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Richard Mille RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson
Richard Mille RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson
RM 38-02 Tourbillon
Bubba Watson
News
The pink watch!
La Cote des Montres - May 14th, 2022
- 3rd tourbillon calibre developed with Bubba
- Inspired by the pink colour from Bubba’s universe, his “lucky charm” color
- Limited edition of 50 pieces
“I have been pushing Richard for a pink watch for ten years and here it is!” said Bubba Watson on seeing the RM 38-02 Tourbillon for the first time.
Pink it is. There is no question about that but that the new RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson fits the brief. Inside and out, the watch and even the case are made of a unique pink Quartz TPT®, white Quartz TPT® and Carbon TPT®, to match Bubba’s unique personality. The association of different colours and materials without merging them was a real technical challenge.
However, this model embodies a wish close to Bubba’s heart from the first day of the partnership. A wish now fulfilled by this asymmetrical case, tapering between 2 and 5 o’clock and cancelling out any friction with the torque-limiting crown on the wrist. The open-work bezel provides visual power and accentuates the sportiness of this timepiece, while the Carbon TPT® and pink Quartz TPT® caseband provides that fantastic contrast of genres that ultimately defines the identity of this colourful timepiece.
The RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson is the fourth watch of the collection bearing Bubba’s name over the sportsman’s 10 years with the Richard Mille family. Produced in a numbered limited edition of 50 pieces, it is pretty much the watchmaking equivalent of a hole in one.
Through the roof pink!
“Richard has made some amazing watches for me over the last ten years, but the one thing I kept bugging him for was... PINK—and he sure listened! There are so many things going on with it. The curve, like the slope on a golf course. The holes. The V with the two bars. I’m just in awe of the sheer mechanics, the artistry of the casing.” And when we told him about the extreme lightness—all-important when you have a swing of 120 miles per hour—Bubba concluded: “‘I’d say that’s pretty much an engineering marvel!”
Tickled pink!
Bubba Watson on his 11 years with the Richard Mille family
My obsession with pink started when I was a child. Payne Stewart was my favourite golfer. He stood out from the crowd, not only because of the way he played, but because of what he wore (his elegant and retro style of clothes). When I was turning pro, I wanted to stand out too, so I decided to do something no one had done before: I put a pink shaft on my club. It was basically just to be funny.
Ever since, pink has been my thing! It’s on my clubs, my golf balls, my signature driver, my clothing. Anyone who’s seen me knows it links to my charity work. For me, pink is for helping, for giving back. When I became a family man, I saw charity was so important, and suddenly the link became obvious. I went to Ping, my club manufacturer, and started up my charity to give money to the Children’s Hospital in Phoenix Arizona, Ping’s home, and a project they’ve been supporting for years. They came up with this pink driver. They put it up for sale for charity and the whole run of 5,000 drivers sold fast. So, we did the same the year after in my town, Pensacola, Florida. We raised north of five million dollars. Something that started with a childhood dream of standing out has come full circle.
02. When did the brand first get in touch?
It was at the San Diego tournament in 2010. We get a call from Richard Mille with my manager asking if I would like to wear a watch while competing. So I said: “Sure—I’ll wear a watch!” Once I saw what they produced, I wanted to be with them. When they first introduced me to a Mille watch—the RM 011— there was this “wow moment”, like I’d just been handed a masterpiece. It was the first time I ever saw or touched a Richard Mille. They said: “Your watch will be made soon” and I said: “Wait! For my watch, can I have pink on it?”. And they say “no”. But 11 years later finally, they agreed! And when I got pink, it was big-time!
Wrong! My first image was him sitting at a Jersey City clubhouse watching me play. The same thing happened at our next meeting. He never came out to the golf course and I didn’t think he was “getting” golf! BUT, when we met up at the hotel, we sat, we shot the breeze and there was just this amazing meeting of minds. He certainly ‘got’ me! We totally understood each other...
I had in mind that he was a CEO, so I was expecting a guy with a tie and a suit, something consistent with my idea of the business chops it takes to create this huge brand. In my mind’s eye, I imagined him as towering over everyone! But when I saw him, I was amazed that he’s just this normal guy (he was wearing a tee-shirt, jeans and sneakers). In a way, though, his humanity is precisely what makes him so unusual.
