Watch Paparazzi

Rapper Huang Zitao spotted wearing Richard Mille

Huang Zitao — the Chinese rapper and actor better known by his stage name Tao — was recently photographed wearing one of Richard Mille's most extreme limited editions: the RM 12-01 Tourbillon in Red and Black Carbon TPT, a reference limited to just 18 examples globally. At a UK list price of £630,000, the sighting is a reminder that Zitao operates in a different league of collecting entirely.

The Richard Mille RM 12-01 is built around the brand's in-house caliber RM12, a manual-winding flying tourbillon movement constructed from grade 5 titanium and set within a fully skeletonized architecture. The baseplate and bridges are machined to expose the tourbillon cage and hand-wound barrel, offering an unobstructed view of the mechanism. Power reserve stands at approximately 48 hours, and the movement beats at 21,600 vph. The case measures 50mm × 42.7mm, following Richard Mille's signature tonneau form — substantial on the wrist but engineered to distribute weight ergonomically.

What makes this particular RM 12-01 exceptional is its use of Carbon TPT, Richard Mille's proprietary composite material developed in partnership with North Thin Ply Technology. The material is constructed from layers of carbon filament just 45 microns thick, laid at 45-degree angles and infused with resin under pressure, producing a case that is extraordinarily rigid, virtually impervious to magnetism, and strikingly visual. The Red and Black colorway introduces red carbon filament into the layering process, creating a dynamic, flame-like visual texture across the case surfaces.

Huang Zitao has cultivated one of the most publicly visible watch collections in Chinese entertainment, with previous sightings including multiple high-complication Richard Milles and Patek Philippe pieces. His choice of the RM 12-01 aligns with a collector profile that prioritizes technical rarity and visual drama over conventional prestige signaling — a sensibility that resonates strongly with younger luxury consumers across East Asia.

On the secondary market, the Richard Mille RM 12-01 Tourbillon Red and Black Carbon TPT commands significant premiums over its already stratospheric retail price, reflecting both the 18-piece production limit and sustained demand from collectors in Asia and the Middle East. Grey market values for examples in unworn condition have been observed well above retail, making this among the most appreciating references in Richard Mille's catalog.