The fourth Only Watch Auction took place in Monaco on Friday 23rd September, at the Hotel Hermitage, in the royal presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
This auction of exceptional watches was organised to support research into Duchenne muscular dystrophy and organised by Antiquorum, Geneva.
Richard Mille has been a faithful Only Watch partner since the first event and chose to donate on this occasion a unique and symbolic timepiece, the RM 027 tourbillon Rafael Nadal, the very watch with which Rafael Nadal won the 2011 Monte Carlo Tournament. This RM 027 was also the prototype used in all the final stages of development.
The RM 027 tourbillon was sold at a record price of 510 000 €, the second most important bid of the evening, right after Patek Philippe.
Richard Mille is very proud of this great result amongst 40 of the most famous watchmakers enabling him to bring his support to Only Watch and the fight against this debilating neuromuscular disease which affects one boy in 3500. He hopes that the 4 563 000 € raised at this event and thanks to the marvellous support of all participants, will contribute to the development of new research projects and find new treatments in the near future.
The RM027 tourbillon, created for and in close collaboration with Rafael Nadal, is an extremely complex timepiece, weighting in at less than 20 grams (including the straps) thus becoming one of the lightest watches ever.
The movement baseplate of the RM 027 tourbillon is made from titanium and LITAL® alloy, a high lithium content alloy containing aluminum, copper, magnesium and zirconium, possessing a density of 2.55. The addition of lithium one of the lightest elements, to the alloy mixture, provides great strength with a movement only weighing a mere 3.83 grams. This particular alloy is also used for the same reasons in the aerospace industry in the construction of the Airbus A380, helicopters, rockets and satellites, as well as in F1 racing cars.
The RM 027 watchcase, composed of composite containing large amounts of carbon, provides a tough and resilient enclosure for the tourbillon movement at its center. The back bezel and caseband are monobloc to ensure total lightness. The glass in Grimalid; the bezel and the flange in carbon have remarkable properties of stiffness and torsional rigidity. These exceptional properties enable the RM 027 to combine both robustness, lightness, and technique while perfectly resisting to the strength of the ranked number 2 worldwide.
Tourbillon RM 027 Rafael Nadal
– Manual winding tourbillon movement with hours, minutes
– Power reserve: circa 48 hours
– Case: carbon composite, the back bezel and caseband are monobloc
– Dimensions: 48 x 39.70 x 11.85 mm
– Weight: circa 13 g
– Strap: polyurethane
Limited edition to 50 pieces
