Originally published April 2024; updated May 30, 2024.
Richard Mille watches are famously expensive and exceedingly exclusive; they’ve become recognizable markers of success. While they are out of reach for the vast majority of watch enthusiasts, Richard Mille watches have become a darling item among the ultra-wealthy, particularly elite athletes. Athletes likely find RM watches appealing thanks in part to the fact that many of these timepieces were designed to be worn during gameplay and not just to throw on during a trophy-holding photo op. For example, Richard Mille Rafael Nadal watches were developed, constructed, tested, and produced to withstand the tremendous shocks endured while on the wrist of one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Richard Mille and Rafa’s partnership began in 2010 and since then, several Richard Mille Nadal watches have come out of the famed Swiss watch factory. This is the first installment of what will be a continuing series centered around understanding important Richard Mille watches, past and present. Keep reading for a comprehensive guide to Richard Mille Rafael Nadal watches.
The First Richard Mille Rafael Nadal Watch: RM 027 Tourbillon (2010)
According to the brand, Richard Mille (the man) approached Rafael Nadal as early as 2008 to discuss making a watch in the tennis champ’s honor. However, Nadal wasn’t initially convinced, refusing to believe he could wear a watch while playing tennis. Yet, two years later, the RM 027 Tourbillon “Rafael Nadal” made its debut, the first of a long line of Richard Mille Rafael Nadal watches.
The RM 027 watch was designed to be worn on the tennis court despite housing a tourbillon— traditionally a very delicate complication. Richard Mille ensured that its first Rafael Nadal watch was not only capable of withstanding plenty of shocks but also ultralight and comfortable to keep on the wrist during an intense match.
Limited to only 50 pieces, the RM 027 watch sports a tonneau-shaped case fashioned from a black carbon composite that’s both tough and light. The baseplate of the manual-winding tourbillon movement is crafted from titanium and a lithium-based alloy for added strength and lightness.
When Richard Mille introduced the RM 027 Tourbillon “Rafael Nadal” in 2010, it was the lightest watch ever produced at that time, weighing a mere 20g including the rubber strap. Its retail price in 2010 was CHF 510,000 (around $500,000). Although it’s difficult to estimate what the RM 027 is worth in the market in 2024 since it rarely comes up for sale, by some estimates it’s valued at well over $1.2 million.
After Rafa won the French Open in 2012, his RM 027 was stolen from his Parisian hotel room. Thankfully it was quickly recovered after which, according to a CNBC report, the tennis phenom texted Richard Mille “I’m so happy, I’m so relieved!”
RM 027 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal Specs
| Model | RM 027 Tourbillon “Rafael Nadal” |
| Case | Black carbon composite 39.7 x 48mm 11.8mm thick |
| Functions | Hour, minutes, tourbillon |
| Movement | Caliber RM027 Manual-winding 48-hour power reserve 21,600 beats per hour |
| 2010 Retail Price | CHF 510,000 USD 500,000 |
| Limited Edition | 50 pieces |
RM 035 Rafael Nadal (2011)
Launched in 2011, the RM 035 is a non-tourbillion Richard Mille Rafael Nadal watch. The RM 35 family of Richard Mille Rafael Nadal watches are often referred to as “Baby Nadal” models. This was the first RM watch with a Chronofiable® certification, which means it ensured a test of accelerated aging —the equivalent of 6 months of wear and tear in just 21 days.
The black tonneau-shaped case is made from alumagnesium, an alloy that combines aluminum, magnesium, and copper resulting in a light yet strong material that’s resistant to pressure and high temperatures.
When it was introduced in 2011, the RM 035 Rafael Nadal retailed for $85,000. In 2024, it’s worth more than $200,000 on the secondary market.
RM 035 Rafael Nadal Specs
| Model | RM 035 “Rafael Nadal” |
| Case | Alumagnesium 39.7 x 48mm |
| Functions | Hour, minutes, seconds |
| Movement | Caliber RMUL1 Manual-winding Skeletonized |
| 2011 Retail Price | $85,000 |
RM 27-01 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal (2013)
Three years after the original Richard Mille Rafael Nadal tourbillon watch launched, another one joined the catalog: the RM 27-01, which was even lighter than the first. Weighing a paltry 18.83 grams including the Velcro strap, the RM 27-01 look the trophy for the lightest watch in the world when it was released in 2013.