I’ve spent my life trying to “go above and beyond”. Richard is the same. It’s not about being aggressive or even showing off. It’s about trying to create stuff, trying to go to the moon, venturing into your own private deep space! That’s what I love so much about the company. That’s the beauty of the whole brand. They just keep finding limits for the thrill of challenging them, continuously breaking records—and that’s awesome to see..
I think it’s about the people we are. We’re both men who are spurred on by being told we can’t do stuff. I’m self-taught. No one thought I could win a Master’s. Same with Richard. They told him there was no way he could build a watch to withstand the vibrations of a race car, the g-force of a tennis racket, or with me my 125.78 mph swing (that’s my record). For both of us, it’s all about things that shouldn’t really happen. I understood what drove him, the passion for everything he does. That’s why we “resonated”—because we make things happen despite what everyone says.
To be honest, I spent the first few years secretly wondering why on earth they picked me! Why would this visionary want to have Bubba Watson as a partner? To this day I still don’t know 100% why. Once I started meeting the whole Richard Mille family and team, however, getting a feel for what their passions are, I started to realise that maybe I do fit the mould, their mould. I’m just happy to be on board for this adventure. There’s also the fact that we really get along like crazy! In 10 years, we’ve had no arguments at all –except, of course, my bugging him for a pink watch for all that time!
A memory comes to my mind. Richard and I were at a gala event in Japan, the only guys not wearing formal suits. He suddenly turned to me and asked what I wanted to do. As it happened, I was craving a cheeseburger and fries. So I told him so, as a joke, of course. But guess what happened? Half an hour later he’d found it! Suddenly in the middle of Tokyo we were eating the best beef patty and French fries.
I wanted to know where these amazing timepieces were made. I couldn’t figure out why watches have to be made in the mountains! Maybe it’s the freezing cold weather! We flew to Switzerland and all of a sudden, there were manufacturers everywhere! When we arrived at Les Breuleux—I couldn’t believe my eyes. Making sure these masterpieces are preserved the right way, there can be no dust or particles in the air. You have to put on special suits and headgear. There are airlock doors to block any circulation of dust. The security system regulates air flows and pressure—it was mind-blowing! Watchmaking is artistry. The brand relies on some of the best ‘architects’ in the world. Over the last ten years, they’ve impressed me time after time. If I didn’t play golf, I’d want a job at the Richard Mille manufacture. It’s fun to be part of a process because you can see their minds twisting—making something totally unexpected!
Absolutely, including someone I consider one of the greatest sportsmen of all time—Rafa Nadal! He was in New York City getting acclimated for the US Open. Thanks to Richard Mille, he came to the golf course in New Jersey— on his day off—to meet me and play golf together. I felt a bit like a kid in a candy store. True, we were on my home turf, a golf course, but still, there he was, the guy you see on TV, larger than life, playing my game! There were a billion questions I wanted to ask him. And I wanted him to enjoy the day.
That’s the “Baby Bubba” as I call it. I see the beauty. It’s so easy to see right through to your wrist. The mechanics are tight and are designed to give you a glimpse of what’s through the sapphire glass. Some people like the white, others the black. It makes me feel privileged and honoured that the company would want to take this incredible chance on me. To have my name on a watch produced at such a high level and then to have it be one that so many people love—that’s a trophy in itself. It’s another Major on my mantlepiece!
Bubba Watson
in 18 quotes
I come from a small town, Pensacola, Florida, in the USA. I’m a self-taught player with no golf lessons, and yet somehow, I’ve managed to win two Masters. All down the line, throughout my life I have met people who have believed in me. Richard Mille trusted me to be part of his team. It’s been a dream to see all this grow.
Some golfers toil away. They have armies of analysts who come and analyse their swing, calculate the angles, measure the forces, size up their speed. I basically just get a kick out of whacking the ball, doing what I do, seeing what happens.
