Richard Mille battles it out at the French Open
Innovative Swiss brand, Richard Mille believes watchmaking must be consistently challenged, both technically and artistically and has revealed a new timepiece in time for the 2015 French Open
The new Richard Mille RM 27-02 timepiece reinterprets the art and methods of watch design in the 21st century, and was seen on the wrist of the brand’s sporting-partner, Rafael Nadal at the 114th edition of the French Open tournament. The much-anticipated tournament took place at the Stade Roland Garros, in Paris from the 24th May to the 7th June 2015, where several key figures in the sporting field took part including Maria Sharapova, who defended the women's singles title.
The renowned athlete, who lent his name to Richard Mille’s tribute to tennis, competed for his tenth title in the championships in a baby blue Nike sports-shirt that was set off by the bright orange hue of the watch strap. The Tourbillon RM 27-02 Rafael Nadal features a manual winding calibre that hums at a steady cadence of 21,600 VpH and a remarkable power reserve of 70 hours, which ensures there is plenty of time to pour energy into the featured functions of hours and minutes.
Previously, the Swiss Jura brand’s engineers devised a durable material, called NTPT® carbon that has remarkable mechanical properties and excellent resistance to micro-cracks. This innovative material has been used in the new watch for the very first skeletonised baseplate known as ‘unibody’. The unibody is where the caseband and baseplate have been fused into a single piece, removing the need to attach the two components together. This skeletonised NTPT® carbon baseplate supports the bridges in grade 5 titanium, which are highly original in terms of their three-dimensional construction, their finishes (bevelled, shot-blasted and satin-brushed by hand) and the complexity of their titanium and carbon composition. These bridges support an impressive mechanical heart that is housed in a silver and black case measuring 47.77 x 39.70 x 12.25mm in dimensions, inevitably catching the eye with its unique appearance.
Working with North Thin Ply Technology, Richard Mille’s engineers have developed another highly original material known as TPT® quartz, where the fibres are exceptionally resistant to high temperatures and are characterized by extreme strength and transparency to electromagnetic waves. No thicker than 45 microns, the silica layers are inserted between the layers of NTPT® carbon and heated to 120°C in an autoclave similar to those used to make aeronautical components, the material is then ready for machining at ProArt.
The bezel and solid case back in NTPT® carbon/TPT® quartz are then attached to the unibody baseplate using 12 spline screws in grade 5 titanium, making the watch water resistant to 50 metres. A sapphire crystal with anti-glare treatment adds the final finishing touch to this unique combination. With a production run of just 50 models, the RM 27-02 is a rare product that is being thoroughly tested by Rafael Nadal in his international matches.
