Charles Leclerc has become one of the most prominent Formula 1 drivers in recent years. However, what many people may not know is that Leclerc’s passion extends beyond fast cars — he also has a serious love for luxury watches. His collection boasts some heavy hitters, including a Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time 5990/1R and a Hublot Meca-10 Black Magic.
But it’s the watches from Richard Mille that truly captivate Leclerc. Richard Mille’s timepieces are among the most exclusive on the luxury market today, blending cutting-edge design with high-performance mechanical movements and materials more commonly found in aerospace engineering than in wristwatches. The brand’s mystique is only enhanced by its price tags, which typically range from six to seven figures.
Celebrities Love Richard Mille
Richard Mille watches first gained mainstream recognition largely thanks to tennis superstar Rafael Nadal. The Swiss watchmaker has designed an entire lineup of signature models specifically for Nadal. Perhaps the most famous is the RM 27-03, with its striking red and yellow case made of what’s known as Quartz TPT. This material consists of ultra-thin layers of silicon, which are dyed, layered, and fused at 120°C to form a solid mass. The result is an extremely durable, lightweight material with a distinctive appearance. The Nadal watch’s movement is equally impressive — it’s fully skeletonized, equipped with a tourbillon, and is said to withstand forces up to 10,000 g.
Richard Mille’s collaboration with musician and producer Pharrell Williams gave the brand yet another boost in popularity. For the RM 52-05 Pharrell Williams, Pharrell designed a dial featuring an astronaut helmet with Earth reflected in the visor, as seen from Mars. Once again, the sporty Richard Mille brand incorporated unique materials: the case middle is crafted from Carbon TPT, while the front and back are made from Cermet, a bronze-colored material that combines the hardness of ceramic with the light weight of titanium.
The list of celebrities sporting Richard Mille watches seems endless. Hollywood icons like John Malkovich, Michelle Yeoh, Kevin Hart, Natalie Portman, Jackie Chan, and Margot Robbie are often spotted wearing them. Musicians known for their love of watches, like Jay-Z, Ed Sheeran, and Drake, have also added Richard Mille pieces to their collections. And these extraordinary timepieces are gaining popularity among pro athletes as well. From LeBron James and Neymar to Cristiano Ronaldo, Yohan Blake, Johannes Thingnes Bø, and Mark Cavendish, Richard Mille watches have become a favorite among the world’s elite sports stars.
Leclerc and His Richard Mille Collection
Which brings us back to Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque driver owns an impressive collection of Richard Mille watches. Among his prized possessions are two Nadal models, the RM 35-01 and RM 35-03, as well as an RM 72-01 Flyback Chronograph and the RM 61-01 Ultimate Edition. Recently, he was also spotted wearing the UP-01 “Ferrari,” which is just 1.75 mm thick. Not only is it the world’s thinnest mechanical watch, but at $1.75 million, it’s also one of the most expensive production wristwatches.
However, the 27-year-old driver is likely most proud of his own signature model. The RM 67-02 Charles Leclerc is a wristwatch crafted from white Quartz TPT, featuring a highly skeletonized automatic movement. The movement, made mostly from Grade 5 titanium, is just 4 mm thick. The winding rotor is made from Carbon TPT and white gold. Red accents on the bridges, crown, and elastic strap give the watch a distinct look, meant to evoke the red and white colors of Leclerc’s home country, Monaco. And the watch is featherlight, weighing just 32 grams, including the strap.
Interestingly, Leclerc is not the first Formula 1 driver to have a Richard Mille signature model. Felipe Massa, Alain Prost, and Fernando Alonso have also had that honor.
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