Richard Mille has unveiled the new RM 35-03 Automatic Rafa Nadal, the fourth time piece in its latest collection.
The standout feature, its butterfly rotor, took three years of development. The movement system, fittingly dubbed “The Butterfly Effect” allows the wearer to directly interact with the rotor’s geometry, controlling the movement’s winding speed based on lifestyle and activity levels, for a complication that is playful and practical in equal measure.

The latest is fully worth of its place in the distinguished ‘baby Nada’ collection. While the Calibre RMAL1 of the RM 35-02 already possessed a variable geometry rotor—a signature component of Richard Mille automatic movements—the new butterfly rotor of the RM 35-03 allows the wearer to directly interact with the rotor’s geometry, controlling the movement’s winding speed based on lifestyle and activity levels, for a complication that is playful and practical in equal measure.

“In our respective domains, we both seek to achieve excellence. We speak the same language, Richard and I. We’re both passionate about our work. Keeping alive this flame of passion for what we do each day is essential to me. Even though I don’t wear the RM 035 models in competition, it is heart-warming to feel the confidence that he and the teams show in allowing me to participate in this singular adventure,” shares Rafa Nadal.

‘Previously, any modification of the rotor’s geometry needed to be done by one of our licensed watchmakers. We wanted to perfect this system and give wearers the possibility of directly acting on the watch’s winding speed,’ explains Salvador Arbona, Technical Director for Movements.‘It’s like a driver being able to adjust the transmission style from city use to racetrack by activating the sports mode.’
The RM 35-03 is available in two versions—blue Quartz TPT with a white Quartz TPT caseband and white Quartz TPT and Carbon TPT with a Carbon TPT® caseband.
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