Richard Mille, the renowned Swiss luxury watchmaker, has released its latest masterpiece in collaboration with tennis superstar Rafael Nadal. Despite Nadal’s recent muscle injury delaying his return to Grand Slam tennis, the launch of this new timepiece from the RM 35-03 Collection marks another significant milestone in their longstanding partnership.
? Three Years in the Making: It took Richard Mille three years to develop this new addition to the RM 35-03 Collection. A highlight of the watch is the innovative “butterfly rotor” winding mechanism, a testament to the brand’s commitment to pioneering technology in watchmaking.
? A Decade-Long Partnership: The collaboration between Nadal and Richard Mille dates back to 2008, well before Nadal began wearing a watch during matches. Their formal partnership began in 2010 with the development of the RM 027, the world’s lightest tourbillon at the time, initiating a series of groundbreaking timepieces.
? Introducing the “Baby Nadal”: The latest RM 35-03 Collection, nicknamed “Baby Nadal,” introduces a unique “sport mode” feature. This innovative function allows wearers to adjust the rotor geometry according to their lifestyle and sporting activities. By pressing the sport mode button at 7 o’clock, additional winding of the movement is paused, making it ideal for sporty endeavors.
? Butterfly Rotor Mechanism: The butterfly rotor, made of grade 5 titanium and metal, is central to the watch’s functionality. In its standard position, the rotor’s weights create a radial displacement of the center of gravity, winding the barrel as needed. When the sport mode is activated, the weights shift from an unbalanced to a balanced position, effectively halting the watch’s winding power.
The collaboration between Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal continues to redefine the standards of luxury sports watches. The new RM 35-03 Collection, with its state-of-the-art sport mode and butterfly rotor, exemplifies this fusion of high-end watchmaking with athletic prowess. ?✨?