When it comes to bold style, high-tech materials, and sky-high prices, few watch brands can compete with Richard Mille. Since it started in 2001, the brand has become a favorite among the rich and famous, especially stars who love showing off more than just a regular Swiss watch.
But what makes Richard Mille so popular in sports, fashion, and entertainment—and which celebrities actually wear them?
Richard Mille watches are known for their strength, unique design, and luxury feel. That's why so many celebrities and athletes wear them—they like using what they wear to stand out and make a statement.
Let's take a look at the stars who wear Richard Mille watches and what their choices tell us about why this brand is so special.
Why Celebrities and Athletes Love Richard Mille Watches
Unlike old luxury brands like Patek Philippe or Rolex, Richard Mille focuses on both style and high performance. Their watches are made with aerospace-grade materials, such as titanium, Carbon TPT, and LITAL alloy that highlight strong engineering and aesthetic qualities.
These technological advances, combined with striking designs and prices that often exceed $100,000, have made Richard Mille a popular choice among high-profile collectors who like to stand out rather than fit in.
Technology as Art
Richard Mille creates more than just timepieces; it also creates cutting-edge timekeeping devices. The brand utilizes innovative materials commonly used in aviation, automotive racing, and medical equipment.Carbon fiber, ceramics, titanium, aluminum-lithium alloys, and a unique material known as TPT (Thin Ply Technology) are among them.
Together, these components make the timepieces extremely sturdy, lightweight, and resistant enough to withstand extreme conditions.
Built to Last and Made to Work
Richard Mille watches are designed to withstand immense pressure and movement, even thousands of times stronger than gravity. That explains why so many athletes wear them. Rafael Nadal wears an RM 027 watch that weighs less than 20 grams during every game.
Many top athletes, like soccer player Kylian Mbappé and racing car driver Fernando Alonso, count on Richard Mille watches since they stay solid and precise no matter how stressful the situation.
Exclusivity and Recognizability
The brand produces just about 5,000 timepieces per year, which makes each piece extremely unique. Their distinctive design, open dial, and massive exposed screws make them stand out. You can spot one straight away.
Wearing this watch casually shows you're a part of an exclusive group and that you've made it.
Investment Appeal
Richard Mille watches hold their value better than almost any other brand. Some rare models even go up in price over time and become collector's items.
Owning a Richard Mille is more than just an accessory; it's a capital investment.
Marketing and Collaborations
The brand frequently collaborates with global icons in sports, art, and business to create unique models for its ambassadors. These collaborations highlight the intense craftsmanship of the timepieces and their emphasis on success.
Stars and Athletes and Their Extraordinary Richard Mille Watches
Here are some of the world's most famous personalities and athletes, each sporting a unique Richard Mille timepiece:
-
Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal didn't like wearing watches while playing tennis until he met Richard Mille in 2008. After talking with the brand for a while, he started wearing their watches in 2011 and has been one of their most famous faces ever since.
The designer made a special RM 27-04 Rafael Nadal watch that costs about $1.05 million and only 50 exist in the world. Rafael Nadal has worn this watch during some of his biggest matches. He also wore a similar one in 2022, when he made history by winning his 21st Grand Slam title.
-
Jay-Z
Jay-Z loves Richard Mille watches. He's known for wearing rare Swiss watches that keep getting more popular over time. While he also owns many Hublot and Rolex watches, his most expensive ones are made by Richard Mille.
During his 2018 tour, he was spotted wearing a Richard Mille 56 watch worth about $2.5 million. Reports say it took more than 3,000 hours to make. A few years later, on the Fourth of July in 2021, he celebrated while showing off another Richard Mille, a $3.4 million RM 56-01 Tourbillon Sapphire.
-
Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh teamed up with Richard Mille in 2011 after impressing him with her amazing style and creativity. Her first watch design was the RM 051, a $900,000 piece featuring a sparkling diamond phoenix inside. Only 18 of these special watches were ever made.
She also worked with Richard Mille to create the Caliber RM51-01, a rare watch with only 20 ever made. It costs more than $650,000 and features tiny gold designs of a tiger and a dragon.
Altogether, her watches are worth about $1.55 million.
-
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Williams and Richard Mille have been friends since 2006. For more than ten years, Pharrell has also been a brand ambassador for the company. He's a big fan of their watches and is often seen wearing some of their most famous designs, like the RM 031 High Performance, which costs about $1.65 million, and the RM 70-01 Alain Prost, priced around $815,000.
