RM 35 Rafa - Steel Tonneau Automatic, 42x55mm, 5 ATM, 99g, Rose Black, Silver, White, Black
The Daniel Gorman RM 35 Rafa is the 316L stainless steel tonneau automatic in the Rafa series - 42x55mm, 15mm profile, Japanese self-winding movement, Hardlex crystal, 5 ATM / 50M, silicone strap at 99g. The Rafa series embodies a sport-first tonneau brief: bold geometry, robust water resistance, and a numberless dial designed as a visual composition rather than an instrument. Four dial/case colour variants: Rose Black, Silver, White, Black.
RM 35 Rafa automatic watchDaniel Gorman RM35 Rafa tonneau steel42mm tonneau automatic sport watchRM 35 Rafa rose black silver blackSteel tonneau Japanese automatic 5ATM
Specifications
Japanese automatic self-wind. 316L stainless steel tonneau. 42x55mm, 15mm, 5 ATM / 50M, 99g.
42 x 55mm
15mm Profile
Japanese Automatic
Hardlex Crystal
5 ATM / 50M
316L Steel Case
Silicone Strap
Buckle Clasp
99g Weight
4 Colour Options
Rose Black
The Rose Black variant creates a distinctive two-tone presentation: rose-accented case treatment combined with a black dial. The warm rose tones against the dark dial is one of the more unexpected combinations in the RM Rafa range - more formal than straight Black, more energetic than Silver. Rose Black suits wearers who want both warmth and intensity in the same watch, and who are comfortable wearing a colour combination that requires the right wardrobe to support it.
Silver, White, Black
Silver: steel case in natural brushed/polished finish with a silver dial - the most versatile and conventional presentation in the Rafa range. Works across the widest wardrobe range. White: silver case with a white or light dial - highest contrast between case metal and dial, clean and graphically intentional. Black: dark case and dial - the most assertive and monochromatic variant, maximally intense without colour inflection. Each is a specific statement; Black is the most familiar tonneau aesthetic.
5 ATM Robustness
5 ATM / 50M is the higher water resistance tier in the Daniel Gorman RM range compared to the RM Space Edition's 3 ATM / 30M. At 5 ATM the RM 35 Rafa is suitable for swimming, surface water sport, and active daily wear in all weather conditions. The silicone strap handles water exposure without maintenance requirements. For a sport-oriented tonneau automatic this is the appropriate daily wear specification.
Rafa Series Identity
The Rafa series in the Daniel Gorman RM collection references high-performance sport through its design vocabulary: tonneau geometry associated with independent avant-garde watchmaking; numberless dial presenting the face as design rather than instrument; silicone strap for active daily use; bold 42x55mm proportions that do not concede to conventional wrist-fit norms. The Rafa is the sport expression of this vocabulary in its standard steel form.
The Daily Sport Tonneau
Among the Daniel Gorman RM series available at Wclocks, the RM 35 Rafa occupies the daily active sport position: 5 ATM water resistance, Japanese automatic self-wind, silicone strap, and four colour variants that cover the practical range from neutral Silver to bold Rose Black. It does not have the carbon fiber surface treatment of the Rafa Carbon Fiber variant, nor the space-themed dial of the Space Edition. It is the clean, steel-first expression of the tonneau format in four wearable daily colour options. The 99g weight is slightly heavier than the RM 55 Tonneau's 94g and the Space Edition's 94g, creating a marginally different wrist feel at the same dimensions. The 42x55mm tonneau geometry is common to all models in the RM series, and the Rafa shares the silicone strap, buckle clasp, and 15mm profile with its siblings. Where the Rafa distinguishes itself is in the four-colour offering that provides the most colour variety in the RM steel lineup - and Rose Black in particular stands out as a colour combination found nowhere else in the Daniel Gorman RM range.
Available in Rose Black, Silver, White, Black. Backed by Wclocks 1-year warranty.
Wear It For
The steel Rafa tonneau suits active daily wear, sport, and bold casual occasions across four colour options.
Active and Sport Daily
5 ATM, silicone strap, automatic - the RM 35 Rafa handles all active daily environments. Black and Silver are the most adaptable across sport contexts; Rose Black adds warmth; White adds graphic contrast. All four on the same 25mm silicone strap with buckle clasp.
Rose Black Statement
Rose Black is the most unique colour expression in the RM Rafa steel range - the warm-rose case against the dark dial creates a combination that reads differently from all angles and in all light. For the wearer who wants a tonneau that is both bold and warm-toned, Rose Black is the distinctive choice.
Casual Smart Bold
42x55mm on silicone is smart casual appropriate. The numberless dial and tonneau geometry mean the watch carries conversation across casual, smart casual, and sport contexts where a conventional dial would go unremarked.
Sport Performance Context
Like the Rafa Carbon Fiber, the steel Rafa suits contexts adjacent to performance sport - at 5 ATM it handles active environments; the design vocabulary references performance; the silicone strap is practical for movement. All four colour variants work in sport contexts.
Explore More at Wclocks
Browse the full RM series and Daniel Gorman collection at Wclocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the RM 35 Rafa differ from the RM 55 Tonneau?
Both are 42x55mm 316L stainless steel tonneau automatics with Japanese movement, Hardlex crystal, 5 ATM / 50M, silicone strap, and buckle clasp. The RM 35 Rafa weighs 99g; the RM 55 Tonneau weighs 94g. The RM 35 Rafa offers Rose Black, Silver, White, Black variants. The RM 55 Tonneau offers Black, Silver Black, Blue, White, Rose Black. Both are available at Wclocks if you want to compare colour range and weight directly.
What makes Rose Black different?
Rose Black is a two-tone treatment: rose-accented case or case elements combined with a dark or black dial. The warm-tone case against the dark dial creates a contrast that reads differently from standard steel-and-black combinations, and the rose inflection is warmer and more distinctive than silver or neutral tones. It is not found in the RM 55 Tonneau's colour range or the RM Space Edition - it is specific to the Rafa series steel range.
What is the water resistance?
5 ATM / 50M - suitable for swimming, surface water sport, and all active daily wear conditions. Higher than the RM Space Edition (3 ATM / 30M). Appropriate for a sport-oriented tonneau automatic intended for active daily wear.
Is this related to Richard Mille or Rafael Nadal?
No. This is a Daniel Gorman designed watch. The RM and Rafa naming are style references only. This watch is not made by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Richard Mille or Rafael Nadal in any way.
How does the automatic movement work?
Japanese automatic self-winding via a bidirectional rotor. Normal wrist movement keeps the mainspring wound. If left unworn the watch stops and requires crown winding or active wearing to restart. No battery is needed.
Is the Rafa or the Rafa Carbon Fiber the right choice?
If you want carbon fiber surface treatment on the case and do not mind having only two colour options (Black Carbon Fiber or White Carbon Fiber), the RM 35 Rafa Carbon Fiber is the material-focused choice. If you want more colour options including Rose Black or Silver, or prefer a clean all-steel presentation, the standard RM 35 Rafa is the choice. Both have the same 42x55mm dimensions, Japanese automatic, 5 ATM / 50M rating, and 99g weight.
What is the dial type?
Numberless - no hour indices or numerals on the dial. Time reads via hand position against the designed dial surface. The absence of conventional hour markers is a style statement typical of large-case avant-garde sport watches; it prioritises visual composition over conventional time-display legibility.
Steel Rafa. Tonneau. 5 ATM. Four Colours.
RM 35 Rafa - 42x55mm, 15mm, Japanese automatic, Hardlex, 316L stainless steel, silicone strap, 5 ATM / 50M, 99g, 1-year Wclocks warranty. Rose Black, Silver, White, Black.