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Anant Ambani gifts Lionel Messi an ultra-rare Rs 9.94 crore Richard Mille watch during Vantara visit

The rare Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Tourbillon 'Asia Edition' watch, which Anant Ambani gave to Lionel Messi, is limited to just 12 units worldwide.

3 min readNew DelhiDec 17, 2025 05:02 PM IST

Anant Ambani gifts Lionel Messi a Richard Mille watch

Anant Ambani was also spotted wearing one of the rarest watches ever made, the Richard Mille RM 056

Lionel Messi’s trip to India created buzz for many reasons — from culture, conservation, and chaos to a jaw-dropping display of luxury. The highlight: a watch reportedly worth Rs 9.94 crore, reportedly gifted to the football great by Anant Ambani.

During his visit to Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre established by Anant, Messi was first seen without a watch. Midway through the visit, however, he appeared wearing an exceptionally rare Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Tourbillon ‘Asia Edition,’ a collector’s piece limited to just 12 units worldwide.

Considered one of Richard Mille’s earliest and most iconic creations, the timepiece is estimated to be valued at around $1.1 million.

🇮🇳⌚️ During his visit to India, Lionel Messi received an ultra-rare Richard Mille RM 003 V2 “Asia Edition” as a gift from Anant Ambani.

This watch is one of Richard Mille’s early and most iconic models, which estimated market value is $1.1 million. pic.twitter.com/r4r1lZYG2K

— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) December 16, 2025

Anant Ambani was also spotted wearing one of the rarest watches ever made, the Richard Mille RM 056 Sapphire Tourbillon. A one-of-a-kind creation, the watch is valued at $5 million, or roughly Rs 45.59 crore.

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Richard Mille RM 003-V2 watch

The RM 003-V2 is powered by a manual-winding tourbillon movement and includes hour and minute displays, a dual time zone, a function selector, power reserve and torque indicators.

Its design features a black carbon case, a skeletonised dial, and a titanium baseplate.

The 38 mm tripartite case is crafted from Carbon TPT (Thin Ply Technology), a material originally developed for aerospace engineering and Formula 1 racing.

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Messi’s Vantara visit

During his visit to Vantara, Messi also participated in traditional Hindu rituals, toured the conservation facilities, and spent time with caregivers and wildlife protection teams. The visit also highlighted the warm personal rapport between Messi and Anant Ambani, rooted in their shared interest in wildlife conservation.

Messi was joined by Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul, who received a traditional welcome complete with folk music, a ceremonial aarti and a shower of flower petals.

Messi also participated in a Maha Aarti at the temple, including Ambe Mata Puja, Ganesh Puja, Hanuman Puja and Shiv Abhishek, offering prayers for global peace and harmony.