Karim Benzema Wears the White Ceramic Richard Mille RM 30-01


Karim Benzema has been spotted wearing a white ceramic Richard Mille RM 30-01. Against his dark training jacket, the tonneau case is impossible to miss. Look past the striking contrast, though, and the watch’s most interesting detail is hidden in the movement.

A white case with a mechanical edge

The RM 30-01 pairs Richard Mille’s familiar curved silhouette with an openworked display that exposes the architecture beneath the hands. The white ceramic case and black strap give this version a sharper, more graphic presence than the metal-cased editions. The watch measures 42 mm across, but its shape and bright bezel make a bigger visual impression than that number suggests.

See Benzema wearing the watch in our original Instagram post:

Why the rotor disengages

Inside is the skeletonised automatic calibre RMAR2. Its patented variable-geometry rotor winds the mainsprings until the power reserve reaches around 55 hours. At that point, a clutch disconnects the winding system. When the reserve falls to around 40 hours, the rotor engages again. Richard Mille says this arrangement helps keep the movement in an optimal operating range while avoiding the prolonged friction of a conventional slipping system.

There is more to read on the dial than the time: an oversized date sits near four o’clock, while indicators show the power reserve and whether the rotor is engaged. A push-button at two o’clock selects between winding, date setting and hand setting. The movement’s baseplate and bridges are made from grade 5 titanium.

The detail worth noticing

Celebrity watch sightings often become a conversation about price. Benzema’s RM 30-01 deserves a closer look for a better reason: the white ceramic makes the watch instantly recognisable, while its clever winding system gives the design a technical point of view. The most distinctive part of this Richard Mille is the mechanism you cannot see from across the room.

Watch specifications: Richard Mille. Images of Benzema appear through the original Superwatchman Instagram embed; photography is credited to Getty Images in that post. Cover image: Superwatchman social artwork.

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