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

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. Each 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.

Unbeknownst to many, however, this long‑standing partnership might not have happened and was almost brushed off by Nadal in the beginning. When Richard Mille first reached out to him in 2008, the athlete was initially hesitant about wearing a watch while playing tennis, as he had never done so before. “Between managing nerves and requiring total concentration during a game, any small distraction can be critical. I didn’t want to pursue it any further,” recalls Nadal. However, a conversation with a friend changed his mind. “[He said,] ‘If you’re going to explore this opportunity with anyone, it should be with Richard Mille.’ I listened to his advice and contacted Richard.” He shared his main condition for wearing a watch during a competition: that it be light, as he “didn’t want to feel it on my wrist”.