Rafael 'Rafa' Nadal recently won his 21st Grand Slam title, the Australian Open 2022, leaving Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic with 20 wins in this particular ranking. For some years now, the Spanish champion has been wearing a Richard Mille model on his wrist. This year, the Geneva-based watchmaker unveiled the fourth watch to emerge from its collaboration with the Iberian record-holder, the RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal, equipped with the very latest innovation patented by Richard Mille: a butterfly rotor for automatic winding, made up of two grade 5 titanium arms with applied metal peripheral segments, which allows the wearer to interact directly with the watch's geometry, varying the speed of the winding system according to lifestyle and activity level. In their working position, the two wings, closed, determine a single peripheral position of their centre of gravity, generating with the movement of the wrist the energy needed to wind the winding springs of the two barrels. With a simple pressure on the push-button at 7 o'clock, the two wings unfold 180°: the centre of gravity is then brought to the centre, generating the balance of the system, cancelling the triggering of the rotation and any excessive winding of the springs in the barrels. With a new push on the button, the rotor will return to normal operation. This invention makes it possible to optimise the winding mechanism according to the needs of the moment. Could this solution also be used by other watch manufacturers in the future? Entirely skeletonised is the movement used, calibre RMAL2, with grade 5 titanium plate and bridges treated with grey electroplasma and PVD. Two versions are available: blue Quartz TPT with a central part of the case in white Quartz TPT, or in white Quartz TPT and Carbon TPT with a central part in Carbon TPT.
Price: 195,000 Swiss francs (excluding tax).
