Richard Mille introduces sport mode to latest RM 35-03 Rafael Nadal watch

The watch has a patented rotor system that neutralizes to prevent over-winding of the mainspring.

It’s been more than a decade since multiple Grand Slam winner Rafa Nadal created his first watch together with watchmaker Richard Mille.

“From the beginning, I fell in love with the brand and what it stood for
Its people," Mr. Nadal recalled. "We all strived for excellence in our respective fields. Richard was extremely successful, but he remained a humble, relaxed and approachable man. "

For Mr. Mill, the feeling is mutual. "Rafa and I are connected for life. We are together through thick and thin. This is not just watchmaking: this is life," he said.

The latest watch from Richard Mille and his Spanish tennis pal is the RM 35-03 Rafael Nadal automatic watch, which features a new winding mechanism called a butterfly rotor that can be started and stopped by the person wearing the watch.

In fact, the semi-circular titanium and heavy metal rotor splits down the middle. When the two halves are connected together, the rotor oscillates in the usual way, powering the mainspring of the RMAL1 movement as it moves.

Push the button and the rotor splits into a butterfly shape, neutralizing the weight of the two halves so that they cancel each other out and there's no power to wind the spring.

This prevents the mainspring from being over-wound, especially in the kind of shocks Mr. Nadal endured while wearing the watch on court, which is why the neutral setting is called Sport Mode.

Salvador Arbona, technical director of movements at Richard Mille, said: “The two counterweights that pop open to stop the ‘motor’ winding really highlight the
This watch sports style. "

The 43.15mm x 49.95mm RM 35-03 comes in two versions, one in white quartz TPT and carbon TPT with a carbon TPT strap, and one in blue quartz with a white strap.
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