Watch Paparazzi

Pilot Sébastian Loeb spotted wearing Richard Mille

Sébastien Loeb, the most successful rally driver in World Rally Championship history, was recently photographed wearing the Richard Mille RM 011 AO CA FM 'Black Night' — a limited edition of 100 pieces sold exclusively through select boutiques in Europe and the Middle East. The sighting is entirely on-brand: Loeb has long been a Richard Mille ambassador, and the brand has built much of its motorsport identity around the Frenchman's wrist.

The RM 011 AO CA FM is built around one of Richard Mille's most technically accomplished calibres, the automatic RMAC2 movement — a flyback chronograph with annual calendar and GMT function. Running at 28,800 vph with a 55-hour power reserve, the movement features a variable-geometry rotor and a column-wheel flyback mechanism, all skeletonised to reduce weight without compromising structural integrity. The 'Black Night' designation refers to the case construction: TZP black ceramic forms the bezel and caseback elements, while NTPT Carbon — a material developed for Formula 1 aerodynamic components, built from thousands of filaments pressed at high temperature — constitutes the main case body. The result is a case that weighs almost nothing yet resists shock, heat, and wear at levels conventional materials cannot match.

The RM 011 reference has been the cornerstone of Richard Mille's sports chronograph lineup since its 2007 introduction. Over nearly two decades, it has appeared in titanium, red gold, white gold, and numerous composite variants. Among collectors, the carbon and ceramic limited editions consistently command the strongest secondary market premiums, particularly those tied to regional exclusivity. The 'Black Night' AO CA FM — with its 100-piece ceiling and boutique-only distribution — sits firmly at the top of that hierarchy.

Loeb's connection to Richard Mille predates this specific reference. The brand has sponsored him across WRC, Pikes Peak, Dakar, and Extreme E campaigns, making his wrist one of the most scrutinised in motorsport. Wearing a watch rated to withstand the g-forces and vibrations of competitive rally stages is not a styling choice for Loeb — it is a functional requirement, and the RM 011 was engineered to meet exactly that standard.

At UK retail of £100,000 — approximately $125,000 at current rates — the RM 011 AO CA FM 'Black Night' is priced at the upper end of Richard Mille's already elevated entry point. On the grey market, the combination of 100-piece production and restricted distribution pushes values meaningfully above retail, with comparable black ceramic NTPT RM 011 variants trading between $140,000 and $170,000 depending on condition and provenance.