Singer G-dragon spotted wearing a Richard Mille

G-Dragon, born Kwon Ji-yong and widely regarded as one of South Korea's most influential cultural exports, was recently spotted wearing a Richard Mille RM 35-01 — the tonneau-cased skeletonized watch colloquially known as the 'Baby Nadal.' The sighting is consistent with his long-established reputation for gravitating toward avant-garde, high-value timepieces that double as wearable sculpture.

The Richard Mille RM 35-01 shares its DNA directly with the RM 035, developed in partnership with Rafael Nadal and designed to withstand the punishing physical demands of professional tennis. The RM 35-01 retains the same RMAL1 skeletonized manual-winding movement, which delivers approximately 55 hours of power reserve and is engineered to resist shocks of up to 5,000 Gs. The baseplate and bridges are constructed from grade 5 titanium, while the case itself is typically rendered in Richard Mille's proprietary NTPT Carbon — a filament-wound composite laminate that produces a distinctive marbled surface unique to each watch. Total case weight hovers around 33 grams, making it extraordinarily light for a watch of its visual complexity.

Within the collector community, the RM 35-01 occupies an interesting position. It sits below the full RM 035 Nadal in terms of specification and prestige, yet the build quality, movement finishing, and material technology remain quintessentially Richard Mille. For buyers who want genuine caliber-level engagement with the brand's philosophy at a comparatively lower entry point, the 'Baby Nadal' reference has consistently attracted serious attention on both primary and secondary markets.

G-Dragon's relationship with luxury watches is well documented. The BIGBANG frontman and solo artist has been photographed over the years with pieces from Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Richard Mille, wearing them in a way that feels genuinely personal rather than performative. His taste tends toward technically complex, visually disruptive pieces — the RM 35-01 fits that profile precisely.

On the market, the Richard Mille RM 35-01 carries a UK list price of approximately £78,000, translating to roughly $98,000 USD at current exchange rates. Grey-market premiums for NTPT Carbon variants have historically kept secondary prices at or slightly above retail, reflecting sustained demand and limited production allocation.