News • 09 Jan 2016
Sporting Superstars And Richard Mille
Ultra high-end watch brand Richard Mille may have only been around for some 16 or so years, but over this relatively short period of time it has made a name for itself as the manufacturer of some of the most rugged and indeed most complicated wrist watches manufactured in the 21st century. To prove and improve the durability of its timepieces, Richard Mille has been teaming up with some of the world’s leading athletes including racecar drivers, sprinters, tennis champions and golf legends.
When it comes to collaborations with renowned sportsmen, for Richard Mille it really all started with Felipe Massa, the Brazilian Formula 1 driver. Massa has been a close friend of the brand for well over a decade now. In fact, the RM011 chronograph with annual calendar, arguably is the best-known Richard Mille wristwatch, bears the Brazilian’s name to this day. There have been a great number of fascinating developments to this instantly recognizable model, with the Richard Mille RM 011 on the new titanium bracelet being one of the latest and coolest additions.
The brand’s close collaboration with Rafael Nadal, the multiple Grand Slam winner from Spain has really put Richard Mille on the map in popular culture, as Nadal was made headlines the world over for wearing the $690,000 Richard Mille tourbillon while competing in the most challenging tennis tournaments. Richard Mille has created a number of pieces for Nadal, including the RM027 Tourbillon with a carbon composite case and a movement that weighs only 3.8 grams.
The last renowned athlete who is a Richard Mille ambassador is Yohan Blake, the Jamaican Olympic gold medallist, whose Richard Mille RM 59-01 Tourbillon certainly belongs among the most unusual looking watches the brand has ever produced. Featuring the Jamaican national colors on its movement and dial, the movement inside the RM 59-01 was designed to have four bridges arching over the dial, mimicking the sprinter’s outstretched fingers while during his record-setting laps. With a composite case and a skeletonized tourbillon caliber inside, the RM 59-01 truly is a featherweight companion for the runner – and the 50 privileged individuals who will get to own one of the numbered pieces.
The Hour Glass is an official retailer of Richard Mille Timepieces.