Richard Mille

• cal. RM027-01 manual winding nickel lever movement, 19 jewels, mono-metallic balance rotating within an one-minute tourbillon carriage • skeletonized dial, titanium movement baseplate and aluminum-lithium bridges, luminescent dot indexes and skeletonized hands • carbon composite tonneau-form case secured by 2 titanium screws • case, dial and movement signed • with a Richard Mille buckle

Manual winding movement running and tourbillon function in working order while cataloguing, the watch has not been tested for accuracy of time keeping and a service might be needed at buyer's expense. Dial is nice and clean. Case and buckle with minor scuffs from light wear only and hardly noticeable. Overall appears in excellent condition. A true collector's item!
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

With an Richard Mille certificate and a pouch with outer packaging.

Born on June 3, 1986, in Majorca, Spain, Rafael Nadal is a Spanish professional tennis player who has been ranked in the world’s top 5 since 2003. Nadal completed the career Grand Slam when he was 24, the youngest tennis player in history to complete this achievement.

From the age of 8 to 16, Nadal won the under-12 regional tennis championship, Spanish and European tennis titles in his age group and has also turned professional at the age of 15. Two years later, he became the youngest man to reach the third round at Wimbledon since Boris Becker. Nadal started hitting his stride after he won the French Open for the first time in 2005, winning 5 titles in 2006, 6 titles in 2007 and in 2008 he claimed the titles of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, beating Roger Federer in the longest final in Wimbledon history. Nadal achieved world No.1 ranking in August 2008 and again in June 2010.

In 2010, Rafael Nadal caused a media frenzy as he became the first top seeded men’s professional tennis player to walk onto the Court at Roland Garros for the French open wearing a tourbillon wristwatch, which he then proceeded to wear while playing. Developed specially for the tennis ace by watch architect Richard Mille, the case was made out of an extremely light and strong revolutionary material, polymer carbon and the tourbillon mechanism was out of titanium and LITAL® to reduce the weight. When fitted on a Velcro strap the watch weighs a mere 20g, (so light it even floats on water) this lightness is essential as it was always intended to be worn while Nadal, who is known as one of the hardest hitters on the court, played his matches. To ensure reliability of the movement, which alone weighs only 3.83 grams, it was apparently factory tested to be able to withstand repeated 400G-force shocks. The decision to wear the watch in front of such a large crowd was a brave one for Nadal, who’s game could have been adversely affected even by the miniscule weight, also for Richard Mille as even though it was tested, had the watch broken during play it would have been reported on the news internationally and been a catastrophe for the manufacturer. Obviously unaffected by its presence, in 2010 Nadal went on to win 3 out of 4 grand slams wearing the still-fully functioning RM27 watch, only pulling out of the Australian open due to a knee injury. In the same year he became the first man to win Grand Slams on clay, grass and hard courts within a season and once again achieve the coveted number 1 ranking.

As of The Cincinnati Open in August 2013, Rafa Nadal continued to wear the RM 027 while playing on the courts, as well while holding the victory cup.

Considered by many as the most revolutionary sports watch in recent years, the RM 027 is so light it defies logic, providing the casual observer with an almost laugh-out-loud feeling when you first pick it up, as if brain can’t register how it can be possible. The model took 2 years of research and testing to develop with a case made out of a very light but wear-resistant composite carbon being used, the movement, which is supported within the case via a suspension system was assembled using a mixture of titanium and a new material trademarked as LITAL®. Destined to be one of the most iconic and important sports watches made, only 50 were ever produced.