Richard and I both jump from place to place real fast. We could be talking about cars, then we’re talking about watches, then tennis—we’re all over the map! However, we keep a basic train of thought. With Richard you always jump, but that’s what you need to do to create.
I need to give back. If people watch me play, they’re going to get a particular and specific idea of who they think Bubba Watson is. However, when you really get to know me, you’ll see that I’m fun and loving. I’m really passionate about giving back. That’s why I do so much charity work for the Children’s Hospital in Pensacola. Richard Mille has also supported some of the charity work I do. And this part of what I do ultimately matters way more than trophies.
Life, my life anyway, is all about doing things other people say can’t be done. People told me I couldn’t ever make it to the PGA Tour. It’s about proving them wrong! Richard and his team have proven time after time that they can do things people told them were impossible. He breaks all the rules. If you are passionate and work hard, you can. I think of it as a great life lesson.
Sport is all about not letting other people define you, who you are, what you can achieve. I really felt that when I watched the Olympics and Paralympics. All those athletes, especially if they have disabilities— there they are, outrunning, outperforming, winning medals, doing things I couldn’t do—proving others wrong and defining themselves!
Once after winning the Masters, someone asked if it represented everything I’d ever dreamt of. I said—“I never got this far in my dreams. So it’s not really a dream come true—it’s beyond! And even better!”
I do a lot of fun videos Why? Because it is all about creating a personal character. We’re all on social media. All over the world, I have been a part of a new feeling of giving back. Doing these funny videos and having fun is what life is all about. I put sparkle effects on all my videos. The important thing is making light of the tough aspects of life. For instance, I did the PGA Tour Boy band “The Golf Boys.” We made an off-beat video, so lots of people clicked on it. Let me tell you, that video translated into huge donations to charity!
Adopting two kids represents real challenges. It’s very different from anything I’d experienced before in my life! I don’t want my children to play golf because of their Dad. I want them to play golf because they want to and so far we’ve really enjoyed that time all together.
We all live in a tough world. It starts at school where people are being judged all the time. Afterwards some of us have to live up to being called a celebrity or an athlete. Life is a journey, a bit like a golf course, hitting off with different irons and clubs to navigate our way round the obstacles. If you do it your way, maybe—ever so rarely—you end up with a hole in one!
The one thing I’ve really learnt these last years is how much family truly means, and not just to me. It should mean the world to everybody. No matter how tough you think you are, you need love in your life, somebody to care about you. When I say “family” I mean not only my immediate family, but all the people I work with, like Teddy, my caddy—he’s been by my side for 15 years. When I think about my partnership with Richard Mille, the support is so important and means so much, and I totally get why they call it their ‘family’.
Even if you’re a champion and have won prizes and stuff, you’ll have days when you have doubts, so we all really need somebody rooting for us. At the end of the day golf means absolutely nothing if you can’t share it with someone. It’s taken me 43 years to learn that!
I define myself (in this order), “Christian, husband, daddy, pro golfer and underwear model”. I’m not necessarily very good at all those things (except maybe golf!) but I try to be all those things at the same time. I guess that’s what you’d call ‘me’. Trying to be the best I can.
Look at the US swimmers at the Olympics. It’s so great they spontaneously hugged each other, whether they got Gold, Silver or Bronze. They even hugged the competition from other countries! The same with the track and field events. We miss that in golf. We are against everybody. We don’t really show love towards one another, but I think in sports we need to do that. If you beat me today that’s fine. Tomorrow I’m going to do my very best to beat you. But at the end of the day, we are all doing the same thing, our thing—together. I think that’s what these athletes were showing more than ever at this time.
Sports are needed all around the world, today more than ever, because they are a real source of inspiration. They help us all hope and dream; and they’re something to come together. We might not have the same views on life but when it comes to our own team, we sure as hell need to get out there, applaud and cheer and make our support as loud as we can!
One of the crazy things I would love to do is be in the middle of the Tour de France! I heard that you can climb aboard one of the vans that follows the cyclists during the actual race. What a great way to experience a unique event! It’s the only way you really get to feel what they are seeing and feeling, to get the taste, the thrill, of what it feels like for them to compete on the road! One day they’ll figure out a way to go round with F1 drivers—maybe virtually—I’m up for that too! And if they do it for golf, you’re welcome to come round the course with me too!
