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Lot Essay
This awesome and spectacular full-set ‘Diamond Red’ Richard Mille RM35-02 ‘RAFA’ is a mind-blowing accomplishment in the use of traditional diamond setting with groundbreaking materials. It is also the first self-winding watch of the ‘Rafael Nadal’ series. The present watch is, to the best of our knowledge, the first example of this reference to be offered at international auction. Manufactured from 2016, the RM35-02 ‘RAFA’ is part of the incredible collection of Richard Mille timepieces that bear the ‘Rafael Nadal’ name, extraordinary watches that are a byword for innovation, extreme lightness and shock-resistance.
The luxury of the RM35-02 is immediately evident in the diamond-set red case but also in the appreciation of the amazing technical and manufacturing know-how necessary to have made such a lightweight watch a reality. This concept also applies to the pared down yet visually striking design aesthetic whereby the movement appears to be simply suspended in the two-part case in the same way that a supercar engine is placed into the chassis, without any extraneous frills or unnecessary detailing. The technology involved in the development and production of the ‘Nadal’ family of watches is mind-blowing in its fearless use of state-of-the-art materials. The automatic RM35-02 ‘RAFA’ was available in either Carbon TPT or bright red Quartz-TPT. Called TPT (thin ply technology) quartz, its strength and incredible lightness is unparalleled, composed of hundreds of layers of quartz interspersed with layers of NTPT carbon, the layers are fused together at 120 degrees celcius to form a case that is almost indestructible. Also resistant to extremes of temperature and magnetism, the case and movement work as a single entity – a near perfect sports watch.
The RMAL1 calibre movement is equally impressive with baseplate and bridges in wet-sandblasted grade 5 titanium that have been PVD/Titalyt treated for exceptional rigidity. The movement is powered by a double-barrel system which provides greater torque stability. The self-winding mechanism is Richard Mille’s patented variable-geometry rotor which can be adjusted to suit the wearer’s level of activity. In order that the movement can be fully appreciated, the caseback is fitted with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal – a first for a ‘Nadal’ wristwatch.
When Rafael Nadal first met Richard Mille in 2008, it was to be the start of a long standing friendship and significantly the collaboration was to be the catalyst behind the development and realization of many of Richard Mille’s most extraordinary wristwatches, in particular it lead to the production of the lightest tourbillon wristwatch in the world at that time, the RM027. In 2013, this remarkable long-term collaboration with Rafael Nadal further resulted in the creation of an awesome ultra-lightweight tourbillon - the RM27-01, made in a limited edition of 50 pieces which sold out almost immediately. The present RM35-032 continues the development of the sensational Rafael Nadal series.
Rafael Nadal
The Spanish professional tennis player is currently ranked world No. 3 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals. He was ranked world No. 1 for 209 weeks, and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. Nadal has won an all-time record 22 Grand Slam men's singles titles, including a record 14 French Open titles. He has won 92 ATP singles titles, including 36 Masters titles. Nadal is one of only two men to complete the Career Golden Slam in singles. For over a decade, Nadal has dominated men's tennis along with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the Big Three, collectively considered by some to be the three most successful male tennis players of all time.
The luxury of the RM35-02 is immediately evident in the diamond-set red case but also in the appreciation of the amazing technical and manufacturing know-how necessary to have made such a lightweight watch a reality. This concept also applies to the pared down yet visually striking design aesthetic whereby the movement appears to be simply suspended in the two-part case in the same way that a supercar engine is placed into the chassis, without any extraneous frills or unnecessary detailing. The technology involved in the development and production of the ‘Nadal’ family of watches is mind-blowing in its fearless use of state-of-the-art materials. The automatic RM35-02 ‘RAFA’ was available in either Carbon TPT or bright red Quartz-TPT. Called TPT (thin ply technology) quartz, its strength and incredible lightness is unparalleled, composed of hundreds of layers of quartz interspersed with layers of NTPT carbon, the layers are fused together at 120 degrees celcius to form a case that is almost indestructible. Also resistant to extremes of temperature and magnetism, the case and movement work as a single entity – a near perfect sports watch.
The RMAL1 calibre movement is equally impressive with baseplate and bridges in wet-sandblasted grade 5 titanium that have been PVD/Titalyt treated for exceptional rigidity. The movement is powered by a double-barrel system which provides greater torque stability. The self-winding mechanism is Richard Mille’s patented variable-geometry rotor which can be adjusted to suit the wearer’s level of activity. In order that the movement can be fully appreciated, the caseback is fitted with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal – a first for a ‘Nadal’ wristwatch.
When Rafael Nadal first met Richard Mille in 2008, it was to be the start of a long standing friendship and significantly the collaboration was to be the catalyst behind the development and realization of many of Richard Mille’s most extraordinary wristwatches, in particular it lead to the production of the lightest tourbillon wristwatch in the world at that time, the RM027. In 2013, this remarkable long-term collaboration with Rafael Nadal further resulted in the creation of an awesome ultra-lightweight tourbillon - the RM27-01, made in a limited edition of 50 pieces which sold out almost immediately. The present RM35-032 continues the development of the sensational Rafael Nadal series.
Rafael Nadal
The Spanish professional tennis player is currently ranked world No. 3 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals. He was ranked world No. 1 for 209 weeks, and finished as the year-end No. 1 five times. Nadal has won an all-time record 22 Grand Slam men's singles titles, including a record 14 French Open titles. He has won 92 ATP singles titles, including 36 Masters titles. Nadal is one of only two men to complete the Career Golden Slam in singles. For over a decade, Nadal has dominated men's tennis along with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic as the Big Three, collectively considered by some to be the three most successful male tennis players of all time.