To shed the weight, Richard Mille opted for a carbon composite with a high concentration of carbon nanotubes to make the case, resulting in a mottled anthracite color. The tonneau case is also slightly smaller than the previous version and the crystal is polycarbonate.
An intriguing component of the RM 27-01’s movement, which comprises titanium and aluminum-lithium components, is that the baseplate is attached to the case via four braided steel cables that measure a minuscule 0.35 mm in diameter. This construction method adds flexibility, strength, and lightness. According to Richard Mille, the RM 27-01 Tourbillon watch can withstand accelerations of over 5,000 g.
Also limited to 50 examples, the retail price of the RM 27-01 in 2013 was $690,000. In 2022, Christie’s auction house sold one for CHF 1,254,000 (about $1.3 million).
RM 27-01 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal Specs
| Model | RM 27-01 Tourbillon “Rafael Nadal” |
| Case | Anthracite carbon composite injected with carbon nanotubes 38.90 x 45.98mm |
| Functions | Hour, minutes, tourbillon |
| Movement | Caliber RM27-01 Manual-winding ~ 45 hours power reserve |
| 2013 Retail Price | USD $690,000 |
| Limited Edition | 50 pieces |
Further Reading:
Why Are Richard Mille Watches So Expensive?
Richard Mille Prices: Historical and Current From Actual Sales Numbers
Rafael Nadal’s $525k Richard Mille RM027 Watch Stolen Again!
How to Avoid Buying a Fake Richard Mille Watch
RM 35-01 Rafael Nadal (2014)
Richard Mille introduced the RM 35-01 in 2014 as the second non-tourbillon “Baby Nadal” watch, featuring (like the previous version) a skeletonized manual-winding movement with hours, minutes, and seconds but upgraded to the Caliber RMUL3.
The innovation here is found in the case, crafted from Carbon TPT (released by the brand the previous year) where TPT stands for Thin Ply Technology, developed with the company North Thin Ply Technology (a.k.a NTPT).
I know, so many abbreviations, but stay with me here. Carbon TPT is essentially stacked ultra-thin (30 microns thick) layers of carbon fiber that are impregnated with resin (via a process called “pre-preg”) and then cured under intense heat and pressure. The result is a material that not only provides an ideal strength-to-density ratio but also a super cool Damascene steel-like pattern that’s unique across all the watches.
The 2014 retail price of the RM 35-01 Rafael Nadal watch was $130,000. In 2024, prices for the RM 35-01 generally range from $250,000 to $350,000 on the secondary market.
RM 35-01 Rafael Nadal Specs
| Model | RM 35-01 “Rafael Nadal” |
| Case | Black Carbon TPT 42 x 50mm 14mm thick |
| Functions | Hour, minutes, seconds |
| Movement | Caliber RMUL3 Manual-winding Skeletonized 55 hours power reserve |
| 2014 Retail Price | $130,000 |
RM 27-02 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal (2015)
In 2015, the third Richard Mille Nadal tourbillon burst onto the watch landscape in the form of the RM 27-02. Again limited to only 50 pieces worldwide, the RM 27-02 tourbillion showcased the company’s commitment to high-tech materials to achieve its watchmaking goals.
For instance, the skeletonized baseplate is made from Carbon TPT, the innovative carbon fiber and resin material discussed above. Furthermore, inspired by racing car chassis, the caseback and baseplate were fused into one piece (dubbed as a “unibody” by the brand), thereby eliminating the need for added materials to attach them. The manual-winding movement, which has a power reserve of 70 hours, is home to great-looking sculptural titanium bridges (including the one securing the one-minute tourbillon), visible from the dial, of course.
The case of the RM 27-02 also uses a unique alloy—Quartz TPT, a material composed of hundreds of layers of quartz and carbon fibers, resulting in the material’s unique white embellished with black stripes. The lighter shade of the Quartz TPT bezel and caseback contrast strikingly with the black Carbon TPT caseback and movement baseplate.
