Rapper French Montana has reached a confidential settlement to end a lawsuit involvnig a Richard Mille watch. The legal dispute, brought by two Swiss businessmen, centered on a timepiece valued at over $1 million.
The million-dollar RM-59-01 and the Paris Fashion Week loan
The dispute between French Montana and Swiss businessmen Justo Obiang and Samir Gato began with a request to borrow a high-value asset. According to the report, the pair had known the rapper since 2015 , but the relationship soured in 2024 during a promotional video shoot in Egypt. The plaintiffs claim that French Montana repeatedly asked to exchange his own watch for their jointly owned Richard Mille RM-59-01.
When the businessmen refused the exchange, French Montana allegedly proposed borrowing the RM-59-01 specifically to wear it at Paris Fashion Week in January 2025. As reported, the artist promised to return the timepiece within 30 days, a timeline that Obiang and Gato eventually accepted based on the rapper's public standing.
A counterfeit Mille as collateral for Karim Kharbouch
Allegations against Karim Kharbouch, the birth name of French Montana, suggest a level of deception that went beyond a simple failure to return borrowed property. To secure the loan of the RM-59-01 , French Montana reportedly offered his own diamond-encrusted Richard Mille as collateral. However, the plaintiffs later discovered that the watch provided as security was actually a counterfeit.
The lawsuit accused the rapper of conversion, fraudulent misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment. According to the report, Justo Obiang attempted to resolve the matter via text, asking French Montana if he intended to keep the watch. While the rapper allegedly claimed he would travel to Paris to retrieve the item, the report states that this trip never occurred.
The legal mechanism of replevin in the $1 million watch case
The use of "replevin" in the lawsuit filed against French Montana highlights the specific legal strategy used to recover high-value physical assets. Unlike a standard suit for monetary damages, replevin is a legal remedy that demands the actual return of the property in question. This approach is common in disputes involving unique luxury goods, such as rare timepieces or fine art, where the item's value is tied to its specific identity rather than its market price.
This case echoes a broader trend of "friendship-based" luxury lending among the global elite, where informal agreements often collide with the strict requirements of contract law. When high-net-worth individuals rely on "reputation" rather than formal contracts, they often find themselves in the position of Justo Obiang and Samir Gato, forced to use the courts to recover assets from public figures.
The undisclosed terms of the July 27 settlement
The July 27 filing regarding the settlement between French Montana, Justo Obiang, and Samir Gato confirms that the legal battle has ended, but it leaves several critical questions unanswered. most notably, the filing does not disclose whether the RM-59-01 was actually returned to the Swiss businessmen or if French Montana provided a cash payment to resolve the claim.
Furthermore, the agreement explicitly states that the settlement does not constitute an admission of liability, fault, or wrongdoing by any party. Because neither the rapper nor the plaintiffs have responded to requests for comment, the public is left without confirmation regarding the validity of the counterfeit collateral claim or the final financial tally of the resolution.
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