Watch Paparazzi

Footballer Ronaldo Lima spotted wearing Richard Mille

Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, universally known as 'O Fenômeno', was recently spotted wearing one of Richard Mille's most collector-coveted limited editions: the RM055-AN-TI 'Bubba Watson' Black Edition. The sighting adds another chapter to the Brazilian legend's well-documented taste for high-complication, high-visibility horology.

The Richard Mille RM055 was developed in partnership with American professional golfer Bubba Watson and first unveiled in 2012. Its central design philosophy was radical weight reduction and structural transparency. The manually wound CRMT2 calibre — built around a free-sprung balance with variable inertia — operates without a conventional mainplate. Instead, the movement's integrity is maintained entirely through a series of skeletonized bridges, a construction approach that demands extraordinary machining precision and makes each movement as much a visual object as a functional one. Power reserve sits at approximately 55 hours, with the movement visible through both the sapphire crystal dial side and caseback.

The RM055-AN-TI Black Edition elevates the standard RM055 through its grade-5 titanium case treated to a deep black finish, lending the watch an even more aggressive, monolithic presence. At 50.05mm × 42.70mm, the tonneau-shaped case wears large but remains surprisingly light on the wrist — a direct consequence of titanium's strength-to-weight ratio. Limited to just 75 numbered pieces globally, the Black Edition represents one of the tighter production runs in the RM055 family, which has also appeared in white and standard titanium variants.

Ronaldo Lima's connection to high-end watchmaking is well established. Since retiring from professional football, the 1994 and 2002 World Cup winner has been frequently photographed with pieces from the upper echelon of Swiss and independent watchmaking. The RM055-AN-TI, with its motorsport-meets-golf DNA and uncompromising aesthetics, suits a collector who appreciates engineering over ornament.

On the secondary market, the RM055-AN-TI Black Edition commands significant premiums over its original retail price, reflecting both the 75-piece limitation and sustained collector demand for skeletonized Richard Mille references. UK retail was quoted at £85,000 at time of release. Grey-market values have appreciated meaningfully since, with comparable examples trading well above list depending on condition and provenance.