Richard Mille

• cal. RM 038 manual winding titanium movement, 19 jewels, one-minute tourbillon carriage, specially designed micro-blasted titanium bridges, barrel pawl with progressive recoil •  raised silvered flange with luminescent dot indexes, luminescent skeletonized hands • curved tonneau tri-part case secured by 8 grade 5 titanium screws, further 4 screws secure the strap, sapphire crystals • case, dial and movement signed • with a Richard Mille titanium folding clasp

Movement is in working order while cataloguing, but it has not been tested for the accuracy of time keeping and a service might be required at the buyer's expense. Case in good condition. Overall this is an extremely rare example being the prototype version of the limited series 'Bubba Watson' by Richard Mille.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

Born in 1978 as Gerry Lester Watson Jr., 'Bubba' is a self-taught golf player who famously won the 2012 Masters Tournament. Watson turned professional in 2001. Although he struggled to make a mark for himself in the first 3 years, in 2004 he made 2 second place finishes. In 2005, he improved his record further by making five top 10 and nine top 25 finishes. In 2006, he made a third place finish at the Chrysler Classic of Tucson and won more than $1 million in PGA winnings. Still short of a title, Watson won the Travellers Championship. Later in the year, he was selected for the USA Ryder Cup. In 2011, he continued his good form by winning the Farmers' Insurance Open and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Bubba is perhaps most famous on the green as one the sport's longest drivers. In 2012 Bubba Watson joined sportsmen Rafa Nadal and Felipe Massa as an ambassador for Richard Mille, famously wearing his specially designed all-white RM38 tourbillon while playing. The same year was the most memorable season of his to this date, Watson won the Masters Tournament with an incredibly well placed shot from the woods, beating South African Louis Oosthuizen in a sudden death playoff.
The RM 038 case is composed of 89% magnesium, 6% yttrium and 5% rare earths, the metal is one of the lightest used in construction with excellent property retention abilities at elevated temperatures; the case is then coated with a Miarox treatment creating a ceramic-like finish that is very hard-wearing. The movement was designed to withstand the extreme G force created while playing golf and tested in the factory up to repeated 400G-force lateral shock tests. The case on the RM38 is in the traditional Richard Mille curved tonneau design and slightly heavier (60 grams) than its brother, the RM27 Nadal model.