In a move that surprised the watch world, LeBron James has made history as the first NBA player to collaborate with Richard Mille, one of horology’s most coveted and technically advanced brands.
The partnership between the four-time NBA champion and the Swiss manufacture has produced the RM65-01 Selfwinding Split-seconds Chronograph “LeBron James” – a timepiece that perfectly captures the essence of basketball’s greatest all-around player.
The King’s Crown
Limited to just 150 pieces, this extraordinary chronograph made its debut on King James’s wrist at Fanatics Fest, instantly becoming one of the most talked-about releases of 2025. The collaboration represents more than just celebrity endorsement; it’s a meeting of minds between two entities that have redefined excellence in their respective fields.
The watch’s design tells LeBron’s story through carefully chosen color accents that honor his journey from Akron to Los Angeles. Lakers faithful will immediately recognize the purple and gold DNA woven throughout the timepiece – yellow Quartz TPT adorns the midcase, while yellow accents highlight the pushers, crown, dial outline, and one of the chronograph hands. Purple takes center stage on the opposing chronograph hand and tachymeter scale references, creating a visual celebration of his championship years in Los Angeles.
But the story doesn’t end with the Lakers. Strategic splashes of green throughout the watch – visible in the date window, hour markers, pusher details, and LeBron’s signature logo at 12 o’clock – likely pay homage to his high school alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary, whose green and gold colors shaped his earliest basketball memories. This thoughtful integration of personal history elevates the watch beyond mere luxury into meaningful autobiography.
Basketball Legend-Worthy
Beneath the personalized aesthetics lies the formidable RMAC4 automatic movement, representing Richard Mille’s most sophisticated split-seconds chronograph technology until recently. This mechanical marvel delivers an impressive array of complications including hours, minutes, seconds, date, split-seconds chronograph, function selector, rapid winding, and variable-geometry rotor – all while maintaining approximately 60 hours of power reserve when the chronograph isn’t running.
The movement operates at 36,000 vibrations per hour with 51 jewels, showcasing the precision engineering that has made Richard Mille the choice of elite athletes worldwide. Features like the variable-geometry rotor automatically adjust winding efficiency based on the wearer’s activity level – perfect for someone whose daily routine includes everything from intense training sessions to red carpet appearances.
The case construction exemplifies Richard Mille’s mastery of advanced materials. Measuring 44.5mm x 49.94mm with a 16.1mm thickness, the tonneau-shaped case combines black Carbon TPT with yellow Quartz TPT in the midcase. This material combination provides exceptional strength-to-weight ratio while creating visual drama that matches LeBron’s on-court presence.
The skeletonized dial reveals the movement’s intricate architecture while maintaining legibility through strategically placed luminous elements on hands, indices, and dial markers. LeBron’s purple signature on the caseback adds a personal touch that partially obscures the technical display – a reminder that this isn’t just a watch, but a piece of basketball history.
Priced at $405,040 and available exclusively through Richard Mille boutiques worldwide, the RM65-01 “LeBron James” represents the ultimate intersection of athletic achievement and horological artistry. With only 150 pieces available and 450 active NBA players alone, demand far exceeds supply – making this collaboration as exclusive as a LeBron James championship ring.
