The Masters 2018: Bubba Watson Wears The RM 38-01 Tourbillon G-Sensor
Last week, some of the world’s greatest golfers travelled to the Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, to battle it out in the hopes of winning the Masters $11,000,000 purse. Following a tense few days, the dark horse of the competition, American Patrick Reed, finished on top and earned himself the famous green blazer. Although each player’s strong performance impressed loyal fans, the highlight of the tournament for me, was admiring the watches on their wrists.
Golfing legend, Gerry “Bubba” Watson may not have won the tournament, but he certainly scored some points for his style. Watson wore Richard Mille’s RM 38-01 tourbillon g-sensor wristwatch all weekend.
RM-38-01 Tourbillon G-Sensor “Bubba Watson”
For over eighteen years Richard Mille has made some truly remarkable watches specifically designed to withstand the impact of highly demanding sports like tennis, F1 racing and golf. Throughout Richard Mille and Bubba Watson’s seven year long partnership, the duo have released a selection of attractive and well-engineered watches, like the RM 038, RM 055 and RM 38-01.
After being singled out for his powerful drives, Bubba Watson was chosen to test the reliability and robustness of the RM 38-01 tourbillon g-sensor.
Case
The large wristwatch measures 42.70 mm wide and 16.15 mm thick. The case band is made from grade 5 titanium and features a white rubber casing for protection. The watch also features a ceramic green bezel made from TZP, a material that is highly scratch resistant and provides a clean smooth finish. The bezel and case are held together by a number of grade 5 titanium screws and steel scratch-resistant washers, making this piece water-resistant for up to 50 m.
Modern materials like TZP and grade 5 titanium are rarely used in watchmaking but are often used in aerospace and automotive industries because of their anti-corrosive and durable qualities. Richard Mille is the only luxury watch manufacturer in the world that uses these materials, making RM’s some of the most reliable and finest watches in the world.
G-sensor
Probably the most iconic feature of this watch is the patented g-sensor. Located at 12 o’clock, the g-force indicator allows golfers like Bubba Watson to keep track of the force generated by their swings in g’s. The scale can measure up to 20 g’s of acceleration (indicated on the scale by a green streaked hand), and is conveniently reset by a pusher at 9’clock.
Dial
Although the dial does not offer a wealth of information like date, chronograph and power reserve display, the RM 38-01 does feature the unusual g force indicator and a stunning skeletonised dial. The base plate and bridges on display are made out of the same grade 5 titanium material as the case, thus ensuring maximum performance of the internal mechanisms.
Strap
Richard Mille’s main goal has always been ‘to make its watches durable and comfortable’. The RM 38-01 features a white rubber strap with an adjustable titanium clasp, which allows the watch to mould to the wearers wrist and ultimately, be undetectable whilst playing sports.
The incredible watch is limited to 50 pieces worldwide, and Watson’s all white RM 38-01, photographed above, has a price tag similar to that of a French castle…£585,000.
Fancy yourself a RM ‘Bubba Watson’? Click here to view our Richard Mille collection.
Photo credit: Golf Challenge and Richard Mille.