I’ve recently started to breathe! I didn’t realise that despite doing this my entire life, I wasn’t necessarily that good at it. I took a breathing coach and it’s beautiful what you can do in terms of taking back control of your thoughts and even your heart rate. So, my advice to everyone would be— to start breathing!
One thing I’ve learnt gradually over the years is how to deal with hitting a bad shot. It’s a real-life lesson. Obviously, I tend to get upset about it and beat up on myself. But I’ve come to realise the problem is sometimes I simply try too hard. Golf means so much to me and has brought my family so many things. The upshot of this is I sometimes just tense up. You have to take that pressure away and remind yourself why you love hitting the ball. Then you get back to swinging freely.
The pink watch
RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson
The RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson is the fourth watch of the collection bearing Bubba’s name over the sportsman’s 10 years with the Richard Mille family. Produced in an edition limited to 50 pieces, it’s pretty much the watchmaking equivalent of a hole in one.
Anatomy
RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson
Pink is a colour that has fascinated Bubba since his childhood. Initially, it expressed his youthful desire to stand out from the crowd. Since then it has become his trademark, adorning his clubs, his golf balls, his signature driver and his clothes. Bubba also uses his iconic shade of pink to realise other dreams, increasing the visibility of causes he supports through his charitable commitments.
The caseband of the RM 38-02 holding in place the Carbon TPT® baseplate is made of the same material, here combined with pink Quartz TPT® fibres. It was no small technical challenge to combine the different colours and materials so subtly. To complete this piece, the notches on the caseband visually extend the openings on the bezel.
Threads of silica no more than 45 microns in thickness are saturated with a pink matrix developed specifically for Richard Mille. They are then stacked by an automated depositing system that modifies the orientation of the fibres by 45° between white and pink layers of silica. The asymmetrical shape of the case ensures optimum comfort, preventing the dynamometric crown from rubbing against the wrist.
Machining the openwork of this skeletonised plate is an engineering tour de force. A major component of the RM 38-02 this part was subjected to a battery of extreme tests to confirm its mechanical properties such as resistance to shocks of up to 10,000 g’s for the tourbillon calibre.
The baseplate supports PVD-treated, grade 5 titanium bridges providing the movement with powerful dynamics. The minute bridge incorporates two rods that run through the movement on either side. Also made of grade 5 titanium and painted by hand, their lines visually accentuate the sense of power emanating from the calibre, as does the monumental micro-perforated bridge which recalls the motif adorning the head of Bubba’s driver.
Richard Mille
RM 38-02 Tourbillon
Bubba Watson
Technical specifications
Calibre RM38-02: Manual winding tourbillon movement with hours and minutes.
Case dimensions: 43.70 x 50.04 x 15.95 mm
Main features
Power reserve: Circa 70 hours (±10%)
Baseplate in Carbon TPT®
The baseplate is machined from Carbon TPT®. This material consists of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by separating carbon threads. With a maximum thickness of 30 microns, the Carbon TPT® layers are saturated with resin then piled onto a special machine that modifies the orientation of the fibres between each layer by 45°. Once heated to 120°C and subjected to a pressure of 6 bars, the Carbon TPT® is machined at Richard Mille’s parts factory. Carbon TPT® is renowned for its excellent resistance to microcracks and splits.
The skeletonised Carbon TPT® baseplate is a significant feat of machining. A master component of the RM 38-02, it was subjected to a full battery of extreme tests prior to approval in order to optimise its mechanical properties.
Bridges made of grade 5 titanium
The bridges are in PVD-treated grade 5 titanium, a biocompatible, highly corrosion-resistant and remarkably rigid alloy which enables the gear train to function effortlessly. The alloy is 90% titanium, 6% aluminium and 4% vanadium. This combination further increases the material’s mechanical properties, which explains its frequent use in the aerospace, aeronautics and automobile industries. Like the baseplate, the bridges were subjected to intensive and comprehensive testing in order to optimise their resistance properties.
