Richard Mille RM 35-03 ‘Rafael Nadal’ White Quartz TPT

The RM 35-03 “Rafael Nadal” is housed in a distinctive tonneau-shaped case measuring 49.95MM in length, 43.15MM in width, and 13.15MM in thickness. Its construction combines White Quartz TPT® with Carbon TPT®, creating an exceptionally lightweight yet highly resistant architecture. The layered composite materials display characteristic striations formed from ultra-thin parallel filaments, giving every case its own distinctive visual character. The case is secured by 20 Grade 5 titanium spline screws and is water resistant to 50 metres.

At the heart of the RM 35-03 is the skeletonised automatic Calibre RMAL2, developed over three years specifically to introduce Richard Mille’s patented butterfly rotor system. The movement features a Grade 5 titanium baseplate and bridges treated with black PVD and electroplasma processes, providing rigidity and resistance to shocks. Measuring 31.25 x 29.45MM and only 5.92MM thick, the calibre contains 38 jewels and operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour, with a power reserve of approximately 55 hours ±10%.

The patented butterfly rotor is the defining technical innovation of the RM 35-03. Activated through the dedicated pusher at 7 o’clock, two Grade 5 titanium and metal rotor weights rotate through 180 degrees, bringing the rotor’s centre of gravity back to the centre and effectively stopping the winding action. This allows the wearer to control the winding of the movement according to activity levels, while an ON/OFF indicator at 6 o’clock displays the rotor’s status. A separate function selector at 2 o’clock allows the wearer to choose between winding, neutral, and hand-setting functions.

The open-worked dial exposes the technical architecture of the RMAL2, with skeletonised hands pointing toward a microblasted Grade 5 titanium flange accented by the numerals 3, 6, 9, and 12. Sapphire crystals with anti-glare treatment protect both sides of the movement, while the white rubber strap and lightweight construction reinforce the watch’s performance-oriented character. Combining advanced composite materials, a patented variable-geometry rotor, and a highly engineered skeletonised movement, the RM 35-03 “Rafael Nadal” stands as one of Richard Mille’s most technically distinctive sports watches.