Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Javier Chicharito Hernández spotted wearing Richard Mille

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández turned heads at Crypto.com Arena when he attended the Lakers game repping not just LA Galaxy but one of the most technically ambitious sports watches in production — the Richard Mille RM 055 Automatic 'Bubba Watson' in ATZ white ceramic. Courtside seats are a well-worn stage for horological flex, but Chicharito's choice is far from a casual flex pick.

The RM 055 was developed in partnership with two-time Masters champion golfer Bubba Watson and launched in 2011 as a tourbillon-free, purely automatic alternative within the RM family. The case architecture tells the whole story: the caseband and back bezel are machined from grade 5 titanium — the same alloy used in surgical implants and aerospace fasteners — while the outer shell is formed from ATZ, aluminium toughened zirconia ceramic. ATZ is significantly harder than the standard zirconia used in most luxury ceramic watches, offering superior resistance to impact and abrasion. The protective white rubber casing wraps the assembly, softening shock transmission directly to the movement.

Inside the RM 055 beats the in-house CRMA1 automatic calibre, a skeletonised movement that appears entirely suspended within the case, anchored only by four five-point star screws at the bridges. The visual effect is deliberate — Richard Mille designed the architecture so the movement reads as floating, unconnected from the case walls. Functions are straightforward: hours, minutes, seconds, and a power reserve indicator, with a 55-hour reserve from the variable-geometry rotor.

For collectors, the RM 055 occupies a specific niche. It lacks the complexity of the tourbillon references yet delivers the full RM construction philosophy — baseplate and bridges in grade 5 titanium, spline screws throughout, and a case shape that has become one of the most imitated silhouettes in independent watchmaking. The Bubba Watson editions, particularly the white ATZ variants, carry strong secondary-market premiums due to their visual impact and limited production volumes.

Chicharito's presence on the LA sports scene — and his habit of wearing serious timepieces — makes him a consistent subject for watch spotters. The Richard Mille RM 055 Bubba Watson retails at $120,000, but current grey-market values have climbed to approximately $350,000, a near-tripling that reflects sustained collector demand for the white ceramic configuration.