Royal Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah spotted wearing a Richard Mille

The wrist of Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah of Brunei rarely goes unnoticed in horological circles, and his latest sighting confirms a taste that extends well beyond conventional royal collecting. On this occasion, the Crown Prince was wearing the Richard Mille RM 38-01 'Bubba Watson', one of the most technically ambitious golf-themed timepieces ever built and one of the rarest references in the entire Richard Mille catalogue.

The RM 38-01 was developed in close collaboration with two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and introduced as a 50-piece limited edition. The 43mm case is constructed in grade 5 titanium and Carbon TPT, Richard Mille's proprietary filament-wound composite material, keeping the total weight to a minimum despite the mechanical complexity housed within. The movement is the manually wound calibre RM38-01, a skeletonised tourbillon beating at 21,600 vph with a power reserve of approximately 72 hours. Its defining feature is a patented g-sensor — a functional inertia-based indicator that measures the acceleration forces acting on the watch during a golf swing, displaying the peak g-force reading on a dedicated subdial. The specification was not ornamental; it was engineered to Watson's actual biomechanical profile, reflecting the extraordinary club-head speeds he generates off the tee.

From a collector standpoint, the RM 38-01 occupies a singular position. Sport-collaboration Richard Mille pieces in limited runs under 100 units consistently attract disproportionate secondary-market premiums, and the 'Bubba Watson' reference is among the most sought-after in that category. The g-sensor complication exists nowhere else in the manufacture's production history, making this a genuinely unique technical artefact rather than a branded cosmetic exercise.

Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah is widely regarded as one of Asia's most informed royal collectors, with documented sightings encompassing Patek Philippe grand complications, Jacob & Co. statement pieces, and multiple high-complication Richard Milles. His choice of the RM 38-01 underlines both the depth of his collection and a preference for pieces that carry genuine mechanical narrative alongside rarity.

At an official retail price of $825,000, the RM 38-01 'Bubba Watson' was already positioned at the apex of the Richard Mille range at launch. On the grey market, the combination of a 50-piece production run, an irrepeatable complication, and strong crossover appeal between golf enthusiasts and watch collectors pushes authenticated examples well beyond list.