Richard Mille RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson Gold 43mm Men Manual Watch

For a high-complication sports watch, comfort is where this Richard Mille RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson becomes especially interesting. The visual story is loud: transparent crystal case architecture, pink detailing, and an exposed tourbillon. But on the wrist, the real surprise is how the strap and clasp system help control a large, technical case. This is a **men’s manual-wind mechanical sports watch** in the RM 38-02 series, presented here in a gold-toned visual profile with a 43mm case size and a white rubber strap that softens the intensity of the design.

Richard Mille introduced the RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson in 2017 as a collaboration with professional golfer Bubba Watson. That context matters. This is not a delicate dress tourbillon pretending to be athletic. The RM 38-02 belongs to Richard Mille’s line of ultra-light sports tourbillons, created with real wear dynamics in mind. Even before looking closely at the movement, the ergonomics tell you what the watch wants to be: secure, balanced, and wearable despite the dramatic tonneau-shaped case.

Front view highlighting the transparent case and skeletonized display.

The white rubber strap is a major part of that daily comfort equation. On a watch with a visually substantial case, strap material matters more than people think. Rubber gives flex where a rigid bracelet would add pressure points, especially around the lower lugs and clasp area. Here, the white strap also changes the character of the watch. It keeps the piece from feeling overly dense or top-heavy in appearance, while practically helping the watch sit more naturally across the wrist. For collectors used to complicated watches that look better than they feel after a few hours, this is a meaningful detail.

The white rubber strap contributes strongly to wrist comfort and fit.

The clasp side of ergonomics matters just as much. A well-designed clasp keeps tension even, avoids pinching, and prevents the case from rolling. On a sports-focused Richard Mille, that stability is essential because the watch case has presence in every dimension. Catalog dimensions for the model are approximately 43.7 mm by 50.0 mm by 15.95 mm, so this is not a small piece. The success of the wear experience depends on how effectively the strap and clasp distribute that footprint. The result is a watch that looks extreme but is built to remain controlled on the wrist.

Side profile showing the thickness and curved tonneau case form.

Visually, the case is one of the defining features. The stated highlights include a **transparent crystal case with crystal bezel and caseback**, and that transparency transforms the entire watch. Instead of a conventional exterior hiding the caliber, the case opens the movement from nearly every angle. Light moves through the watch rather than stopping at the surface. That gives the RM 38-02 a floating quality uncommon in tourbillons, especially in sport-oriented ones.

The crystal architecture makes the movement visible from edge to edge.

The dial is skeletonized, with the tourbillon clearly visible. Richard Mille’s strength in this category is not just exposing parts for spectacle, but arranging them to create depth and directional structure. The bridges and openworked layout give the watch a technical center of gravity. Published information for the RM38-02 caliber notes grade 5 titanium baseplate and bridges, along with indicators for hours, minutes, power reserve, and torque. Even without overloading the watch visually, the movement communicates that this is a serious mechanical instrument.

Skeletonized dial with the visible tourbillon at the heart of the display.

The pink accents are another signature element. They are inspired by Bubba Watson’s golf club, and they stop this watch from becoming a purely monochrome technical object. On many watches, bright accents can feel decorative. Here they feel personal and specific. They tie the watch directly to the athlete collaboration and give the openworked structure more energy. Against the transparent case and white strap, the pink notes stand out sharply.

Pink accents add identity and connect the watch to Bubba Watson’s golf influence.

This watch uses the **manual-wind RM 38-02 movement**, which suits the model well. A manual movement keeps the architecture open and preserves the visual drama of the skeletonized display. It also creates a more direct interaction with the watch. For collectors who enjoy winding their pieces, this adds ritual without compromising the technical character. The stated **approximate 52-hour power reserve** is practical enough for rotation wear; you can set it down for a day or two without the watch immediately stopping.

Manual-wind movement architecture remains fully visible through the case.

Comfort returns again when you think about daily use. The tonneau shape helps the watch follow the wrist better than a large flat case would. The strap’s flexibility supports that shape, and the clasp keeps the watch centered. This matters because transparency and skeletonization can make a watch look lighter than it wears; if the fit is wrong, the illusion breaks instantly. Here, the ergonomics appear designed to preserve that light, controlled feeling. It is a sports watch, but not in the conventional steel-bracelet sense. Its comfort strategy is material-driven and geometry-driven.

The curved case and strap integration help the watch sit securely on the wrist.

The transparent caseback continues the theme. This is a watch intended to be examined from both sides, not just read from the front. For owners who care about movement finishing, structural layout, and the theatrical effect of a modern tourbillon, the open back is essential. It also reinforces the point that the RM 38-02 is less about a dial surface and more about a mechanical landscape enclosed by crystal.

Rear view showing the crystal caseback and full movement exposure.

The additional image set gives closer views of the same strengths: the transparent build, the white strap, the skeletonized caliber, and the assertive pink detailing. Together they show why this RM 38-02 works beyond first impact. It is visually radical, but it also pays attention to the mundane part of ownership: how a large watch closes, flexes, and remains comfortable over time.

Thumbnail view of the front case and dial layout.

Thumbnail view of the strap and side profile.

Thumbnail side angle emphasizing the case thickness.

Thumbnail front shot of the transparent crystal case.

Thumbnail close-up of the skeletonized tourbillon display.

Thumbnail detail of the pink accent design.

Thumbnail movement-side look through the case.

Thumbnail view of case curvature and strap fit.

Thumbnail rear shot of the crystal caseback.

In the end, the Richard Mille RM 38-02 Tourbillon Bubba Watson is compelling not only because it is transparent, skeletonized, and mechanically advanced, but because it recognizes a practical truth: a high-performance men’s watch still has to wear well. The white rubber strap and stable clasp ergonomics are not secondary details. They are what make this 43mm manual-wind sports tourbillon easier to live with beyond occasional display. For buyers drawn to Richard Mille’s technical design language but concerned about wrist comfort, this part of the RM 38-02 deserves real attention.