27 was 21 grams, sans strap, I believe.
Word is that Rafa is now playing all his tournaments in the RM27-01!
Photos Courtesy of RichardMille
The thief who stole Rafa's watch was sentenced today to 6 months in prison. Cristian A. 38, The man harbored some resentment vis-à-vis Richard Mille, he encountered three years in the hotel. The watchmaker would never fulfilled his promise to gift him a watch he said would give him. Moreover, he acknowledged feeling a certain contempt for Nadal, whom he described as unfriendly and never saying "hello".
Court reports say that the thief entered Rafa's hotel room at 10:53 p.m. Then the man returned at 23:25 to steal the watch on the desk. He used his badge to enter the room, which is how he was caught.
Thief: "I wanted to harm them and now I feel bad, I regret what I did. I want to apologize to them,"
Thief: "This watch could have changed my life. I simply wanted to keep it because it would have brought me luck to have Nadal's watch"
The Watch Wins the U.S. Open – August 30, 2010
The Watch Wins Wimbeldon 2010 – June 21, 2010
The Watch Wins the French Open – May 23, 2010
Rafael Nadal’s Watch Wins 3rd Tennis Major
The winningest watch….ever?
The birth of a $525,000 ultra-light Richard Mille wristwatch was announced to the world on April 2, 2010. Since then, this young rising superstar known simply as “the Watch” has won 3 majors — The French Open, Wimbeldon, and most recently the U.S. Open. It is worth noting that, until the Watch ticked quietly onto the court, the U.S Open had proven elusive for young tennis superstar Rafael Nadal (better known as “the Watch’s loyal companion”).
Already the winningest watch in history (virtually all other watches are afraid to even step onto the court for match play), I boldly predict here and now that Rafael Nadal’s Richard Mille watch could become the most successful watch in the history of the sport. In less than 1 year, the Watch already has 3 majors under its belt high-tech rubber strap and there seems to be no intention of stopping now.
In related news, the Watch was quick to thank Rafael Nadal for his continued contributions to the Watch’s winning streak at a recent press conference.
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Photos; © Ella Ling
New, ultra-light RM027 Tourbillon to be worn during Nadal’s matches…
This is the new Richard Mille RM 027 Tourbillon, developed in collaboration with tennis superstar Rafael Nadal, who has tested this watch in real conditions i.e. during his always intense tennis matches. Perhaps we will see him wearing the watch today in his match against Andy Roddick on the ATP World Tour?
Richard Mille RM027 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
48 mm x 39.70 mm x 11.85 mm
Limited edition 50 pieces — Estimated price $525,000
Complete Press release
Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal - the new RM027 Tourbillon
Date: Apr 01, 2010,10:22 AM
Over the past two months, the rumour has grown and spread. The partnership between Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal is no longer a secret. We are now pleased to announce it officially and to present our watch, the RM 027, which will be worn by Rafael Nadal during his matches.
The introduction of the new RM 027 Tourbillon marks the brand's first entry to the world of tennis courts. As with Felipe Massa who drives every F1 Grand Prix with his watch, Rafael Nadal will play all of his matches wearing his Richard Mille on his wrist, an extraordinary feat.
Following the RM 006 (42 g without strap) and the RM 009 (29 g without strap), the RM 027 weighs in at less than 20 g (including the strap) thus becoming one of the lightest watches ever produced.
Fascinated by the combination of technology, performance and practical aspects in a wristwatch, Richard Mille wished to prove once more that an extreme reduction in weight could be achieved with total efficiency and accuracy. It is from this key concept that he developed the RM 027 Tourbillon in close collaboration with Rafael Nadal, who tested the RM 027 in real world conditions and will now wear it during tennis matches. The results of this horological experiment speaks for itself: despite the abrupt, extreme movements and shocks typical of high level tennis matches, the RM 027 Tourbillon has proven its durability whilst enabling Rafael Nadal total freedom of movement.
Richard Mille has been experimenting with the concept of weight reduction in haute horology from the very conception of the brand. Richard Mille: "When I first produced tourbillons with titanium and ALUSIC cases and carbon baseplates, I was fighting against perceived value. A titanium watch could not be a luxurious timepiece as it did not weigh enough. However mentalities rapidly changed and gradually with time amateurs soon appreciated the extreme lightness of my watches whilst being associated with the best technology."
The movement baseplate of the RM 027 Tourbillon is made from Titanium and LITAL® alloy, a high lithium content alloy containing aluminum, copper, magnesium and zirconium, possessing a density of 2.55. The addition of Lithium, one of the lightest elements, to the alloy mixture, provides great strength without adding unnecessary weight. This particular alloy is also used for the same reasons in the aerospace industry in the construction of the Airbus A380, helicopters, rockets and satellites, as well as in F1 racing cars.
