Watch Paparazzi

Royal Khalifa Bin Hamad spotted wearing Richard Mille

Khalifa Bin Hamad, a member of Qatar's ruling Al Thani family and a dedicated extreme sports enthusiast, was photographed during a paragliding event in Qatar wearing a Richard Mille RM 055 Bubba Watson in an all-black configuration. The sighting perfectly encapsulates the Richard Mille brand ethos: a watch engineered to survive the same punishment its wearer voluntarily seeks out.

The RM 055 debuted in 2011 as a collaboration with PGA Tour champion Bubba Watson, and it represents one of Richard Mille's purest expressions of functional skeletonization. Unlike the tourbillon-equipped siblings in the catalogue, the RM 055 relies on an in-house CRMA1 manual-winding movement with a free-sprung balance wheel, variable geometry rotor geometry and a baseplate machined from grade-5 titanium. The case — in this instance finished in black ceramic or NTPT carbon composite — measures approximately 49.9 x 42.7 mm and weighs under 33 grams complete with strap, a figure that remains extraordinary for a watch of its visual complexity.

The black-on-black aesthetic seen here is characteristic of the 'Black Ceramic' declination of the RM 055, distinguished by its monolithic ceramic case, black PVD-treated titanium movement architecture and contrasting white-metal skeletonized bridges. The tonneau case geometry, oversized crown, and six-point star-head screws securing the bezel are all immediately recognizable Richard Mille hallmarks visible in this sighting.

From a collector standpoint, the RM 055 occupies a compelling position in the Richard Mille catalogue. It offers the full skeletal spectacle and case engineering of the flagship tourbillon models at a comparatively accessible entry point — though 'accessible' is a relative term when list prices sit well north of $100,000 USD. The Bubba Watson association and its decade-plus production run have made it a consistent performer on the secondary market, with demand holding firm among buyers seeking a wearable daily Richard Mille.

For Khalifa Bin Hamad, the choice reads as entirely deliberate. A royal who competes in paragliding and skydiving competitions under Qatar's national banner has little use for a dress watch. The RM 055 Black Ceramic is the serious athlete's answer to a serious watch — purpose-built, shock-resistant, and engineered with the same technical rigour its wearer brings to freefall.