Inspired by the $690,000 USD Richard Mille RM 27-01 Nadal we reviewed here, the Richard Mille RM 50-27-01 is an ultra exclusive USA limited edition truly designed after the legendary watch that Rafael Nadal made famous in a 5-piece limited edition. The RIchard Mille RM 50-27-01 NTPT USA Limited Edition is powered by a movement with a total weight of merely 3.8 grams and that is fully suspended and anchored to the NTPT case by shock absorbers and braided steel cables.
Featuring an ultra light full black NTPT carbon case, this watch is extremely sporty just as all other Richard Mille timepieces out there. The unmistakable looking NTPT carbon that Richard Mille released for the very first time in October of 2013 and that quickly became one of the most utilized materials from this manufacture is a material originally developed for the sails of racing yachts. This ultra light watch with a total weight of 19 grams —without its strap and buckle— is simply one of the most impressive timepieces one can get when breaking the bank is not an issue or when money is no object.
The Dial
Lacking of a dial, the watch features a fully suspended manual wound movement fitted with hour and minute hands and a tourbillon at 6 o'clock. The movement that is made of titanium and Lital —a lithium alloy containing aluminum, copper, magnesium and zirconium— is the only thing that one can admire while looking at the front or back of the watch. The skeletonized baseplate is attached to the case via four braided steel cables and suspended in the interior by pulleys in order to withstand accelerations of over 5,000Gs.
The pulleys act as pylons at the four corners of the movement while the braided steel cables are held by a mechanism of tensioners located at 3 and 9 o'clock. Once the watchmaker has threaded the cables, he tensions them by rotating the central tensioner ring using a special tool.
The Case
Processed on a CNC machine at Richard Mille's Proart case factory, the NTPT case is obtained after heating the carbon layers at 120 degrees Celsius and a pressure of 6 bars. The case with a relatively 'plasticky' feel to the touch is very unique in appearance with a sheen and marbling where no two cases are alike. The black NTPT case measures 45.98 mm x 38.90 mm x 10.05 and is rounded out by two anti-reflective treated curved sapphire crystals on the front and back and by a red vented rubber strap with double folding black PVD titanium clasp. The case features the traditional turbine shaped crown with bright red o-ring.
The Movement
The Richard Mille RM 50-27-01 NTPT USA Limited Edition is powered by the manual wound Richard Mille calibre RM 27-01 fitted with tourbillon and hours and minutes. This 19-jewel movement made of titanium and Lital —a lithium alloy containing aluminum, copper, magnesium and zirconium— with a total weight of 3.8 grams and only 5.04 mm thick is the lightest mechanical movement ever made. When fully wound, it provides a power reserve of 45 hours while beating at a frequency of 21,600 vph —3 Hz. Fully visible via the front and the display case back, this movement is simply gorgeous and one of the most impressive movements out there.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the Richard Mille RM 50-27-01 NTPT USA Limited Edition wears true to its size and as light as a feather. This is one of those watches where one can hardly tell that there is indeed a watch sitting on the wrist, when you put it on. Available in a limited edition of only 5 pieces this watch is as costly as a house and one of those timepieces where is hard to comprehend that such a light timepiece made of a non-precious metal material can be worth so much money. A watch designed with billionaires in mind and made for those that can have it all. Exclusively sold at Richard Mille boutiques in the U.S.
Sticker Price $800,000 USD. For more info on Richard Mille click here.
