RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal

It's fourteen years since Richard Mille and tennis legend Rafael Nadal became partners and, to mark this milestone, the brand has released the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon; a worthy successor to previous models in the collection in terms of lightness, resilience and performance. The previous RM 27, the RM 27-04 from 2020, turned heads with its capacity to withstand shocks of 12,000G; this latest RM 27-05, just 80 of which will be made, is equally impressive, including for its lightness. Minus the strap, it barely tips the scales at 11.5 grams, setting a new record for the brand. For the case, Richard Mille has opted for Carbon TPT® B.4, a new material in its catalogue. This composite, used in Formula 1, is 4% denser than regular Carbon TPT®, its fibres are 15% stiffer and the resin is 30% more resilient. The resulting case is thinner (at 7.2mm), hence lighter, but loses none of its rigidity. It houses an extra-thin (2.12mm) manual-winding calibre that benefits from advances made when developing the movement for the Ferrari RM UP-01 (1.75mm thick including the case). Running at 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations/hour) with a 55-hour power reserve, the RM 27-05 flying tourbillon movement weighs just 3.79 grams and resists accelerations in excess of 14,000G. It is mounted directly in the monobloc case, from the front, and rests on six points for maximum rigidity. Instead of screws, it is secured by pressure from the outer flange, bezel and crystal.