The Ambanis, the richest family in Asia, as per Forbes, recently hosted Rihanna, the billionaire beauty mogul, in India. Flying in to announce the official launch of her brand, Fenty Beauty, RiRi (as her fans call her) shared heartfelt moments at the Ambani residence. Showing her around Vantara, the world’s largest animal rescue, Anant Ambani flaunted a diamond-studded ‘falcon’ on his wrist.
Spotted wearing the Richard Mille RM 57-02 Black Baguette Falcon, it is reportedly priced at $4.2 million, as per Celeb Watch Spotter. Converting to nearly Rs 40 crore, as per current rates, this timepiece is nothing short of couture, but a spec in Anant Ambani’s vast Rs 200 crore watch collection.
This comes after he was spotted wearing a Rs 10 crore Jacob & Co watch, which had over 300 diamonds and 600 moving components. Tied together seamlessly to embody the Hindu deity Lord Shiva, it not only had the symbol ‘Om’ but a music box that played a Godfather theme song.
Anant Ambani’s Richard Mille watch
The Richard Mille RM 57-02 Tourbillon Falcon is a highly detailed, limited-edition watch crafted in white gold and set with sapphires. At its centre sits a hand-carved and hand-finished falcon, captured mid-attack, adding a strong visual identity to the piece.
The watch is set with pavé diamonds and dark baguette-cut sapphires that appear almost black in natural light. In total, it features 532 stones, including VVS diamonds weighing around 9.34 carats.
Beyond its decorative elements, the watch is built as a serious high-performance timepiece. Its skeletonised tourbillon movement is visible through the falcon’s structure, combining intricate mechanics with artistic design. The falcon motif also aligns with Anant Ambani’s known interest in wildlife and conservation through Vantara, making the piece both personal and symbolic.
Anant Ambani’s Richard Mille collection
Anant Ambani’s Falcon Richard Mille is just a piece from the collection. Studded with sapphires, titanium, and ceramic, these picks are some of the rarest in the entire world. Part of haute horology reserved for billionaires, Anant Ambani’s collection from the luxury Swiss watchmaker has pieces worth more than Rs 12 crore alone.
The RM 56-01 Green Sapphire, which comes with a $22 million price tag, was spotted on Anant Ambani’s wrist during one of his outings with Radhika Merchant. With just five of its kind in the entire world, the RM 56-01 calibre is made from sapphire, crystal, and titanium.
The first from the Tourbillon series, the RM 52-05 Tourbillon Pharrell Williams, is reportedly worth Rs 12.5 crore, and only 30 pieces exist worldwide. This rare Richard Mille timepiece is more than a jewel, but a statement. Resembling the universe, the dial features sapphire to recreate the cosmic look. With a titanium alloy, the Swiss luxury watch was spotted on Ambani’s wrist during a visit to the Krishna Kali temple.
The Samurai Tourbillon is not far behind. Limited to 75 pieces worldwide, it is an ode to rich Japanese culture. With components of the dial made with yellow gold, this timepiece is followed by an RM 52-04 Skull Blue Sapphire in Anant Ambani’s watch collection. With a pre-loved piece retailing for more than Rs 15 crore on Chrono24, this limited edition watch is a true haute horlogerie. Made with titanium, a skull motif sits in the middle with a ruby that shines red between the jaw of the skull.
From Rados to Milles – Watches as investment
Ansh Barodia, the owner of Gangoly Watches and Eyewear—Delhi’s oldest watch boutique founded in 1935—recently joined the business, following in the footsteps of his father, Mayank Barodia, a notable watch collector. He gave financialexpress.com an insight into the watch-buying trend.
He said, “The trend has always been there. People are into high-end luxury pieces because it symbolises their status. The only difference I’ve been noticing these days is that people now have more exposure. So they have more knowledge and that’s why they are more open to exploring other brands.” Barodia further explained that while earlier generations might limit their purchase to a Rado, today people are willing to explore other premium and luxury brands.
“I’ve seen a rise, especially after COVID,” Barodia told financialexpress.com in a telephonic conversation. The premium watch retailer estimated that people realised during the pandemic that it is better to spend money on themselves rather than saving.
Giving us an insight into a watch collector’s closet, he revealed that while fashion brands like Tiffany & Co or Bvlgari might not make the cut, “But, if you look at the majority of watch collectors [in India], they are more into Omegas, Rolexes, APs [Audemars Piguet], and Pateks.”
Speaking about the rising interest in billionaire watch collections and assets, Ansh Barodia further revealed, “People are now focussing on investment purposes. They want a watch with precious metals, diamonds, or rubies so that it eventually appreciates in value,” and added how they prefer limited editions and customisable versions of their watches.