Williams and Richard Mille teamed up to design the RM 52-05 Pharrell Williams watch, which costs $969,000.
-
Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart has loved Richard Mille watches for years. At the 2015 MTV Movie Awards, he showed off an RM 11-01 Roberto Mancini worth more than $1.5 million.
He's also known for wearing the RM 27-04 Rafael Nadal, which costs about $1.05 million, and the RM 035 Gold Toro made from 18-karat gold. Along with these, Kevin owns at least three Richard Mille watches and several other rare luxury timepieces.
-
Drake
Drake has one of the coolest watch collections ever. He's been collecting luxury watches for years and owns some of the rarest pieces in the world. One of them is a $2.5 million RM 056 Tourbillon Sapphire, and only ten of those exist.
At his 35th birthday party in 2021, Drake showed off another rare piece — a $2.2 million RM 56-02 with a clear case and blue details. Just like actor Kevin Hart, he also owns the Rafael Nadal RM 27-04, a favorite among collectors.
-
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran really loves watches and knows a lot about them. His collection is worth around six million dollars. At the 2015 Grammy Awards, he wore a Richard Mille RM 030.
A couple of years later, at the 2017 VMA Awards, Forbes reported that he was wearing another Richard Mille watch — the RM 38-01 Tourbillon G-Sensor Bubba Watson White Quartz TPT. That one sells for about eight hundred twenty-two thousand dollars.
-
John Malkovich
John Malkovich, a famous actor, doesn't do many brand deals. One of the few companies he works with is Richard Mille, a luxury watch brand he partnered with in 2016.
Because of that partnership, Malkovich owns several Richard Mille watches. One of his most popular pieces is the RM 67-01 "Extra Flat." This sleek white gold watch usually costs around $118,000.
-
Jackie Chan
Jackie Chan never designed his own watch, but Richard Mille made one to honor him. It's called the RM 057 Tourbillon Dragon, and it was inspired by Jackie Chan's generous spirit.
Released in 2012, the RM 057 came in two versions: 18K red gold and white gold. Only 36 watches were ever made, making it extremely rare. Its clear dial reveals a golden dragon coiled inside the curved case, wrapping beautifully around the watch's structure. Despite its luxury design, it's also practical, with water resistance up to 50 meters.
-
Sebastian Ogier
Nicolas Todt, a friend of Sébastien Ogier, was the one who first introduced him to Richard Mille. The two instantly connected because they both care deeply about precision and share a strong passion for what they do.
When Sébastien talks about Richard Mille, you can hear the excitement in his voice. He says Richard isn't just a regular designer; he's a huge name in the racing world. Richard Mille also loves motorsports and stays very involved in it, which is one of the main reasons the brand chose to support Sébastien in his career.
In 2016, Sébastien started racing while wearing the RM 011 Flyback Chronograph. Today, he wears the RM 67-02 Automatic Extra Flat, designed in the colors of the French flag.
-
Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone, one of the biggest stars from 1980s Hollywood, is a mix of toughness and creativity. He has a calm, friendly energy that feels real, and he's also an artist who loves sculpture and fine art. Every project he works on is deeply personal and made by him alone.
The RM 25-01 Adventure Tourbillon Chronograph was created together by Stallone and Richard Mille. It was designed to handle the toughest conditions on Earth. Stallone once said it's "ready to take action," and that fits perfectly. Only 20 of these powerful, adventure-ready watches exist in the world.
Thinking of Owning a Richard Mille?
If you're thinking about buying a Richard Mille, you're looking at one of the most famous watches in the world today. At Timepiece Trading, we make it safe and easy to buy and sell luxury watches.
Whether you want to own an RM 055, an RM 11-03, or a rare limited edition, our team will help you get the most out of the watch.
You can stop by our showroom or send us a message to see the Richard Mille watches we have waiting for you.
Final Thoughts
Richard Mille has become one of the most popular names in luxury watches. The brand is known for creating expensive, high-quality timepieces that stand out in both design and performance. Many famous athletes and celebrities wear Richard Mille watches, which has made the brand even more recognizable around the world.
By 2023, Richard Mille had been making watches for 23 years, and its popularity kept growing among modern watch fans. While these watches have a hefty price tag, many people believe they are worth it because of their unique features and incredible craftsmanship that you won't find in most other watches.
