Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Christian Noboa spotted wearing Richard Mille

Ecuadorian midfielder Christian Noboa, a regular fixture for both PFC Sochi and the Ecuadorian national side, was recently photographed with a Richard Mille RM 055 'Bubba Watson' on his wrist — a watch that sits comfortably among the most technically ambitious pieces the Swiss-Caribbean manufacture has ever produced. At a price point exceeding $200,000, it is far from an impulse purchase.

The Richard Mille RM 055 measures 43mm in diameter and pairs a grade 5 titanium case with a ceramic front bezel — a combination chosen for its exceptional hardness-to-weight ratio and resistance to surface scratching. The manual-wind calibre within is built entirely from grade 5 titanium, a relatively rare construction that eliminates the use of brass bridges and plates found in conventional watchmaking. The movement features extreme skeletonisation, leaving only the structural material necessary for function, which exposes the full mechanical choreography to view through the sapphire crystal.

The RM 055 was developed in close collaboration with two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, with the brief centred on creating a timepiece that could survive the rotational forces and impact shock of a professional golf swing. Richard Mille engineered the movement's architecture around a free-sprung balance with variable inertia, providing stability across physical stress — relevant well beyond the golf course. The reference debuted in the early 2010s and has since accumulated a loyal following among athletes and collectors who value function over decoration.

Noboa's choice of the RM 055 fits a recognisable pattern among elite footballers who gravitate toward Richard Mille. The brand's athletic credibility, its genuine engineering narrative, and its exclusivity make it a credible statement rather than mere ostentation. For a player of Noboa's international profile — over 80 caps for Ecuador, a career spanning clubs across Russia, Turkey, and Greece — the RM 055 reads as a considered acquisition.

On the grey market, the Richard Mille RM 055 'Bubba Watson' in titanium trades at or above its official retail of roughly $200,000, with certain configurations commanding premiums depending on condition and provenance. Richard Mille's controlled production volumes consistently support secondary-market strength, and the RM 055 remains one of the more liquid references in the catalogue for serious collectors.