Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Javier Chicharito Hernández spotted wearing Richard Mille

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernández, then leading the line for Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, was photographed wearing a Richard Mille RM 011 Americas Edition — a regionally produced variant of one of the Swiss independent manufacture's defining references. For a player who built his career on precision movement and instinct, the choice of timepiece reads as anything but accidental.

The Richard Mille RM 011 is powered by the in-house RMAC2 calibre, an automatic movement offering a flyback chronograph, annual calendar with month and day display, and a function selector that prevents accidental crown operation — a detail borrowed directly from motorsport. The movement delivers approximately 55 hours of power reserve and runs at 28,800 vph. The case, measuring 50mm × 40mm, is constructed in grade 5 titanium, keeping the weight remarkably low despite the technical complexity within. The tonneau-shaped sapphire crystal dial opens the movement to full view, a Richard Mille signature that transformed haute horlogerie's visual language.

The Americas Edition designation marks a limited regional variant featuring colourways and finishing details that nod to North and Latin American markets — typically distinguished by red and grey tonal accents on the movement bridges and skeletonised dial architecture. These regional editions are produced in small series and rarely appear on the secondary market in complete, documented condition, making them appreciably harder to source than the standard RM 011 references.

For collectors, the RM 011 remains one of the most credible entry points into serious Richard Mille collecting. It predates the brand's more extreme ultra-thin and rubber-infused directions, representing a period when RM was still proving its technical bona fides to a sceptical fine watchmaking establishment. The reference has aged exceptionally well and continues to attract buyers who want mechanical substance alongside the brand's recognisable aesthetics.

Chicharito has long been associated with premium watch culture, and the RM 011 Americas Edition fits his profile precisely — regional pride, elite sporting credentials, and a movement that performs under pressure. UK list price sat around £68,000; on the grey market, well-documented examples of the Americas Edition regularly trade between $95,000 and $130,000 USD depending on condition and provenance.