Free-sprung balance with variable inertia
This mechanism guarantees greater reliability when subjected to shock and also during movement assembly or disassembly, hence better chronometric results over time. The regulator index is eliminated and a more accurate and repeatable calibration is possible thanks to 4 small, adjustable screws located directly on the balance.
Fast-rotating barrel (6 hours per revolution instead of 7.5 hours)
This type of barrel provides the following advantages:
- The phenomenon of periodic internal mainspring adhesion is significantly diminished, thereby increasing performance.
- Provision of an excellent mainspring delta curve with an ideal power reserve/performance and regularity ratio.
This device permits a profitable winding gain (circa 20%), especially during the start of winding. It is also helpful for ensuring even distribution of the mainspring’s internal tension.
Winding-barrel teeth and third-wheel pinion with central involute profile
The central involute profile of the winding-barrel teeth and pinion provides an optimal pressure angle of 20°. This promotes effective rotary motion and compensates for possible variations in the engagement of the going train, thus ensuring excellent torque transmission with a distinct improvement in performance.
Spline screws in grade 5 titanium for the bridges and case
This permits better control of the torque applied to screws during assembly. These screws are therefore unaffected by physical manipulation during assembly or disassembly and age well.
Other features
- Movement dimensions: 29.52 x 30.84 mm
- Thickness: 9.19 mm
- Tourbillon diameter: 10.90 mm
- Balance diameter: 9.12 mm
- Jewels: 21
- Balance: Glucydur®, arms and 4 setting screws, moment of inertia 11.50 mg•cm², angle of lift 53°
- Frequency: 21,600 vph (3 Hz)
- Balance spring: elinvar by Nivarox®
- Shock protection: KIF Elastor KE 160 B28
- Barrel shaft: nickel-free Chronifer® (DIN x 46 Cr 13 + S) with the following characteristics: stainless - antimagnetic - suitable for tempering
The design and execution of the watch demonstrate a comprehensive conceptual approach to the movement, case and dial. As a result, everything has been constructed according to extremely rigorous specifications.
The bezel and caseback are made from pink and white Quartz TPT®, while the caseband combines Carbon TPT® and pink Quartz TPT® layers.
Carbon TPT® and Quartz TPT® are exclusive material to the brand in watchmaking with a unique appearance. Their remarkable surface displays extremely regular yet totally unique striations, as they are composed of multiple layers of parallel filaments obtained by dividing carbon fibres or silica threads.
In the case of Quartz TPT®, the silica layers, no thicker than 45 microns, are saturated in a pink matrix developed specially for Richard Mille and woven on a dedicated machine that modifies the direction of the weft by 45° between pink tinted and white silica layers, or between pink-tinted silica and Carbon TPT® layers.
The tripartite drawn-out case shape prevents the torque limiting crown from rubbing against the wearer’s wrist.
The case is water resistant to 50 metres, ensured by two Nitrile O-ring seals and assembled using 20 grade 5 titanium spline screws and abrasion-resistant washers in 316L stainless steel.
Torque-limiting crown
This security system prevents accidental overwinding of the watch, which can cause damage to the winding stem or place extreme pressure on the barrel spring.
Interior flanges
In grade 5 titanium and hand painted.
Crystal
- Bezel side: In sapphire (1,800 Vickers) with anti-glare coating (both sides).
Thickness: 1.50 mm - Caseback: In sapphire with anti-glare coating (both sides).
Thickness: 1.20 mm at the centre; outer edges 1.95 mm
Finishings
- Bridges in micro-blasted grade 5 titanium
- Anglage and polishing by hand
- Sapphire-blasted milled sections
- Straight-line grain finish of the upper surfaces
- Polished sinks
- Sapphire-blasted surfaces
- Satin-finished surfaces
- Anglage and polishing by hand
- Straight-line grain finish of the upper surfaces
- Polished sinks
- Concave chamfering with a diamond tool
- Circular-smoothed faces
- Rhodium plating (before cutting the teeth)
- Minimal corrections applied to the wheels in order to preserve geometry and performance.