The retail price of the RM 27-02 Tourbillion Rafael Nadal was $775,000 in 2015. In 2024, the watch is worth around $2 million.
RM 27-02 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal Specs
| Model | RM 27-02 Tourbillon “Rafael Nadal” |
| Case | Quartz TPT (Carbon TPT caseband and bezel) 39.70 x 47.77mm 12.25mm thick |
| Functions | Hour, minutes, tourbillon |
| Movement | Caliber RM27-02 Manual-winding Skeletonized 70 hours power reserve |
| 2015 Retail Price | $775,000 |
The First Automatic Richard Mille Rafael Nadal Watch: RM 35-02 (2016)
2016 saw the release of the first automatic Richard Mille Rafael Nadal watch, called the RM 35-02. According to the company, clients had been requesting a self-winding version of the Baby Nadal watch, so Richard Mille delivered.
The automatic Caliber RMAL1 that powers the watch includes a variable-geometry rotor, which essentially means that the rotor’s winding can be adjusted according to the wearer’s activity level. Highly active wearers can have the watch wind at a slower pace while less active wearers can adjust to have the watch wind faster. Another first for this version of a Richard Mille Rafael watch is that it’s furnished with a sapphire caseback for a view of that rotor.
The RM 35-02 was made available with either a black Carbon TPT case or a vivid red Quartz TPT case with white highlights. The original retail price of the RM 35-02 in 2016 was $145,000. In 2024, expect to pay anywhere from $270,000 to $400,000 for a pre-owned version.
RM 35-02 Automatic Rafael Nadal Specs
| Model | RM 35-02 Automatic “Rafael Nadal” |
| Case | Black Carbon TPT or White Quartz TPT 44.5 x 49.94mm 13.15mm thick |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds |
| Movement | Caliber RMAL1 Automatic winding Skeletonized 55 hours power reserve |
| 2016 Retail Price | $145,000 |
RM 27-03 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal (2017)
In 2017, Richard Mille took the colors of Rafael Nadal’s Spanish flag and turned it into another tourbillon watch dedicated to the tennis legend. The RM 27-03 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal, limited to 50 pieces, features a bright red and yellow Quartz TPT case.
Eye-popping colorway aside, the true innovation of the RM 27-03 tourbillon watch is that it was built to withstand shocks of up to 10,000g, a first for the watch world. A stand-out feature of the movement are the highly stylized bridges, designed to evoke a forward-facing head of a bull — an animal closely associated with Spain.
The RM 27-03 retailed for $725,000 in 2017; in 2024, it’s worth north of $1.3 million.
RM 27-03 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal Specs
| Model | RM 27-03 Tourbillon “Rafael Nadal” |
| Case | Red and Yellow Quartz TPT 40.3 x 47.77mm 12.75mm thick |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, tourbillon |
| Movement | RM27-03 Manual-winding Skeletonized 70 hours power reserve |
| 2017 Retail Price | $725,000 |
10th Anniversary Richard Mille Rafael Nadal Watch: RM 27-04 (2020)
To mark the 10th anniversary of the partnership, a new Richard Mille Rafael Nadal tourbillon was launched in 2020: the RM 27-04. Weighing in at just 30 grams including the strap, this fifth-gen Rafa tourbillon has a case made of “TitaCarb,” a polyamide that’s 38.5% carbon fiber for substantial tensile strength (3,700 kg/cm2).
Inside the case is a tennis-inspired movement — the Caliber RM27-04, visible on both sides thanks to the pair of sapphire crystals. A single woven steel cable, which is weaved like a tennis racket and secured by two turnbuckles, supports the entire suspended movement. Much like a racket, the angles created by the lattice pattern lessen the impact of shocks on the movement. As such, the RM 27-04 tourbillon watch can withstand accelerations of over 12,000g, a new Richard Mille record.
Like all Richard Mille Rafael Nadal tourbillon watches, the RM 27-04 is limited to 50 pieces. Upon release, it had a retail price of $1,050,000 and it’s still part of the current catalog. In 2024, it’s easily worth more than double that on the secondary market.
