Featured image: Richard Mille
Rafael Nadal’s watch is the Richard Mille RM 27 series, a run of featherweight tourbillons built with him and worn during matches, most recently the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon in carbon TPT. Nadal retired from professional tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November 2024, so those watches now mark the end of one of sport’s best-known brand partnerships.
Quick answer Nadal wore Richard Mille watches in matches from about 2010 and co-designed around a dozen models with the brand, from the RM 027 to the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon (2024). His RM 27-04 was on his wrist when he won the 2022 Australian Open, and the RM 27-05 weighs just 11.5 g without a strap. Richard Mille still lists him among its Friends and Partners as of October 2026.
Rafael Nadal’s Watch: The Richard Mille RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon
The RM 27-05 was Nadal’s last signature watch with the brand and he wore it at the 2024 French Open, where he lost in the first round. Richard Mille built it around a manual-winding flying tourbillon in a monobloc Carbon TPT case, and it is rated to survive shocks of more than 14,000 g. Only 80 pieces were made.
| Spec | Richard Mille RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal |
|---|---|
| Case size | Tonneau monobloc; Richard Mille does not publish the overall dimensions on its product page |
| Case material | Carbon TPT B.4 |
| Weight | 11.5 g without strap (calibre alone 3.79 g) |
| Movement | Manual-winding flying tourbillon, calibre RM27-05, about 55 hours of power reserve |
| Water resistance | Not listed by the brand |
| Limited edition | 80 pieces |
| Approximate price | Roughly $1.1 million at retail (not on a public price list; reported by watch media) |
Where to buy
Compare the same watch on both sites: eBay for pre-owned and vintage pieces, Amazon for new stock.
Richard Mille RM 35-03 Rafael Nadal
Casio G-Shock GA-2100 Alternative
Garmin Venu 3 Alternative
Seiko 5 Sports Automatic Alternative
Prices and availability change; check the listing before you buy.
The Story Behind Nadal’s Richard Mille Watches
Nadal and Richard Mille began working together in 2010. The first result was the RM 027 tourbillon, a carbon-cased watch of under 20 g that Nadal wore while playing, which at the time was unheard of for a mechanical tourbillon. WatchPro describes it as a pairing that helped both sides: Nadal got a watch light enough to play in, and Richard Mille got a global showcase for shock-proof engineering.
Over the next fourteen years, watch media count about a dozen Nadal models. The line includes the RM 27-01 (2013), the RM 27-02 (2015), the red-and-yellow RM 27-03 (2017) and the RM 27-04 (2020), which marked ten years together. Alongside them ran the more affordable automatic RM 035 line, including the RM 35-01 (2014) and the RM 35-02 (2016).
One early chapter was less happy. In June 2012, Spanish media reported that a Richard Mille worth about 300,000 euros was stolen from Nadal’s Paris hotel room during Roland-Garros, according to the Nadal team and EFE.
Why Nadal’s Watches Are Built Differently
A normal tourbillon would not survive a Nadal forehand, so the RM 27 series is engineered around shock. The RM 27-04 suspends its tourbillon on a lattice of 0.27 mm steel cables, which lets the movement float rather than rattle. The RM 27-05 goes further, pairing a grade 5 titanium baseplate with a lightweight Lexan polymer crystal in place of sapphire to save grams.
That obsession with weight is why the headline figures matter to collectors: under 20 g for the first RM 027 in 2010, about 18.8 g for the RM 27-01 in 2013, and 11.5 g for the final RM 27-05. Richard Mille also released the RM 035 Black Toro and Gold Toro editions in 2017, which were exclusive to the American market.
Which Watch Did Nadal Wear When He Won Majors?
The RM 27-03 was on his wrist at the 2019 French Open, where he won his 12th Roland-Garros title and shook hands with Spain’s former king, Juan Carlos, who wore an RM 009. Its red and yellow case stripes echo the Spanish flag.
At the 2022 Australian Open, Nadal beat Daniil Medvedev in the final on January 30, 2022, for his 21st Grand Slam while wearing the RM 27-04. That TitaCarb-cased tourbillon weighs about 30 g with its strap and was limited to 50 pieces, with a reported price of around $1.05 million.
His great rival chose a different brand: Roger Federer wears Rolex, and our Federer watch guide covers his Land-Dweller, Daytona and Air-King sightings.
Nadal’s Richard Mille After Retirement
Nadal announced in October 2024 that the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga would be his last event. Spain lost to the Netherlands in the quarter-final and he retired in November 2024. Richard Mille’s Friends and Partners page still lists him in 2026, and the brand has not announced an end to the relationship.
Watch media described the RM 27-05 as the final co-design, so there may not be another new Nadal edition. Prices for the older models reflect that: WatchPro cites about $1.7 million at auction for an RM 27-04.
RM 35-03 “Baby Nadal”
The RM 35-03 Automatic was a lower-priced model in Nadal’s line, at 43.15 mm and 13.15 mm thick, with a 55-hour power reserve and 50 meters of water resistance. Its original MSRP was about $220,000 in 2021, and it is sometimes nicknamed “Baby Nadal”. Tom Brady’s example sold at Sotheby’s in December 2024 for about $384,000.
Cheaper Watches Inspired by Nadal’s Style
You will not find a Richard Mille at a normal price, so look for lightweight, shock-resistant watches that share the sporty character. Some real, current options:
- The Casio G-Shock GA-2100 uses a carbon-reinforced Carbon Core Guard case and is light for a shock-resistant watch.
- The Garmin Venu 3 is a lightweight smartwatch that tracks tennis and other sports.
- The Seiko 5 Sports line brings a clean automatic movement at an everyday price.
For other athletes and their mechanical pieces, read about Bubba Watson’s Richard Mille tourbillons, Stephen Curry’s Rolex Deepsea and Day-Date and Conor McGregor’s Jacob & Co., Patek and Rolex. Our Richard Mille hub collects the rest, and the titanium versus stainless steel guide explains light case materials.
FAQ
What watch does Rafael Nadal wear?
Nadal wears Richard Mille, most recently the RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon (2024) and, before it, the RM 27-04 (2020) and RM 35-03 (2021). He has worn the brand during matches since about 2010.
How much is Rafael Nadal’s Richard Mille worth?
His RM 27-05 retailed at roughly $1.1 million, and the RM 27-04 at around $1.05 million. The RM 35-03 was much cheaper at about $220,000 when it launched.
Is Rafael Nadal still a Richard Mille ambassador?
Richard Mille still lists him on its Friends and Partners page as of October 2026. The brand has not publicly announced that the partnership ended after his retirement.
Did Rafael Nadal retire?
Yes. He retired after the 2024 Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Spain, in November 2024, after announcing it that October.
Why does Nadal play with a watch on?
Richard Mille designed its Nadal models to be light and shock-resistant enough to wear in matches. The first, the RM 027, weighed under 20 g, and later versions are rated to survive thousands of g.
Sources
- Richard Mille: RM 27-05 Flying Tourbillon Rafael Nadal
- WatchPro: The end of an era, how Richard Mille and Rafael Nadal helped each other
- Gear Patrol: Rafael Nadal Won His 21st Grand Slam Wearing a $1 Million Richard Mille Watch
- The Manual: Rafael Nadal wears new Richard Mille watch at French Open
- WristReview: Richard Mille RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal
- Tennis.com: Richard Mille wins big as Nadal and the former king of Spain shake hands