Rafael Nadal’s achievements in tennis are a blend of exceptional physical fitness, mental resilience, distinctive playing style, unwavering work ethic and competitive spirit.
He is widely acknowledged for his outstanding physical conditioning and endurance, enabling him to participate and persevere in challenging matches, notably on clay courts. His commitment to training, rigorous practice sessions and relentless pursuit of improvement are frequently cited as among the finest in the sport, playing a pivotal role in his overall success on the tennis court.
Nadal is renowned for his mental toughness and resilience in tennis, maintaining focus, composure under pressure, and the ability to bounce back from challenging situations, significantly contributing to his success on the court.
Numerous brands seeking collaboration have focused their attention on his illustrious career. One example involved watchmaker Richard Mille, who initially faced resistance from Nadal when they first met in 2008.
At that time, Nadal was not inclined to wear a watch during his matches. Over the following decade, as both Nadal and Mille continued to push the limits in their respective fields, this collaboration evolved, giving birth to extraordinary watch models.
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Nadal says: “From the beginning, I fell in love with this brand and the people who represent it. We both strive for excellence in our respective fields. Richard [Mille] has been very successful, but he has remained a humble, relaxed and approachable person.” Mille concurs: “Rafa and I are linked for life. We are together, rain or shine. It’s more than just watchmaking, it’s life!”
Nadal says: “From the beginning, I fell in love with this brand and the people who represent it. We both strive for excellence in our respective fields. Richard [Mille] has been very successful, but he has remained a humble, relaxed and approachable person.” Mille concurs: “Rafa and I are linked for life. We are together, rain or shine. It’s more than just watchmaking, it’s life!”
Pursuit of innovation
The outcome of this collaboration, solidified into a strong friendship over the years, has manifested in the creation of the RM 027 collection — timepieces worn by Rafa during play on the courts — and the RM 035 series. These watches symbolise the enduring pursuit of innovation that both individuals passionately embrace. The recently revealed model, the RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal, is another example of an everlasting commitment to innovation.
This is the fourth timepiece in the RM 035 Collection, and it features a novel winding mechanism named the “butterfly rotor”. This patented innovation gives the wearer direct control over the automatic movement’s winding. It represents a fresh and innovative approach to staying connected with the watch in any situation.
At Richard Mille, the watch has been viewed as a useful accessory, emphasising practicality and reliability regardless of the wearer’s activities. Drawing inspiration from the RM 027 tourbillon watches sported by Nadal during tennis matches, the RM 035 collection, often dubbed “baby Nadal” watches, fuses cutting-edge technology and is meant to be worn liberally, without constraints or concessions.
In this iteration, the technical team refined the movement’s winding mechanism. While the RM 35-02, housing the RMAL1 calibre, already integrated the manufacturer’s patented variable-geometry rotor — a hallmark of Richard Mille’s automatic movements —the RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal introduces a revolutionary twist to the concept of variable geometry. This newly introduced complication strikes a harmonious balance between playfulness and practicality.
Technically speaking, the variable-geometry rotor enables the calibration of the calibre’s winding speed according to the wearer’s activity level. Adjusting the rotor’s two vanes towards the periphery alters the oscillating weight’s inertia by shifting its centre of gravity. This adjustment accelerates the barrel’s winding, which benefits the less active wearers. Conversely, if engaged in intense sports activity, the winding is slowed down by positioning the two vanes near the rotor’s axis.
The butterfly rotor, part of the variable-geometry rotor, has two arms of grade 5 titanium with weight segments in heavy metal. Controlled by a push-piece and an independent gear train, the rotor’s weights, in their starting positions, move the centre of gravity outwards, providing the torque needed to wind the barrel during each movement. Pressing the push-piece at 7 o’clock makes the gear train spread the weights to 180°, aligning the centre of gravity with the rotor’s axis. This neutralises the weights, stopping the rotor from winding the watch.
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Elegance in design
The completion of the butterfly rotor mechanism involved three years of development. This timeframe encompassed the technical refinement of the mechanism, addressing the challenge of integrating an extra gear train into the movement and ensuring the reliability of a mechanism with newly mobile components, which required extensive validations. Much like the completed watch, every new development undergoes rigorous testing, including assessments for shocks, ageing, temperature variations and resistance to magnetic fields. While a lengthy and demanding process, it is essential to guarantee the quality and durability of the product.
