The media is all over the Nadal story for two reasons. First, it is unusual for a tennis player to wear a watch during matches. It is well known that wearing a watch when peak agility and performance is required is usually a bad idea. Hell, I even take my watch off to type. Second, the watch costs $525,000. To most people, that concept blows their friggin’ minds. It would blow my mind as well if I wasn’t so detached from prices. I actually found myself yesterday saying to a friend about a certain watch: ‘$300,000? Naw, only like $100,000 – $200,000. It isn’t too bad.’ At this point the prices are just numbers to me. If you can afford them, you can afford them. Anyway, over $500,000 for a watch is pretty crazy – crazy but fun. It isn’t about being worth it or not, it is just a matter that an object (that isn’t a bag o’ diamonds) which fits in your wrist costs as much as a decent house.
The watch is just under 40mm wide, has a standard Richard Mille tonneau case shape, and weighs under 4 grams! That is with the strap. Inside is a complex mechanical movement with a tourbillon complication. Much of the watch is made from something called LITAL, which is a lithium aluminum alloy. There are all sort of other fancy things going on in the watch as well to help give it that under 20 grams weight (I think the movement weights under 4 grams). In the link above to my Luxist article about the RM 027 watch I discuss the movement and materials a bit more.In addition to the amazing weight of the watch – the tourbillon movement is able to flinchlessly withstand the shock, g-forces, and trauma that tennis playing will have on it. ‘They hit Richard Mille! Is he ok? Check the tourbillon… is it still spinning?! Medic!…’ And a guy in a white watch maker’s gown with loupe around his head comes running on to the court.
What is interesting, is that the Spaniard is said not to be a flashy guy at all. Aged 23, he is shy, but has been in public spotlight since a very young age. Nike for example was sponsoring him since he was 13 years old. Going from ‘the quiet superstar Tennis player next door’ to ‘the guy whose game isn’t at its best unless he has a wake up call from President Obama to start the day and wears a $500,000 plus watch on the court…’ is a major change to his images to say the least.Oh, and sources say that like many Spanish people (they aren’t the only ones known for this) – Nadal is terrible about being places on time. The RM 027 he effortlessly totes around surely won’t be of help there.
Richard Mille is utterly thrilled at the new partnership. The press they are getting is enormous, and they hope to sell a few of these watches. There will be a limited edition run of 50 pieces for those who want to be like Nadal. Still, after $525,000 in the whole, you aren’t gonna be any better at hitting fast moving balls. Still, the fact that the watch is being worn all the time, and can survive give Richard Mille as a brand serious street cred. Golden paved street cred that is. I didn’t know Nadal was a lefty either. He is wearing the watch on his opposite wrist while he holds the racket with his left hand. This is at least in game. Very hard to tell in tennis. No watch on his main playing arm. A lefty just like me – perhaps. I better take up the game. Where is Richard Mille’s number?
