It’s not every day that someone casually drops a $200,000 Richard Mille watch into the ocean, but that’s exactly what happened to Ricky Maduro, a Houston-based luxury watch dealer, in a now-viral moment captured on video. Maduro, known for dealing in rare and exotic timepieces, was filming a relaxed seaside scene when panic suddenly set in. A rare Richard Mille RM 11-02 had slipped into the water. The location was undisclosed, but the anxiety in the video needed no geography to be felt. The voice behind the camera could be heard describing the missing watch as having a green rubber strap and a titanium case.
Enter the unsung hero of the moment: a diver, who took on the task of locating the precious watch submerged somewhere in the ocean. When informed that it was made of titanium, the diver immediately noted that such a material would make the watch extremely light, suggesting it may not have sunk as deeply as others might expect.
With the camera rolling and everyone nervously waiting, the diver resurfaced minutes later with the Richard Mille safely in hand. What followed was sheer relief and celebration. One of the people present handed the diver a cash reward on the spot for recovering the timepiece.
The watch in question, the Richard Mille RM 11-02 Automatic Flyback Chronograph Dual Time Zone, is no ordinary wristwatch. It was introduced in 2014 as an evolution of the popular RM 011. This model includes a flyback chronograph, an annual calendar with an oversize date display, a 60-minute countdown timer, a 24-hour totalizer, and a UTC function for displaying a second time zone. The second time zone can be adjusted using a specially designed pusher at the nine o’clock position, shaped in line with the brand’s racing-inspired aesthetic.
The RM 11-02 is powered by the RMAC2 automatic movement, which boasts two barrels and a rotor with variable geometry, offering around 50 hours of power reserve. Housed in a tripartite case made from grade 5 titanium, the watch is a technical marvel. It takes hundreds of machining operations and over 50 hours of setup to manufacture each case, which is known for its curved lines and ergonomic fit.
The watch is also built for durability, with the movement supported by four silicon braces and sealed to remain water-resistant up to 50 meters. It may have gone for a short swim, but thanks to quick action and expert craftsmanship, this Richard Mille made it back to the wrist it belongs to, drenched but unharmed.
