If you happened to miss the snapshots from the 50th NAACP Image Awards, you likely didn’t notice the breathtaking, custom Richard Mille timepiece decorating rapper Jay-Z’s wrist. This watch offers plenty to ogle over, including its staggering price tag.
Clocking in at a cool $2,500,000, it’s the most expensive timepiece ever crafted by Richard Mille, a relative newcomer to the tradition of luxury Swiss watchmaking when compared to brands like Rolex or Omega. Jay-Z is an avid collector of extravagant wristwatches, but this one-of-a-kind piece, nicknamed “The Blueprint” after the rapper’s famous 2001 album, might be his most impressive. Designed with the help of celebrity jeweler, Alex Todd, The Blueprint was formed from a single, solid piece of sapphire, which reportedly took 3,000 painstaking hours to carefully cut and mill. With such exquisite quality and attention to detail, it’s no wonder this watch is worth millions.
The Rise of Richard Mille
Richard Mille has been shaking things up in the world of luxury watchmaking since the brand was first established in 2001. In an industry where heritage and tradition is fundamental, and legacy brands like Rolex and Patek Philippe are king, Richard Mille has managed to make a name for itself—a feat that’s remarkable in its own right. What sets Richard Mille apart from the rest is their mission to make high-end, hand-crafted timepieces that test the boundaries of technical innovation. These watches are the epitome of precision engineering, as evident from their bold, distinct designs that are instantly recognizable on any wrist. Plenty of famous faces have caught on to the cutting edge style of Richard Mille, and the brand now boasts a laundry list of legendary clients, from athletes to actors, hip-hop stars, and even politicians. And with the brand’s recent exposure with the debut of The Blueprint, this celebrity client list is only expected to continue growing.