Watch Spotting at the NBA Finals: Jayson Tatum and His Richard Mille 07-01 Memphis Design
Spotting a Richard Mille on the wrist of an NBA star is not headline news, but Jayson Tatum’s unconventional watch choice of the RM 07-01 Memphis Design is a bold statement and one I am here for.
The NBA Finals are finally here, and to no one’s surprise, there is no shortage of watch spotting. It’s no secret that the watch industry and the NBA have a close relationship. Whether it’s LeBron in a Tiffany Blue 5711, Kyle Kuzma donning his De Bethune Purple Rain, or Russel Westbrook wearing a Royal Oak Jumbo, there’s something for everyone.
Last week, I sat down, got my popcorn ready, and buckled up for what should be an exciting final round between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. With plenty of star power between these two teams, I eagerly awaited the horological highlights at the post-game press conferences. I just wanted to see a glimmer, a shimmer of a bezel that would be enough for me to discern the make and model of their watches.
Initially, I planned to do a comprehensive NBA Finals watch spotting, as every horological journal would and will eventually do. However, much to my surprise, I saw a watch that changed my focus. I noticed it after game one but needed to let it simmer for a bit.
Jayson Tatum, well-known in the watch world for his eclectic selection, particularly his extensive collection of Richard Mille watches (including an RM-055 Bubba Watson), was spotted wearing a Richard Mille. No surprise there. But the model he wore did catch me off guard. It made me do a double take, like Chris Tucker in Friday.
The moment I saw the tonneau-shaped case, it was clear it was an RM. The exact model was TBD. The press conference never gave a good shot or angle, and my hopes were somewhat dashed until the next day when Celtics photographer Rich LeMay posted a photo.
With that photo, I recognized the slimmed-down tonneau case and color scheme. It was the RM 07-01 Memphis design watch, released last summer. To clarify, when we say Memphis design, we’re not talking about the Southern city known for cowboy boots and guitar plucking. We are referring to the ’80s Italian design school founded by Ettore Sottsass. Memphis design is best described as colorful, loud, haphazard, and a mix of street art and elementary shapes. It perfectly complements a Richard Mille watch.
Born from the revelatory mind of Cécile Guenat, the Creative and Development Director at Richard Mille, this trio of watches balances fun, high fashion, and haute horology in one package.
The RM 07-01 watch collection showcases a vibrant Memphis-inspired palette with soft powder blue, delicate blush pink, and pastel lavender hues. The high-performance ceramic cases are crafted from advanced Tetragonal Zirconia Polycrystal (TZP), a cutting-edge material renowned for its biocompatibility and exceptional durability. TZP combines resistance to corrosion, remarkable hardness (1,400 Vickers) for enhanced scratch resistance, and unparalleled toughness surpassing even the resilience of sapphire.
While the overall silhouette remains quintessentially RM, the true showstopper lies in the vibrant Memphis design and meticulous hand finishing. At the heart of the watch, a gray PVD-coated red gold skeleton dial is anchored to the baseplate and bridges, crafted from high-strength grade 5 titanium. This intricate backdrop showcases the iconic Memphis pattern, artfully embellished with colored ceramic accents, laser-cut rubber inlays, and sparkling diamond-set details. The RM 07-01 houses the Caliber CRMA2 – a skeletonized automatic movement with hours, minutes, and adjustable rotor geometry with a power reserve of 50 hours.
Although this watch was technically marketed as a “ladies’ watch,” the trend of men wearing what have been identified as ladies’ watches is well-established. The genderization of watches is a trend that has generally been bucked around the industry. I see plenty of women wearing 41mm Subs as much as I see men wearing bedazzled Piagets. If it fits, it sits. If it looks good, who cares? And damn, does Tatum rock the hell out of this timepiece.
I’m surprised we haven’t seen more watch content coming out of the Finals, even though we are two games in. However, if the rest of the players bring the same flair and passion for watches as they do on the court, we are in for a treat in the next few games.