Richard Mille RM 011 Last Edition Watch

Big Blue: Test Drive Richard Mille RM 032 Les Voiles de Saint Barth with Freediver Arnaud Jerald

Richard Mille celebrates the return of the famous regatta with a bold limited-edition watch.

The Les Voiles de Saint Barth Richard Mille Regatta is one of the most exciting sailing races in the world. The six-day event, held in St. Barts, one of the most exclusive island paradises in the world, saw 700 sailors from 71 teams compete for a spot on the podium (along with a titanium RM 028 dive watch).

But the 2022 event brought an extra surprise: World Freediving Champion Arnaud Jerald was on hand to unveil the Richard Mille limited edition RM 032 Les Voiles de Saint Barth.

That's why Watchonista traveled to St Barts to talk to Gerald about his sport, its parallels to yacht racing, and the importance of time when diving into the sea.

rolling in The Deep Freediving is underwater diving without the use of breathing apparatus, especially in deep water. In pop culture, the most memorable is the 1988 film The Big Blue, directed by Luc Besson. The film is a highly stylized and fictional story of real-life freedivers Jacques Mayor and Enzo Majorca.

Born and raised in Marseille, Jerald started snorkeling with his family at the age of seven. He dived deeper and deeper each time he went, so at the age of 16, his father put him in a freediving course. "At this point, I was diagnosed with dyslexia," Gerald told Watchonista. "I had a hard time adjusting in school." Then, when he reached the 30m mark and opened his eyes. "I can't see any light; I can't see fish," he said. "But I saw myself with my own eyes."

Richard Mille RM 032 Les Voiles de Saint Barth 2022,Replica AUDEMARS PIGUET CODE 11.59,luxury replica watches

After this revealing moment, inspired by champions like Mayor, Gerald threw himself into freediving. "I wake up every morning and learn more about the deep ocean," he said.

His goal was not only to break records, but to do it safely, so he trained physically and mentally, training his body and studying geography and techniques to stay mentally focused. "At 22, I broke my first world record," Gerald said. "Right now, I have four world records for not having a blackout."

Gerald often adjusts his training and game regimen to push his limits without pushing them, which he told Watchonista is a crazy deal, sometimes while he's familiar with the venues of the year. Six months kept him away from home and family. In the end, however, he told us, "I'm just happy not to break any more records to avoid a blackout."

Breaking the waves At just 26 years old, Jerald is determined to have a long and healthy career in freediving, which fits perfectly with Richard Mille's approach to watchmaking. Both are interested in pushing the limits of tradition in a sustainable way.

The alliance between the two parties is one of pure partnership in watchmaking. Richard Miller may have superstar ambassadors like Rafael Nadal, Pharrell Williams, and Michelle Yeoh; however, the brand also supports high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim, sprinter Akani Simbine and seven All-around athlete Nafi Thiam. Some may not enjoy the same global popularity as others, but they all have one thing in common, and that is that they are all considered innovators in the game.

MB&F LEGACY MACHINE PERPETUAL EVO, Jacob & Co. ASTRONOMIA SKY ,cheap watches for sale

Jerald adds that while freediving may seem like a separate sport, it requires a large team: "I have doctors. I have technicians who operate live drones to monitor dives." Unfortunately, competition may It will be expensive, but when Gerald has had the pleasure of reaching out to several potential sponsors, he says finding a simpatico partner is more important than money.

Gerald, who first learned about Richard Mille through his association with racing, said: "I noticed racing cars and cool watches. But it wasn't until I set my first two world records that I didn't feel like I was getting close to them. credibility.” By the time that happened, the timing was otherwise right.

Like the sport of freediving, Richard Mille is always improving. At the 11th Voiles de Saint Barth, Jerald helped the brand launch the new RM 032 Les Voiles de Saint Barth timepiece, a high-tech ISO 6425 compliant 30 atmospheres (300 meters) pressure Works for diving watches.

tranquility now Currently, Jerald holds the double-finned record in 2021 with an incredible 117m (for background, when Mayol attempted to reach 100m in the 1980s, doctors warned him he would implode). This season, however, Gerrard's goal is not to set another world record, but to focus on the artistry of the sport.

Aesthetically, this watch features a unique combination of Caribbean blue and white quartz TPT. The constant quest for optimum water resistance and durability has fully integrated these elements into the grade 5 titanium case mid-layer. In contrast, the lugs, inserts and caseback made of carbon TPT are combined with grade 5 titanium pushers to operate the chronograph and lock the rotating bezel. Finally, the back of the complex is stamped with the seal of Les Voiles de Saint Barth Richard Mille.

Although he did not do any deep-sea diving during his time at Voiles de Saint Barth, Jerald did take the RM 032 on many adventures. From swimming in the sea to sailing to dancing after dinner, the watch was on his wrist all week. But with the RM 032 having a diameter of 50mm and a height of nearly 18mm, the diver was not cautious. So we had to ask him how it felt, and he replied, "It doesn't feel like anything," and its titanium construction doesn't feel heavy on the wrist.

"Mental [diving] is different," Gerald said. When freediving, Gerald likes to focus on the task at hand. "It has all the features I need. When I dive, I'm out of touch with time. Three minutes is like three days. I try to focus on happy memories. After I surface, I need hours to deal with those emotions."

Emotionally, Gerald also has a strong connection to the watch on land. After surfacing from a dive, he focused on the present, creating new memories. "I can't wake up in a wetsuit, but I can hold a watch in my hand. It becomes part of your life story. If you can pass those memories on to an object, you can also pass that story on from generation to generation."