Lewis Hamilton Wore Rare Richard Mille Watch
The Formula 1 driver showcased a diamond-encrusted Richard Mille timepiece at a recent museum gala in Los Angeles.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Motorsports
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Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton attended the opening-night gala at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles while wearing a rare Richard Mille RM 17-01 Tourbillon watch. The high-end timepiece is distinguished by its unique diamond snow setting and rose gold construction.
Why it matters
The appearance highlights the intersection of high-performance sports and luxury horology, where athletes often serve as global ambassadors for elite craft. Such accessories often command massive valuations in the secondary market, drawing attention to both the engineering and the aesthetic rarity of the pieces.
The watch movement measures 4.65mm thick and operates at 21,600 vibrations per hour with a 70-hour power reserve. It features water resistance up to 50 meters, with secondary-market examples currently listed for over $1.1 million.
The players
Lewis Hamilton
Lewis Hamilton is a world-renowned Formula 1 racing driver who holds several championship titles.
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is a cultural institution founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson.
Richard Mille
Richard Mille is a luxury Swiss watch company known for utilizing high-tech materials and complex mechanical movements.
The details
The watch case utilizes a diamond snow setting, where jewelers individually place stones of irregular sizes to create a seamless effect. Its movement is built with a skeletonized grade 5 titanium baseplate, protected by a torque-limiting crown to prevent overwinding.
Timeline
The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art gala took place in September 2026.
Season Trajectory
This public appearance fits into the broader trend of elite athletes aligning with ultra-luxury brands to signal status beyond the racetrack. The visibility of such exclusive gear influences collector markets and reinforces the association between precision engineering in motorsports and watchmaking.
This appearance serves as a high-visibility marketing moment that reinforces the value of rare horological assets in the secondary market. Fans and collectors can track these sightings as indicators of brand prestige and market demand for similar limited-production models.
The takeaway
The intersection of elite motorsports and luxury horology continues to drive significant interest in rare, highly engineered collectibles. Collectors should note that the value of such pieces is often tied to their technical complexity and the unique artisanal methods used in their creation.
Further reading
For more on the latest trends in racing and driver lifestyles, visit our Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Esquire.
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