Looking back on their collaboration, the 38-year-old Spaniard recalled that in 2008, Mille approached him about working together, which Nadal found unusual since he was not used to wearing watches. Their partnership became official in 2010 when Mille presented him with the RM 027, a lightweight and stylish prototype.
If Rafael Nadal had refused to wear a watch during his matches, his collaboration with Richard Mille might have taken a different turn. Initially hesitant, Nadal eventually partnered with Mille to create the ultra-light RM 027 tourbillon, the first watch bearing his name and renowned for its incredible lightness.
Nadal says: “Richard came to my house and showed me a model saying, ‘This is the watch we made for you’. The watch was platinum, so heavy; I was confused and didn’t realise he was joking. As soon as I tried the real watch on, I loved it. We were on the same wavelength. The watch is now like a second skin for me.”
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