Indecision, lightness, longevity, robustness and tenacity: these are just some of the characteristics that unite one of the greatest athletes of all time with one of the best-known and most sought-after brands in luxury watchmaking. Rafael Nadal and Richard MilleRichard Mille has always been a great admirer of the Spanish tennis player. Richard Mille has always been a great admirer of the Spanish tennis player, and in 2008 decided to offer the Spanish champion a line of watches dedicated to him.
On the official page of Richard Mille's latest reinterpretation of the watch dedicated to Rafael Nadal, the RM 27-04 TourbillonWith this new design, anyone can see the extent to which the Swiss entrepreneur wanted to pay tribute to one of his greatest sporting idols. As complex and intriguing as this piece is to the eye, it's also light and pleasant to the touch.
In this sense, the RM 27-04 Tourbillon is 'only' the latest redesigned version of the model already on the market. What's more, the two men are also offering a series of products that are a continuation of an earlier model. partnership that has lasted for more than ten years. The watch worn by the Mallorca-born tennis player since his first match is a concentrate of high technology and meticulous precision. The watch is, of course, extremely lightweight and has been designed down to the last detail to be worn by Nadal even during the toughest challenges.
Their relationship is not simply a commercial gamble or an advertising campaign. It's a kind of mutual admiration and respect that goes beyond marketing. In this case, it's much more than that. It's a meeting point between art and sport, between two worlds that seem to be poles apart but which, on the contrary, have more than a simple convergence.
According to Nadal, until 2008, the Spanish tennis ace had almost always refused to wear watches during training sessions and matches. Then, almost out of nowhere, as often happens in such cases, a spark ignited. That spark, of course, was the name Richard Mille. From there, more than a collaboration was born; a true meeting point between two unique personalities on the same wavelength. Where the passion of watchmaking meets that of sport, elegance meets the strength of the champion, and it all converges on a single point: winning, or rather winning and surprising.
Richard Mille
The result of the collaboration between the two men who excel in their respective fields is a complete collection of men's watches. The highlight, of course, it almost goes without saying, is the wonderful and aforementioned RM 27-04. The special feature of the latter is certainly its lightness: the watch weighs approximately 30 grams and according to Nadal, it's as if it wasn't on his wrist.
As already mentioned, this model is not new, as Rafael Nadal has already worn it at the Roland Garros in 2020. While the RM 27 collection is reserved for sporting competitions, the RM 35 has been created specifically for off-court, everyday wear. Indeed, experts and discerning fans will have spotted the 35-03 model on the Spaniard's wrist just before his latest victory at the Australian Open. In fact, the models in this line can also be worn safely during sporting activities and competitions: this is mainly due to the incredible lightness thanks to the use of cutting-edge materials. Since the first models, in terms of research and developmentThe professionals at de Mille have always sought to make great leaps forward. Indeed, the two main lines of watches dedicated to Nadal have always been improved and updated in parallel. The redesign and rebirth of the 35-02 is a case in point. As indicated on the official Richard Mille website, the RM 35-02 was born in response to a series of requests from numerous customers for a special automatic winding mechanism on a watch from the line dedicated to Nadal.
Rafa is the reigning champion of Roland Garros On Sunday 5 June, in the final, he defeated Ruud of Norway by a resounding 6-3 6-3 6-0. At the French Open, as always, Nadal took part in all the competitions, including the final, with his own Richard Mille watch on his wrist.
The greatest clay-court tennis player of all time, after another victory in the Parisian Slam - the fourteenth to be exact - was seen a few days after the final supported by crutches. Many wondered whether the osteonecrosis that had been affecting him for some time might not be a sign of even more serious physical problems; some even spoke of retirement after seeing the photos shared by the press in the sporting world and beyond. In this sense, it's too early to draw premature, forced and inaccurate conclusions: what the Spanish champion needs now, as he himself declared at the Spanish television microphones, is plenty of rest and plan its next commitments.
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