Introducing the Richard Mille RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal

The final racket in the lightweight Rafa collection weighs just 11.5 grams.

Earlier this week, Richard Mille and Rafael “Rafa” Nadal unveiled a new creation to mark the 14th anniversary of their partnership: the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon. The RM 27 collection is a major pillar in Richard Mille’s heritage. The original RM 027 launched the brand into the realm of ultra-sportswear in 2010, on the wrist of tennis prodigy Rafa Nadal. Since then, the collection has continued to evolve in terms of lightness, robustness, and all-around otherworldliness.

To recap the timeline, let’s look at the collection’s key mechanical feats. Naturally, the journey began with a very light goal, with the RM 027 weighing in at less than 20 grams. Two years later, the RM 27-01 and its fully suspended movement weighed in at 18.83 grams. In 2015, the RM 27-02 introduced a new case construction, which continued with the RM 27-03 in 2017, which was decorated in the colors of the Spanish flag and was able to withstand 10,000 gs of impact resistance. Then, in 2020, we saw the RM 27-04 with a tennis-inspired movement design that could withstand an incredible 12,000 gs of impact.

So how do you develop the next best “second skin” watch in the collection for the 22-time Grand Slam champion? Well, you focus again on lightweighting. The RM 27-05 features a one-piece case made from Carbon TPT® B.4, a new material for Richard Mille. Originally used in Formula 1 racing, this composite material features a special weave that optimizes the material’s strength-to-weight ratio when processed. Compared to standard Carbon TPT, this new composite material is 4% denser, the fibers are 15% stiffer, and the resin is 30% more durable. These properties allow thinner case parts to be machined, reducing the weight of the entire case without sacrificing rigidity.

The RM 27-05 now holds the brand’s lightweight record, weighing 11.5 grams without the strap. At just 7.20 mm thick, this watch is incredibly thin and also features an ultra-thin movement. Thanks to the innovation of the RM UP-01 Ultra-Thin Ferrari movement, no screws are required between the movement and the case. The entire mechanism is housed within a one-piece caseback, topped by a flange, bezel and crystal. These exert pressure on the movement, holding it firmly in place. Every milligram or millimeter of weight has been reduced on the skeletonized movement and case walls. It is a full 0.6 mm thinner than the RM 67-02 Ultra-Thin watch – however, unlike the automatic 67-02, this movement is hand-wound.

The RM 27-05 movement contains a single-sided (flying) tourbillon, a technology we have seen before in watches like the RM66. Thanks to a base mounted with ball bearings, the tourbillon can continue to operate without a traditional bridge. Removing the bridge obviously saves weight, but how will it survive for a watch that will be subjected to so many violent impacts? The movement is housed and positioned 5/100 mm from the back, with six support points for maximum rigidity.

Aesthetically, the case of this watch is a bit bland. The movement is where all the action happens. The arc that hangs across the movement is reminiscent of the bridge on the RM 27-02. When the tourbillon is aligned with the bridge on the RM 27-05, I can't help but think it looks like a wishbone.

The RM 27-05 has apparently been put through a series of crazy tests that the RM team has dubbed "Nadal". The watch is subjected to a series of vertical and horizontal impacts with accelerations of up to 300 g.

The point here is not to create a super affordable product. The point is to create a watchmaking marvel that is fit for a super athlete. Nadal can wear a flying tourbillon on the tennis court and feel comfortable.

The RM27 series of watches are the best of the ultra-light sports watches, and they get incredibly light with each release. This is the kind of RM that will make the naysayers understand why there is so much fervor. If you don’t like the irony and whimsy of watches like the Smiley or Bon Bon series, then maybe you can simply marvel at the technical specifications of a cutting-edge watch like the RM 27-05.

Of course, in the watchmaking industry, Richard Mille is at the extreme end of the spectrum, both technically and aesthetically. It’s not for everyone, and it’s not meant to be. Personally, I like the more controversial RMs in terms of design. For its part, this watch takes a more austere approach aesthetically, reflecting the more subdued (if we can call anything made by RM subdued?!) design of the original RM 027.

Maybe this was intentional, to focus on how crazy the specs are? Or maybe it was the brand's way of ending the 14-year-long RM Rafa series? RM says it's the beginning of a new phase in the partnership. Hopefully Nadal can shine at the Olympics this summer after his first-round exit at the French Open on Monday. We still love you, Rafa!

Basics
Brand: Richard Mille
Model: Richard Mille RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
Diameter: 37.25 mm x 47.25 mm
Thickness: 7.20 mm
Case Material: Carbon TPT
Water Resistance: 10 m
Strap/Bracelet: Black fabric
Movement
Movement: RM27-05
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Tourbillon
Diameter: 32.75 x 28.95 mm
Thickness: 2.12 mm
Power Reserve: 55 hours
Winding: Manual
Frequency: 3 Hz (21,600 vph)
Jewelry: 22