Watch Paparazzi

Royal Khalifa Bin Hamad spotted wearing Richard Mille

Prince Khalifa bin Hamad, brother of Qatar's reigning Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, was recently photographed wearing a Richard Mille RM 67-02 in the Mutaz Essa Barshim edition — a watch that ties Qatari athletic identity directly to its wearer's wrist with deliberate symbolism. The choice of timepiece here is anything but incidental.

The Richard Mille RM 67-02 is the brand's lightest automatic wristwatch to date, tipping the scales at a remarkable 32 grams complete with strap. That figure is achieved through an obsessive application of advanced composites: the front and back plates of the case are fashioned from Quartz TPT, a material produced by layering silica filaments in a resin matrix at alternating 45-degree angles, then cutting to reveal a distinctive rippled surface. The result is exceptional rigidity at minimal mass. Powering the watch is the calibre RMUL4, a skeletonised automatic movement with a variable-geometry rotor, free-sprung balance, and a power reserve of approximately 50 hours — all contained within a case measuring 38.7 mm × 47.5 mm that hugs the wrist like a second skin.

The Mutaz Essa Barshim collaboration elevates the RM 67-02 from engineering exercise to cultural document. Barshim, Qatar's world-record-contending high jumper and Olympic gold medalist, worked with Richard Mille on a version finished in maroon and white — the exact colours of the Qatari flag. It is among the most geographically specific athlete editions Richard Mille has ever issued, and its collector appeal within the Gulf region is substantial.

For Prince Khalifa bin Hamad to wear this piece publicly is a statement of national pride as much as horological taste. The Qatari royal family has long been among Richard Mille's most significant clientele, and this sighting reinforces that relationship at the highest level of the country's leadership.

On the secondary market, the RM 67-02 in athlete-edition configurations consistently commands premiums over retail, with the Barshim edition trading between $130,000 and $160,000 depending on condition and provenance. Richard Mille has not published an official retail price for the Barshim edition specifically, but the standard RM 67-02 carries a list price in the $130,000 range — a figure that understates what buyers actually pay to acquire one.