When we spoke to Richard Mille marketing director Tim Malachard last November, he cited the brand’s signing of American golfer Bubba Watson (pictured) as one of his most memorable moments.
When we spoke to Richard Mille marketing director Tim Malachard last November, he cited the brand’s signing of American golfer Bubba Watson (pictured) as one of his most memorable moments. Malachard recalled: “We signed him because he was an interesting character. When we signed him in 2011, he had only won one PGA tournament in the US and he was ranked 28th in the world. The next year he won the Masters, which was crazy.”
Launched in 2014, the most recent timepiece inspired by the self-taught American golfer is the RM 38-01 G-Sensor Tourbillon Bubba Watson. Fittingly, the watch dedicated to one of the biggest hitters in golf – who has recorded drives of more than 400 yards (366m) – features a g-sensor, located at 12 o’clock. Capable of measuring up to 20g’s of acceleration, the titanium mechanism reflects the force generated by a golfer’s swing. The model shown here is made from hardy and lightweight Quartz TPT. There’s also a version with green bezels made from TZP-G, a ceramic that is significantly stiffer than regular high-tech ceramics, which means the watch is less prone to cracking.
Fun fact: English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran was recently spotted wearing the RM 38-01 at a music awards show. No word, however, on whether he was wearing it when he accidentally hit fellow artiste Justin Bieber in the face with a golf club during a drunken night out in Japan some time back.