Manufacturer: Richard Mille Year: 2011 Reference No: RM027 RN Movement No: N°046 Case No: AK CA 31/50 Model Name: RM027 Tourbillon Material: Carbon Calibre: Manual, cal. RM027, 19 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Richard Mille ultra-light strap Dimensions: 48mm Length Signed: Case, dial and movement signed Accessories: Accompanied by Richard Mille fitted presentation box, original warranty in leather portfolio and product literature
Catalogue Essay
Weighing in at less than 27 grams, this limited edition piece is quite certainly the lightest tourbillon to ever hit the market.
World-renowned tennis champion Rafael Nadal tested this spectacular watch that was made specifically for him by Richard Mille. With only 50 in existence, the RM027-RN is one of the hardest and most exclusive watches one can obtain. Immediately recognizable to the most elite watch connoisseurs is the RM27 tourbillon, yet it remains relatively understated.
The inspiration behind this skillfully designed piece was the force used during high-intensity tennis matches. This watch features a skeletonized dial encased in high volumes of carbon and Grade-5 titanium spline screws that provide the ultimate protection for the tourbillon movement, housed within. Made of titanium and a specially compounded LITAL alloy comprised of aluminium, copper, magnesium, and zirconium, the movement is ultra lightweight yet strong and flexible, enabling superb shock resistance.
This watch is not only aesthetically pleasing, but was also designed with the wearer in mind to maximize comfort and practicality. The present example is number 31/50 making it highly rare, and is accompanied by the original presentation box and guarantee papers.
Established in 1999, Richard Mille's ultra-modern timepieces combine cutting-edge materials from high performance worlds such as Formula 1 racecars with high-end traditional watchmaking. The brand's revolutionary designs, technical breakthroughs and exceptional hand-finishing excite even the most discriminating collectors, and have positioned Richard Mille alongside the top makers of the modern luxury watch world.
Innovative watches, such as the RM 027 Tourbillon, which was the world’s lightest mechanical watch when introduced in 2011, have helped the brand invert the concept of the luxury watch. Key models include the RM 009 Tourbillon cased in Aluminum Silicon Carbide (AlSiC), the RM 027-02 Tourbillon made for tennis star Rafael Nadal with a case made from quartz and carbon fiber and the RM 008 split seconds chronograph.