Why the new Richard Mille RM 35-03 is the perfect match for Rafael Nadal

There are many brand ambassadors and partners in the watch industry, but the most successful pairings come from genuine pairings with the timepiece and its functions. Rafael Nadal and Richard Miller have had a strong partnership since 2010. Nadal has been known to display RM 27 collectibles in competitive matches, while RM 35 is a space for mutual exploration and intrigue. Having said that, the two new Richard Mille RM 35-03 Rafael Nadal Automatic watches launched last December are arguably the most suitable and able to withstand the heat of competition, even if they are not in his 21st Grand Slam title debut. Win the 2022 Australian Open. That’s why……

The RM 35 series is distinguished by its Quartz TPT® and Carbon TPT® cases and movement made of grade 5 titanium that is ultra-light and at the same time ultra-strong. These watches are tested to withstand accelerations of up to 5,000 grams, for example, the impact force of a drop from a meter (or a little more than three feet) onto a hard surface—enough to withstand the forces created in the process. Nadal’s game. Ironically, the RM 35 watches designed for Nadal are called “Baby Nadal” watches, but of course these timepieces don’t need babies. The dimensions of the watch also don’t suggest the “baby” nomenclature, the 50-meter water-resistant case measures 43.15mm in diameter, 13.15mm thick, and has a lug-to-lug length of 49.95mm on the wrist – a similar size experience Omega Seamaster 300M A rubber diver’s perspective.

Aesthetically, there are two Richard Mille RM 35-03 Rafael Nadal Automatic variants to explore, a White Quartz TPT® and Carbon TPT® with a Carbon TPT® strap, and a Blue Quartz TPT® , the strap is white quartz TPT ®.

White Quartz TPT® really catches the eye because it incorporates the hot color of the moment: turquoise (0r at least light blue). This hue can be found not only in the accented knurling of the crown, but also throughout the textured rubber strap.

Richard Mille timepieces are known for their supercar-like identities, both technically and visually. The skeletonized dial lets you see the high-tech engine inside and even has indications similar to what you’d find in a car. At the 2′ position on the case, you have a function selection button that acts like a rocker that lets you change gears. This button corresponds to the indication of the 2′ position on the dial, and a small red hand communicates the mode you are currently set to. Each time you press the function select button, you can switch between neutral (N), winding (W), and manual setting (H) modes. In neutral, rotating the crown will have no effect. However, when set to winding or manual setting, the crown will be used to wind the movement or set the time, respectively. But what sets these two RM 35 watches apart from the rest of Richard Mille’s offerings is its “Sport Mode” feature – indicated by an on/off arrow hand at the 6′ position of the dial.

I believe it is this feature that makes it the best design they have ever done for Rafael Nadal. In Sport mode, a new patented butterfly rotor is introduced. According to Richard Mille, this marks the first user-adjustable variable inertia winding rotor in a fashion copy watch.

“The butterfly rotor consists of two titanium and metal counterweights, grade 5. In their initial position, the counterweights cause a radial displacement of the center of gravity, which produces the necessary torque to wind the barrel. Just a correction at 7 o’clock The push rod in position exerts pressure, and the gear train dedicated to the rotor unfolds the two weights at 180°. The center of gravity is then brought back to the center, balancing the oscillating weight, removing its winding power and thus removing the movement’s Any overwinding.” —Richard Miller

In short, this ingenious invention by Richard Mille allows the wearer to control the winding mechanism of the movement on demand. This sport mode feature is clearly marked on the dial, so you can activate either setting simply by pressing the button at the 7′ position on the case. When discussing watch winders, some collectors argue that, if left unchecked, winders can do more harm than good — adding constant and unnecessary wear and tear to reviews of watch self-winding. Richard Mille explains: “Excessive or lack of activity can adversely affect the power within the barrel. Proper power in the barrel is critical for optimal functioning of the watch.”

As you can imagine, the continuous movement of a tennis player’s arm, especially one that is as dynamic and powerful as Nadal’s, puts a lot of stress on the rotor mechanism during the game. By being able to effectively disable or disable this function of the watch at will, the user can protect the integrity of the movement and thus maintain its top performance. In my opinion, this makes the RM 35-03 series more capable of handling in-game ground shocks and service shocks than any other RM watch made under the Nadal name. The RM 27-04 you often see worn by Nadal during competitions, including at the 2022 Australian Open, is a hand-wound tourbillon watch, so there is no need to protect the winding system. But, as Philippe Dufour said, your wrist is the tourbillon – a complication born in the days of static pocket watches. However, the new sport mode with its user-adjustable variable inertia winding butterfly rotor was born to survive on a tennis court or other scene with comparable forces and pressures. So while he usually shows off his RM 27 on the pitch, I think these new Richard Mille RM 35-03 watches are ultimately the more perfect match.

Richard Mille RM 35-03 Rafael Nadal

Case Materials In white Quartz TPT® and Carbon TPT® with the caseband in Carbon TPT® and in blue Quartz TPT® with the caseband in white Quartz TPT®
Case Dimensions 43.15mm x 49.95mm x 13.15 mm
Thickness 14.4mm
Water-Resistance 50 metres
Dials Openworked
Straps White and turquoise rubber straps
Movement RMAL2
Power Reserve 55 hours
Complications Hours, minutes, seconds, patented butterfly rotor, sport mode and function selector