NBA’s newest member of the Orlando Magic team, 19-year-old Paolo Banchero, flexed some Richard Mille accessories at the league’s draft at the Mt Rushmore event.
Paolo Banchero, an American-Italian professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic, flexed not one but three sparkling accessories during his league’s draft at NBA Mt Rushmore. But even though his limbs were dripping in 500K chains and bracelets glowing in ice – “people only had eyes for the fiery display around his wrist.”
This six-figure Richard Mille RM 011 Felipe Massa watch, more commonly known as the ‘Red Demon’, has a retail price range between $60 000 to $1.3 million, according to Wrist Advisor. Besides this piece’s limited release of 30 pieces, the dial configuration is the only thing that sets it apart from the standard model.
Designed in collaboration with the Brazilian Formula One racer Felipe Massa, the timepiece was engineered with the same dynamic look as a typical Formula One machine back in 2007. It’s no doubt that when the watch was released, Richard Mille’s slogan was “a racing machine on the wrist.”
If you take a closer look, it is clear to see where the inspirational foundation of the Richard Mille brand: race cars, comes from. According to the website, it is light, thanks to its titanium movement affixed to a super-stiff case with silent blocks. The watch also has aerodynamic pushers machined with non-slip ribbing and a crown that resembles a smooth tyre encircling a spoked wheel rim.
Since the Richard Mille RM11 Red Demon is a limited edition, it is tough to find. It’s a watch that will make you stand out in the crowd immediately, as you’re probably the only one in a 100-mile radius wearing one.
While chatter on social media has suggested Paolo Banchero and other members had these pieces loaned, Hype Beast indicates that they are entirely possible to belong to the young players. Last year, the NCAA changed their branding rules allowing college athletes to monetise their brands through social media, merchandise and endorsement deals.
Even though the Richard Mille brand is relatively new in the Swiss luxury watch market, the company’s watches have become increasingly popular due to the high degree of sophistication and engineering that go into them. This also holds for the RM11, considered one of the ultimate models in the luxury sports watch market.