Richard Mille RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal
This ultra-high-end timepiece combines innovative design, lightweight materials, and a unique self-winding mechanism tailored for sports enthusiasts. Share
The renowned Richard Mille brand has recently announced its latest creation in collaboration with tennis legend Rafael Nadal: the Richard Mille RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal watch. Priced at just under a quarter of a million dollars, this new addition, known as the “Baby Nadal,” is now available in “Carbone TPT.”
The watch is quintessentially Richard Mille, merging distinctive aesthetics with lightweight materials and a unique mechanical complication. This complication is specifically tailored for sports use, reflecting the essence of the timepiece.
A key feature of the RM 35-03 is its innovative self-winding mechanism, controlled by two buttons on the sides of the case labeled “Selector” and “Sport.” Richard Mille watches are known for their variable geometry self-winding rotor, which allows adjustments to the rotor’s inertia. This ensures efficient winding for those with less active lifestyles or minimizes wear during sports activities. Previously, making such adjustments required opening the watch and manual tuning by a watchmaker.
The RM35-03 introduces a new level of innovation with its butterfly rotor, which can be configured as two separate sectors or a single circular one. Engaging the “Sport” pusher alters the rotor’s shape, optimizing it for athletic use by evenly distributing its weight and reducing bearing wear.
The watch’s design also includes a split-seconds chronograph-like mechanism, reliant on a spring to manipulate the rotor components. Interestingly, this spring is not small by watchmaking standards and is used to pull the heavy components apart. The mechanism is visible on the dial side, just above 6 o’clock, where a display indicates whether the self-winding system is active or has been deactivated for sports activities.
The case dimensions of the RM 35-03, measuring 43.15mm by 49.95mm by 13.15mm, strike a balance between lightweight comfort and wearability, particularly for sports activities. The watch is offered in three variations: Blue Quartz TPT with a white Quartz TPT caseband, white Quartz TPT and Carbon TPT with a Carbon TPT caseband, and full Carbon TPT. These materials, combined with the grade 5 titanium movement baseplate and bridges, ensure optimal comfort for sporting activities. The Richard Mille RMAL2 movement within provides a 55-hour power reserve at a 4 Hertz frequency.
