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US golfer Nelly Korda rises to world #1 while wearing her Richard Mille RM 007 US golfer Nelly Korda rises to world #1 while wearing her Richard Mille RM 007
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US golfer Nelly Korda rises to world #1 while wearing her Richard Mille RM 007

Zach Blass

Richard Mille stands apart from other manufacturers by having ambassadors who actually wear their timepieces while engaging in their sport. The watches are designed to withstand heavy shock, whether on a motor-racing track, tennis court, or golf course. Considering how coveted Richard Mille timepieces are right now, it is nice to have tried and tested examples of the fact there are very few situations where the watch needs to be removed from the firing line of vigorous pursuits. This positioning of high-end luxury and athletic functionality was further reinforced when American golfer Nelly Korda recently won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship while wearing her Richard Mille RM 007.

Nelly Korda
JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA – JUNE 27: Nelly Korda reacts to her birdie putt on the third green during the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club on June 27, 2021 in Johns Creek, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

In the blazing sun of the Atlanta Athletic Club, Korda primed her victory with a 243 yard shot that set her up on the closing par-five with a three-shot cushion. She would then secure her win with a precise 15-foot putt that saw her finish at four under, on 68, three shots ahead of her closest rival Lizette Salas. This, however, was not just any ordinary win for Nelly Korda. Her crucial putt not only led to her winning the tournament, but also brought her the number one ranking on the LPGA tour, making her the first American to take the top spot since Stacy Lewis in 2014.

Nelly Korda
JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA – JUNE 27: Nelly Korda poses with the trophy after putting in to win on the 18th green during the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Atlanta Athletic Club on June 27, 2021 in Johns Creek, Georgia. (Photo by Edward M. Pio Roda/Getty Images)

The win is certainly a major milestone in her career, and she will have a ticking memento of her achievement through the Richard Mille RM 007 that she wore during the course of play. Originally introduced in 2005, the RM 007 was the first “feminine” model to enter the catalogue. The RM 007 Ladies Automatic Korda wore during her win is a grade 5 titanium configuration perfectly suited for the golf course.

Nelly Korda
Image: Timezone

While “ladies” is the catalogue terminology, and the reference was born with the intent of opening the doors of Richard Mille to women (at least further), the dimensions are totally up my alley at 31mm in diameter, 10.95mm thick, and 45mm in length (lug-to-lug). The reference ushered in a new smaller caliber (the RM007) with an exclusive innovation that the brand describes as “a bi-directionally winding, automatic movement with a rotor segment in 18-carat sandblasted gold with a weight comprising more than 100 18-carat gold micro-balls within a transparent, PVD-coated container.”

The role of the gold-micro balls is not merely aesthetic, in fact, it actually has the role of reducing energy bursts during shocks – absorbing excess energy and in turn protecting the 38 hour power reserve movement. The RM 007 supports the idea that femininity is not fragile nor one-dimensional – instead highly faceted and tough in its own way.

While retail pricing is unavailable on the Richard Mille website, an example of a adjacent example to Korda’s RM 007 in black is listed as sold on JOMASHOP with a price tag of $78,538 USD.