RM 27-04 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal Specs
| Model | RM 27-04 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal |
| Case | TitaCarb 38.4 x 47.25mm 11.4mm thick |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, tourbillon |
| Movement | Caliber RM27-04 Manual-winding Skeletonized ~ 38 hours power reserve |
| 2020 Retail Price | $1,050,000 |
RM 35-03 Automatic Winding Rafael Nadal (2021)
The newest Baby Nadal watch to join the lineup is the RM 35-03, presented in 2021 and as of 2024, still a part of the current Richard Mille collection. The big news of the RM 35-03 is that it’s equipped with a new winding mechanism dubbed the “butterfly rotor,” a patented invention that allows the wearer to control the watch’s winding. A pusher at 7 o’clock turns the “Sport Mode” on or off (there’s an indicator at 6 o’clock on the dial), which then transforms the rotor from a traditional half-moon shape into two quarters that split apart resembling the wings of a butterfly.
The thinking behind this is that less activity requires more efficient winding to keep the watch running whereas the movement can benefit from canceling its winding power (i.e. Sport Mode on) during high-activity times to prevent over-winding. There’s another pusher at the 2 o’clock position where the wearer can flip through winding, neutral, or hand-setting functions, accompanied by a indicator also at 2 o’clock.
In 2021, Richard Mille offered the RM 35-03 in two versions: one in white Quartz TPT with black Carbon TPT casebands and the other in blue and white Quartz TPT. In 2023, a third version joined the RM 35-03 family in black Carbon TPT.
The RM 35-03 retails for $238,000 but prices on the secondary market in 2024 start at around $450,000 and go up from there.
RM 35-03 Automatic Winding Rafael Nadal Specs
| Model | RM 35-03 Automatic Winding Rafael Nadal |
| Case | White Quartz TPT and Black Carbon TPT Blue and White Quartz TPT Black Carbon TPT 43.15mm x 49.95mm 13.15mm thick |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, seconds, function selector, Sport Mode adjustable butterfly rotor |
| Movement | Caliber RMAL2 Automatic winding 55-hour power reserve 28,800 beats per hour |
| 2023 Retail Price | $238,000 |
RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal (2024)
In 2024, Richard Mille introduced the double-record-breaking RM 27-05 Rafa Nadal watch, weighing a mere 11.5 grams (excluding the strap) and able to withstand up to 14,000 g-forces. These impressive specs mean that RM 27-05 is the lightest and most resistant manual-winding tourbillon watch on the planet. Although Rafa got booted out of the first round at the 2024 French Open — the major tennis tournament that the Spanaird has dominated for so long — we did spot him wearing the RM 27-05 flying tourbillon on his wrist during the match.
Taking over 4,000 hours of design work to develop, the RM 27-05 watch sports a case fashioned from a new composite material called Carbon TPT B.4, which is denser, stiffer, and stronger than the original Carbon TPT.
The flying tourbillon is positioned at 5 o’clock on the skeletonized dial, nestled within the 55-hour-power-reserve manual-winding movement with a baseplate and bridges made of microblasted and PVD-treated grade 5 titanium. Limited to 80 pieces. the Rafa Nadal RM 27-05 watch will retail for $1,150,000.
RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal Specs
| Model | RM 27-05 Manual Winding Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal |
| Case | Carbon TPT B.4 37.25mm x 47.25mm 7.20mm thick |
| Functions | Hours, minutes, flying tourbillon |
| Movement | RM27-05 Manual winding 55-hour power reserve 28,800 beats per hour |
| 2023 Retail Price | $1,150,000 |
The Richard Mille Rafael Nadal Watch Collection
There you have it, a detailed look at the entire Richard Mille Rafel Nadal watch collection since its inception in 2010.
There are ten references in total, six of them tourbillions and the remaining four are non-tourbillion “Baby Nadal” variants. There are also some limited edition versions of these references that we didn’t cover such as the RM 035 “Black Toro,” RM 035 “Gold Toro,” and RM 035 Rafael Nadal Americas Limited Edition.
Stay tuned where we’ll explore other Richard Mille watch families such as the Bubba Watson, Felipe Massa, and Le Mans, and references such as the RM 11s, RM 67s, RM 55s and so much more.
