From the rarest and most complex Patek Philippe timepieces to jaw-dropping, off-catalog watches, billionaire scion Anant Ambani’s exceptionally well-curated watch collection is second to none. While his father, Mukesh Ambani, the richest person in Asia, is mostly seen wearing a simple white short-sleeve shirt and a pair of loose-fitting black trousers, Anant is known for carefully color-coordinating his attire with the choice of his watch for the day.
The 29-year-old was recently spotted wearing a timepiece that even the most passionate watch enthusiasts will have a hard time recognizing. The timepiece in question is a piece unique Richard Mille RM 26-01 “Panda” Tourbillon Blue Sapphire.
In 2013, Richard Mille introduced the RM 26-01 Panda Tourbillon as a diamond-encrusted timepiece limited to just 15 examples. However, the watchmaker also created several one-off versions of the stunning timepiece, including Anant’s Blue Sapphire piece. The 45mm case is crafted out of blue sapphire, while the highlight of the watch is its skeletonized dial that features a Panda made out of 18K white gold and integrated into the tourbillon. The figure of the bamboo-eating cuddly animal is set with baguette-cut diamonds and black sapphires.
Another unique thing about the timepiece is that the movement’s baseplate is machined from black onyx, a variety of chalcedony composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2) from the cryptocrystalline quartz group. Interestingly, black onyx is widely known as a powerful protection stone. It is believed to absorb negative energy and provide emotional and physical strength to its wearer. Symbolizing strength, it is considered that black onyx can provide protection from negative thoughts and become a source of balance and inspiration.
Interestingly, the Blue Sapphire version is not the only RM 26-01 Panda Tourbillon in Anant’s collection. During one of his wedding functions, Anant was seen wearing a version of the watch with the case encrusted with red rubies. In fact, along with rare Pateks, a significant portion of his watch collection is made up of some of the rarest and most expensive Richard Mille watches. You might also remember that it was one of those timepieces, a piece unique Richard Mille Koi Fish Tourbillon RMS10, that deeply impressed Mark Zuckerberg, which eventually inspired the Meta CEO to build a watch collection of his own.
Note – At the time of writing this article, according to Forbes, Mukesh Ambani had a net worth of $106 billion.
