The Big Blue: Test Driving the Richard Mille RM 032 Les Voiles de Saint Barth with Free Diver Arnaud Jerald

Free diving is the sport of diving underwater without the use of breathing apparatus, especially in deep water. In pop culture, it is best remembered for the 1988 film The Big Blue, directed by Luc Besson. This movie is a heavily stylized and fictionalized story of real-life free divers Jacques Mayol and Enzo Maiorca.

Born and raised in Marseille, when Jerald was 7, he started snorkeling with his family. Each time they went, he would dive deeper and deeper, so at 16, his dad enrolled him in a free diving course. “At this point, I had been diagnosed as dyslexic,” Jerald told Watchonista. “I was having a hard time fitting in at school.” Then, when he reached the 30m mark and opened his eyes. “I couldn’t see any light; I couldn’t see fish,” he said. “But I saw myself with my own eyes.”
 

After this revelatory moment and inspired by champions like Mayol, Jerald dedicated himself to free diving. “I woke up every morning and learned more about the depths,” he said.

His goal was not only to break records but also to do it safely, so he trained both physically and mentally, training his body and studying geographical conditions and techniques to stay mentally focused. “At 22, I broke my first world record,” said Jerald. “Now, I have four world records without blackout.”
 

Often adjusting his training and competition regimen to push his limits without going over the brink, Jerald told Watchonista that it’s a crazy protocol which sometimes takes him away from home and family for six months of the year while he familiarizes himself with the location of a competition. However, he told us that, in the end, “I’m happy not to break any more records to avoid a blackout.”

Only 26 years old, Jerald’s determination to have a long and healthy career in free diving aligns perfectly with Richard Mille’s approach to watchmaking. Both are interested in pushing the limits of tradition but in a sustainable way.

The allyship between both parties is one of the purist partnerships in watchmaking. Richard Mille may have superstar ambassadors like Rafael Nadal, Pharrell Williams, and Michelle Yeoh; however, the brand also backs high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim, sprinter Akani Simbine, and heptathlete Nafi Thiam. Some may not have the global name recognition as others, but one thing they all have in common is that they are all considered innovators in their games.
 

While free diving looks like a solitary sport, added Jerald, it requires a large team: “I have doctors. I have technicians that operate a drone live stream to monitor the dive.” Unfortunately, competing can be expensive, but when Jerald was lucky enough to be approached by several potential sponsors, he said that finding a simpatico partner was much more important than the money.

First becoming aware of Richard Mille through its connection to auto racing, Jerald said: “I noticed the race car and the cool watch. But I felt like I didn’t have the credibility to approach them until I made my first two world records.” And by the time that happened, the timing was right in other ways.
 

Like the sport of free diving, Richard Mille is always evolving. And at the 11th edition of the Voiles de Saint Barth, Jerald helped the brand launch its new RM 032 Les Voiles de Saint Barth timepiece, a highly technical creation that can withstand a pressure of 30 atmospheres (300 meters) by following the ISO 6425 standard for diving watches.
 

“Mentally [diving] is different,” Jerald said. When free diving, Jerald likes to focus on the task at hand. “It has all the functions I need. When I am diving, I am disconnected from time. Three minutes is like three days. I’m trying to find focus on happy memories. And after I surface, I need a few hours to process the emotions.”
 

The RM 032 Les Voiles de Saint Barth is limited to 120 pieces and priced at $245,000. For more information, visit the Richard Mille website.

(Images © Richard Mille)