Peak Performance

After a more than decade-long collaboration, Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal cap their inimitable RM 027 collection witha final timepiece that is lighter and tougher than ever before

- Annabel Tan

The partnership between Spanish tennis champion Rafael Nadal and Swiss luxury watchmaker Richard Mille officially began more than a decade ago in 2010, when Nadal wore the RM 027 Tourbillon, a lightweight and highly durable watch designed to withstand the rigours of professional tennis, for the first time during the 2010 French Open. That year, the star player won three Grand Slam tournaments in a row: the French Open, the Wimbledon and the US Open.

“Since then, Richard Mille watches have become an essential part of my equipment, to the point that I feel strange if I’m not wearing one,” admits the record‑holding 14‑time French Open champion.

Over the years, this collaboration has led to the release of several more iterations such as the RM 27‑01, RM 27‑02, RM 27‑03, RM 27‑04 and RM 27‑05. Every one features innovative materials and engineering tailored to the tennis star’s specifications and performance requirements, with the watchmaker striving for each new timepiece to be lighter and more comfortable than the one before.