The result is one of the world's lightest mechanical tourbillon wristwatches with a movement weight of just a mere 3.83 grams.
The RM 027 watchcase, composed of a composite containing large amounts of carbon, provides a tough and resilient enclosure for the tourbillon movement at its center. The back bezel and caseband are monobloc to ensure total lightness. The glass; the bezel and the flange in carbon have remarkable properties of stiffness and torsional rigidity.
The RM 027 Tourbillon is a limited edition of 50 pieces with an ultra light strap in polycarbonate, flexible and extremely comfortable.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE RICHARD MILLE RM 027 TOURBILLON
Richard Mille has developed the RM 027 Tourbillon in collaboration with Rafael Nadal who tested this watch in real world conditions and who will wear it during matches.
CALIBER RM 027: manual winding tourbillon movement with hours and minutes.
Dimensions: 48 mm x 39.70 mm x 11.85 mm
Weight of the movement: 3.83 g
Weight of the watch without strap: circa 13 g
MAIN FEATURES
(MANY OF WHICH ARE MAJOR TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS)
TITANIUM BASEPLATE WITH BRIDGES OF ALUMINUM LITHIUM
The movement of the RM 027 Tourbillon is made from titanium and LITAL® alloy, a high lithium content alloy containing aluminium, copper, magnesium and zirconium, possessing a density of 2.55 g cm3. The addition of Lithium provides to the mechanism more flexibility and greater shock resistance. This alloy is also applied in aerospace on the Airbus A380, helicopters, rockets, satellites as well as in Formula 1.
POWER RESERVE
48 hours.
VARIABLE INERTIA, FREE SPRUNG BALANCE
The free-sprung balance gives better reliability in the event of shocks, movement assembly and disassembly, and also guarantees better chronometric results over an extended period of time.
FAST ROTATING BARREL (6 hours per revolution instead of 7,5)
This type of barrel provides the following advantages:
- the phenomenon of periodic internal mainspring adhesion is significantly diminished, thereby increasing performance;
- provision of an excellent mainspring delta curve with an ideal power reserve/performance and regularity ratio.
BARREL PAWL WITH PROGRESSIVE RECOIL
This device permits an appreciable winding gain (circa 20 %), especially during the start of winding. It also promotes the even distribution of the mainspring's internal tension.
SPLINE SCREWS IN GRADE 5 TITANIUM FOR THE BRIDGES AND CASE
This permits better control of the torque applied to the screws during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.
WINDING BARREL TEETH AND THIRD-WHEEL PINION WITH CENTRAL INVOLUTE PROFILE
The central involute profile of the winding barrel teeth and pinion provide an optimal pressure angle of 20°. This promotes effective rotary motion and allows for compensation of possible variations in the engagement of the going train, thus insuring excellent torque transmission with a distinct improvement in performance.
CASE
The RM 027 watchcase, composed of a composite containing large amounts of carbon, provides a tough and resilient enclosure for the tourbillon movement at its center. The back bezel and caseband are monobloc to ensure total lightness. The glass, with anti-glare treatment, has remarkable properties of stiffness and torsional rigidity.
OTHER FEATURES
- Movement dimensions: 30.20 x 28.80 mm
- Thickness: 7.00 mm
- Tourbillon diameter: 10.90 mm
- Balance wheel diameter: 9.12 mm
- Number of jewels: 19
- Balance: GLUCYDUR, 2 arms, 4 setting screws
- Inertia moment 11.50 mg.cm2, angle of lift 53º
- Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
- Balance spring: ELINVAR by NIVAROX
- Shock protection: KIF ELASTOR KE 160 B28
- Barrel shaft in nickel-free chronifer (DIN x 46 Cr 13 + S) with the following characteristics: stainless- antimagnetic- suitable for tempering
FINISHING
MOVEMENT BLANK
- chamfers with lengthwise hand-drawn finishing
- beadblasted milled sections
- hand-drawn upper faces
STEEL PARTS
- beadblasted surfaces
- satin-brushed surfaces
- hand-polished bevels
- hand-drawn finishing on the upper surface
- matt strokes on the underside
- lengthwise hand-drawn strokes on the flanks
- polished sinks
PROFILE-TURNING
- lapped and polished ends
- burnished pivots
GEAR WHEELS
- Concave chamfering with a diamond tool
- Circular-smoothed faces
- Gilding (before cutting the teeth)
Minimum manual correction to the wheels undertaken in order to preserve geometry and performance
Limited Edition of 50 pieces
Estimated retail price of $525,000
PRESS RELEASE
