Richard Mille RM027 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal

Richard Mille release an exclusive new timepiece the RM027 Tourbillon, a watch designed for and in partnership with tennis ace Rafael Nadal. Richard Mille is perhaps best described as a brand which creates and releases for sale to the public pieces which are so technically innovative that others in the industry would consider them to be "concept watches". Although when I say 'public', I should also explain that to buy a Richard Mille you'd need to be in Mr Nadals' salary bracket.

The technical achievement in the RM027 Tourbillon lies in its lightweight construction - the piece weighs in at an astounding 20 grams, including the strap - essential if, as reported Nadal will wear the piece during match play rather than simply during practice and post-match interviews.

Taking inspiration from the world of Formula 1 and the aerospace industry, both of which have been experimenting with the extremes of weight-reduction for years, the watchmakers at Richard Mille have once again applied cutting-edge materials to create the end product.  In this case the use of an alloy with a high lithium content is used in the construction of the RM027 Tourbillon movement, a material which is ultra-light, flexible and highly shock-resistant.  Carbon also plays a part in the construction of the watchcase and the back bezel and caseband are monobloc, adding to durability, lightness and aesthetic appeal.

The RM027 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal will be a limited release of 50 pieces worldwide and is priced at a racket dropping $525,000! It is expected to make its match debut at the Monte Carlo Masters 1000, which incidently is sponsored by ........... Rolex.