Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Jay-Z spotted wearing Richard Mille

Jay-Z was recently spotted on the wrist with one of the most difficult Richard Mille references to acquire: the RM35 'Black Toro,' a 50-piece limited edition that sold out almost immediately upon release and has since become a fixture on grey-market want lists across Asia, Europe, and North America.

The Richard Mille RM35, in its 'Black Toro' configuration, is built around a skeletonized manual-winding tourbillon movement — the RMUL2 caliber — offering a power reserve of approximately 55 hours. The movement features a variable-geometry rotor and Richard Mille's signature grade 5 titanium and carbon composite baseplate construction, delivering extraordinary resistance to shock and gravitational forces. The case itself is crafted from NTPT Carbon, North Thin Ply Technology material that creates the instantly recognizable rippled black surface through a process of cross-laminating carbon fiber sheets under heat and pressure. The result is a case that weighs virtually nothing while offering structural rigidity that conventional metals cannot match.

The 'Black Toro' nickname references the case's distinct tonneau silhouette, which in full black NTPT reads as particularly menacing and purposeful — far removed from traditional luxury watchmaking aesthetics. Richard Mille positioned this reference as a spiritual successor to the RM 35-02 family, a line that originally found favor with Formula 1 drivers and endurance athletes before crossing firmly into the world of entertainment. Among collectors, any sub-100-piece Richard Mille tourbillon in NTPT Carbon commands immediate attention; the combination of material, complication, and production ceiling makes the 'Black Toro' one of the more rational speculative acquisitions in the contemporary market.

Jay-Z's relationship with Richard Mille stretches back well over a decade. The Roc Nation founder has appeared publicly with multiple RM references, and his affinity for the brand reflects a broader cultural shift in which Richard Mille became the default luxury signifier for a generation of entertainers and athletes who found traditional Swiss dress watches inadequate for their public image.

The Richard Mille RM35 'Black Toro' carried a UK list price of approximately £112,000 at release — translating to roughly $140,000 USD at prevailing exchange rates. On the secondary market, given the 50-piece limitation and Jay-Z's visible endorsement, grey-market premiums have pushed values considerably higher, with comparable examples trading between $180,000 and $220,000 USD depending on condition and provenance.