Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Huang Zitao spotted wearing Richard Mille

Huang Zitao, the Chinese rapper, actor, and former EXO member widely known as Tao, was recently spotted wearing what may be the single most extraordinary wristwatch in his already formidable collection: a Richard Mille RM10 RG-ATZ Piece Unique in white ceramic, featuring an elaborately detailed Koi fish motif dial. With an official tag price of $1,350,000, this one-of-a-kind commission sits comfortably among the most expensive watches ever retailed by the Geneva-based manufacture.

The Richard Mille RM10 sits within the brand's foundational lineage, sharing the tonneau-shaped case architecture and skeletonized movement philosophy that has defined the manufacture since its earliest references. The RG-ATZ designation points to the rose gold and ATZ — alumina-toughened zirconia — ceramic composite construction, a material chosen for its extraordinary hardness, scratch resistance, and capacity to be finished in a luminous white that no metal can replicate. White ceramic of this grade is notoriously difficult to machine to the tolerances Richard Mille demands, making the case itself a technical achievement before the dial is even considered.

What elevates this particular RM10 into an entirely separate conversation is the Piece Unique designation. Richard Mille's bespoke commissions of this caliber involve the full resources of the manufacture's artisanal ateliers — in this instance, delivering a Koi fish composition of remarkable intricacy. In Japanese and broader East Asian culture, the Koi carries layered symbolism: perseverance against adversity, good fortune, and a deeply rooted connection to family and home. For a Chinese client of Huang Zitao's profile, the iconography resonates on multiple levels beyond pure aesthetics.

Huang Zitao has long positioned himself among Asia's most watched style figures, with a watch collection that reflects both personal conviction and genuine horological ambition. His choice of a Piece Unique — rather than a production reference — signals a relationship with Richard Mille that goes well beyond retail. This is a watch built around an individual, not the other way around.

On the market, meaningful comparisons are nearly impossible given the singular nature of the piece. For context, Richard Mille Piece Unique commissions at this price tier rarely surface at auction; when they do, they routinely exceed original retail. At $1,350,000, this RM10 RG-ATZ in white ceramic is worth noting that the most expensive Koi fish ever sold fetched $1,800,000 — meaning the living symbol and the watch that honors it occupy the same rarefied financial atmosphere.