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Footballer Eden Hazard spotted wearing Richard Mille

On the evening of 29 May 2019 in Baku, Eden Hazard played his last match for Chelsea FC, delivering a man-of-the-match performance in a 4–1 Europa League Final victory over Arsenal before confirming his long-anticipated move to Real Madrid. Cameras caught the Belgian superstar pitch-side wearing a piece that was every bit as extravagant as the occasion demanded: an 18KT white gold Richard Mille RM016 with factory diamonds set around the case.

The Richard Mille RM016 was introduced as the maison's statement automatic dress watch, a rare departure from the brand's motorsport-influenced tool-watch aesthetic. Beneath the signature tonneau-shaped case, the RM016 runs a skeletonised CRMA1 automatic movement — a calibre developed in collaboration with Renaud & Papi — offering hours, minutes, seconds, and a power-reserve indicator. The movement architecture is fully visible through the sapphire crystal case back, showcasing the brand's signature combination of grade-5 titanium bridges, PVD-treated components, and hand-finished bevelling throughout. Case dimensions sit at approximately 45.65mm × 34.40mm, generous by dress-watch standards yet comfortable on the wrist thanks to the ergonomic curvature Richard Mille builds into every reference.

This particular example takes the RM016 into collector-grade territory. The 18KT white gold case alone positions it above the base titanium and red gold variants in both rarity and cost. The addition of factory-set diamonds around the case — executed in-house by Richard Mille rather than by an aftermarket jeweller — is a critical distinction for serious collectors, preserving both provenance and structural integrity. Factory gem-setting on a Richard Mille references commands a significant premium and is catalogued separately in authorised price lists.

Hazard has long been associated with high-complication timepieces. As one of Europe's highest-earning footballers throughout his Chelsea tenure, he built a collection that regularly featured Richard Mille references — a brand that has cultivated deep ties to elite sport through partnerships with Rafael Nadal, Felipe Massa, and Pharrell Williams, among others. Wearing the RM016 diamond-set on such a historically personal night speaks to how thoroughly the brand has embedded itself in the language of elite athletic achievement.

The UK list price for this configuration was cited at £80,000 at the time of the sighting — approximately $100,000 USD at 2019 exchange rates. On the secondary market, white gold Richard Mille references with factory diamond setting consistently trade above retail, and examples in unworn or lightly worn condition with box and papers have achieved considerably more at specialist auction. For a reference tied to a documented moment of sporting history, collector interest only compounds.