Watch Paparazzi

Influencer Zainab Al Alwan spotted wearing Richard Mille

Zainab Al Alwan, the Bahraini beauty influencer with a devoted following across the Gulf and beyond, was recently photographed wearing one of Richard Mille's most visually arresting creations: the RM 07-01 in 18ct white gold, entirely covered in brilliant-cut diamonds using the snow-setting technique. At a retail price of $430,000, this is not a watch that goes unnoticed — and it wasn't meant to.

The Richard Mille RM 07-01 was introduced as the manufacture's principal ladies' reference, built around a tonneau-shaped case that departs from the more aggressively architectural lines of the brand's male-oriented lineup. The reference RM07-01 houses the caliber CRMA2, an automatic movement with variable geometry rotor, offering a power reserve of approximately 50 hours and featuring a skeletonized architecture visible through the sapphire crystal. The case measures 45.67 mm × 30.35 mm — substantial for a ladies' watch — and in this white gold snow-set configuration, the entire case, bezel, lugs, and bracelet are encrusted with brilliant-cut diamonds of varying sizes. Snow-setting, also called pavé neige, requires the setter to select stones of different diameters to fill irregular surfaces without any metal showing through, achieving a continuous field of light. The result is technically closer to jewelry than watchmaking in the traditional sense, yet the movement underneath is entirely serious.

Among collectors, the full-set RM 07-01 occupies a peculiar and respected niche. It is openly positioned as a luxury object and makes no apologies for that. The movement credentials are genuine — Richard Mille does not downgrade its calibers for gem-set models — and the white gold case adds significant material value on top of the setting labor. Auction houses have seen comparable examples hold or exceed retail, a rarity in the broader watch market.

Zainab Al Alwan's choice of the RM 07-01 reads as entirely coherent with her brand positioning: luxury, precision, and Gulf-region aesthetic sensibility, where high-jewelry watches are worn as primary statements rather than accessories. The Richard Mille name resonates strongly across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain, where the brand's combination of technology and opulence aligns naturally with local tastes.

On the grey market, full diamond RM 07-01 references in white gold trade at or above the $430,000 retail figure, with some configurations pushing higher depending on total carat weight and certification. Demand remains consistent, supply tightly controlled.