Richard Mille RM27-02, Tourbillon Rafael Nadal

Named in honour of Rafael Nadal, a champion tennis player and long-time Richard Mille ambassador, the Richard Mille RM27-02 is limited to just 50 models. A sleek design that is indubitably sport-oriented, Rafael Nadal himself was involved in the testing of the very first model in the RM 027 series back in 2010, reportedly breaking around 6 of the prototype watches due to issues with case construction, with the final model being able to withstand all conditions it was subject to during his training.

The construction of the RM27-02 takes inspiration from the “unibody” style of manufacturing cars, where the frame and the body of the car are manufactured as a single piece, from Carbon TPT.. Meanwhile, the tonneau-shaped case of this RM27-02 makes it instantly recognisable as a Richard Mille design, and is created from lightweight Quartz TPT, a material built up by piling on hundreds of layers of microscopically thin carbon tissue. The striking black and white appearance is a result of the layered construction, with alternating quartz and carbon fibres. This substance renders the case resistant to high temperatures, and less vulnerable to electromagnetic waves.

The innovative case is further complemented by a very visually rich dial. The open-worked dial gives us the impression that we are peering into the depths of a highly complex machine, with neon orange and yellow accents that add to the watch’s futuristic look. The layered effect of the various skeletonised parts and movement components are reminiscent of the exposed engine bay of Formula One cars, which served as inspiration for the brand’s pieces.

The manual-winding movement found within the RM27-02 features a one-minute tourbillon, held by a titanium bridge, employing a free-sprung balance with variable inertia to ensure more accurate timekeeping .

Specifications