Richard Mille introduces the final watch in collaboration with Rafael Nadal

Richard Mille has unveiled the last RM 27-05 Tourbillon watch created in collaboration with Rafael Nadal, which this time weighs only 11.5 grams...

Over the past fourteen years, the partnership between the Richard Mille brand and tennis legend Rafael Nadal has produced a series of impressive RM 27-05 Tourbillon watches that have continuously pushed the boundaries of horology and material science. For 2024, the watchmaker has introduced what it calls the "climactic conclusion" of the RM 27 line. Presenting the new Richard Mille RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, the final chapter in the RM 27 saga, setting new standards for mechanical sports watches. Weighing just 11.5 grams and capable of withstanding accelerations over 14,000G, the new ultra-light timepiece has set two new records for a hand-wound tourbillon wristwatch.

The latest RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal watch features the characteristic Richard Mille tonneau-shaped case measuring 37.25 mm in diameter and 7.2 mm in thickness. It is made of Carbon TPT B.4, a completely new material for Richard Mille, originally used in Formula 1. Developed in collaboration with composite specialist North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT), the material is made using hundreds of layers of parallel carbon fibers oriented at a 70-degree angle and a new high-performance resin. It offers a better strength-to-weight ratio than regular Carbon TPT, helping the watchmaker to create thinner but equally sturdy components. Furthermore, the watch does not have the standard Richard Mille brand architecture. Instead of a case back, the case features a monoblock design where the mid-case and the back are made from a single piece of Carbon TPT B.4.

The watch is powered by a version of the ultra-thin Caliber RMUP-01. The movement is directly mounted onto the monoblock case without the use of any screws. The main plate and bridges are made of PVD-treated Grade 5 titanium, while the V-shaped gear bridge is made of Carbon TPT. The flying tourbillon is located at 5 o'clock, while the main barrel with a flying design is on the opposite end of the display. The hand-wound flying tourbillon movement offers a power reserve of 55 hours. The watch comes with an elastic textile strap, which is not included in the official weight of the watch. The RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal is limited to only 80 pieces, each priced at 1.15 million dollars.