The RM 35-03 seamlessly blends technical excellence with an elegant, ergonomic design. It is offered in three versions: blue Quartz TPT® with a caseband in white Quartz TPT®, white Quartz TPT®, or Carbon TPT® with a caseband in Carbon TPT® or an all-Carbon TPT® variant. The model features recesses reminiscent of the RM 27-04 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal.
A fully skeletonised structure makes the movement visible from both the front and back through sapphire crystals. The baseplate and bridges, made of grade 5 titanium and designed with flair, undergo grey electroplasma and PVD treatments to enhance the watch’s visual appeal. The open-worked hands indicate the time against a flange crafted from microblasted grade 5 titanium, marked with numerals 3, 6, 9, and 12, creating additional depth. This refined exterior powerfully accentuates the technical prowess of the RM 35-03 Rafael Nadal.
The function selector serves as the control system for the movement. A simple press of the push-button at 2 o’clock allows toggling between neutral (N), winding (W) and hand-setting (H) functions. A hand on the dial at 2 o’clock indicates the selected function. The winding mechanism can be optimised on demand, with an indicator at 6 o’clock signalling whether the rotor is active (On) or disengaged (Off). In the On mode, the rotor engages with the mechanism, winding the barrel, while in the Off mode, the rotor is inactive as the weights are uncoupled.
The case, crafted from Carbon TPT® or Quartz TPT®, boasts exceptional performance. Its flawless surfaces with elegant streaks are formed from numerous layers of parallel filaments derived by separating silica or carbon fibres.
Pressing the pusher at 7 o’clock causes the butterfly rotor to unfold its vanes, altering its inertia and pausing the winding process during strenuous activities such as sports. Another press on the push-button re-engages the rotor, resuming the movement’s winding. Ensuring correct energy input to the barrel is vital for the watch to function optimally.
Pressing the pusher at 7 o’clock causes the butterfly rotor to unfold its vanes, altering its inertia and pausing the winding process during strenuous activities such as sports. Another press on the push-button re-engages the rotor, resuming the movement’s winding. Ensuring correct energy input to the barrel is vital for the watch to function optimally. 
Technical details of the RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal
Three models:
- In white Quartz TPT® and Carbon TPT® with the caseband in Carbon TPT®
- In blue Quartz TPT® with the caseband in white Quartz TPT®
- In Carbone TPT® with the caseband in Carbone TPT®
Calibre
Skeletonised automatic-winding movement with hours, minutes, seconds, patented butterfly rotor, sport mode and function selector.
Case dimensions
43.15 x 49.95 x 13.15 mm
Main features
Power Reserve: Circa 55 hours (± 10%)
Baseplate and Bridges in grade 5 titanium: Manufacturing these components in grade 5 titanium with black PVD and electro plasma treatments confers great rigidity on the entire assembly and precise surface flatness, essential for the perfect functioning of the gear train. The skeletonised baseplate and the bridges were subjected to intensive and complete validation tests to optimise their stress resistance.
Function selector
Like a car’s gearbox, a push-button at 2 o’clock allows one to select the winding, neutral and hand-setting functions with a simple push. A hand at 2 o’clock displays the selected function.
Butterfly rotor
Patented by Richard Mille, the butterfly rotor offers the wearer the possibility of varying the rotor geometry by themselves, controlling the movement’s winding according to their lifestyle and sporting activities.
Rotor specifications
- Arm in grade 5 titanium
- Metal weight segment
- Ceramic ball bearings
- Unidirectional; anti-clockwise winding direction
The butterfly rotor comprises two weights in grade 5, titanium and metal. In their initial position, the weights cause a radial displacement of the centre of gravity, generating the necessary torque to wind the barrel. With a simple pressure on the pusher at 7 o’clock, a gear train dedicated to the rotor deploys the two weights at 180°. The centre of gravity is then brought back to the centre, bringing the rotor into balance and cancelling its winding power and thus any excessive-calibre winding.
Sport mode
This invention allows the movement’s winding mechanism to be optimised on demand. An On/Off indicator located at 6 o’clock allows the owner to see the rotor’s status and whether it is activated. By pressing the pusher at 7 o’clock, the butterfly rotor in grade 5 titanium spreads its wings. Once deployed, the rotor’s inertia is modified and stops the winding process in the case of sporting activities. The rotor will be functional and will wind the movement by applying pressure again to the pusher. Automatic watches self-wind from wrist movements; too much activity or a lack of activity can harm the wind barrel’s power. A correct power supply in the barrel is essential for a watch’s optimal functioning.
