Hublot | New releases from Watches and Wonders - Part Two

Classic Fusion Chronograph Orlinski

Whether you’re an art lover, timepiece connoisseur or perhaps a little bit of both, the latest release from Hublot and world-renowned French contemporary artist is sure to get your heart racing.

Six years and four models later, each one bearing the undeniable mark of the artist behind the contours. While some of you will be drawn to the facets created by the signature folds and iconic angular architecture, others will simply fall in love with the mechanics of the Hublot chronograph dial. For us? We think it might be both.

Crafted in micro-blasted titanium and boasting a 41mm case, pick from either an iconic black rubber strap or one that extends its three-dimensional silhouette along the entire watch, which of course is only possible thanks to some technical Hublot wizardry that combines comfort with aesthetic.

Bringing magic fusion to a new peak, the micro-blasted titanium brings a matt finish to the facets and a striking dodecagonal shape that transforms the bezel into a polygon (a signature mark of the collaboration). The result is what can only be described as a wearable work of art.

Behind each tick of this masterpiece? The HUB1153 automatic chronograph movement, fusing watchmaking and sculpture together to really push the limits and create a work of art that’s sure to stand the test of time.

Hublot and Takashi Murakami

Another collaboration for Hublot and Takashi Murakami but this one’s going to prove tricky to get your hands on. Boasting 13 new NFT models and 13 unique timepieces featuring the iconic smiling flower that is central to the Japanese artist’s work, these delightful watches are inspired by Japanese video games and TV from the 1970s as well as the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black.

The fourth joint artistic project (the last one was in 2021), this latest collaboration represents a continuation of past projects. And the loyal Hublot fans amongst you will be rewarded with the opportunity to be the first buyers of the watches in this exclusive approach. These NFTs are linked to a limited edition of 13 new and unique Classic Fusion watches that were at Watches & Wonders 2023 in Geneva, 12 of which will be available for purchase exclusively with Hublot online. However, these can only be accessed by owners of at least one of the 324 NFTs issued in April 2022 as part of the third collaboration between Hublot and Takashi Murakami, in another bold and daring move from the brand.

The 13th watch of the collection unveiled in New York earlier this year, is the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow and is what can only be described as a masterpiece. Inspired by the two previous models it boasts the smiling flower design with 12 petals of the flower forming a perfect gradient of rubies, sapphires, amethysts, tsavorites and topaz. But it doesn’t end there.

An ingenious ball-bearing system allows the petals to create a dizzying spectacle of colour as they spin on an axis with each movement creating a striking effect against the 45mm black ceramic case, while the centre of the smiling flower is placed on top of the sapphire glass to create a three-dimensional effect. Impressed? So are we. However, there is a catch… This piece of art is available to a single buyer who manages to obtain all twelve NFTs corresponding to the other watches in this collection.

The powerhouse behind these exquisite timepieces is the manufacture Unico calibre set in the emblematic Classic Fusion design, offering a 72-hour power reserve.

MP-13 Tourbillion Bi-Axis

Now, some might say we’ve left the best until the last and that is absolutely the case (in our humble opinion). A new chapter in the Hublot MP story, get ready to discover a collection of masterpieces that embody disruptive, creative, and technical Haute Horlogerie for the eager watch collectors.

Defying conventions in typical Hublot style, the latest 44mm MP-13 is encased entirely in brushed titanium with a black rubber strap and combines two complications in a first for the brand, the tourbillion and the retrograde display.

The tourbillon features two axes—a considerable feat in the horology world, as Hublot is one of only a few watchmakers capable of manufacturing a double-axis tourbillon entirely in-house, having first done so with the MP-09 in 2017. Able to complete a full rotation every minute on one axis and every 30 seconds on the other for a view that is both hypnotic and technical.

And for a little bit of added magic, Hublot has crafted a tourbillion that is skeletonised and suspended creating weightlessness that traditional versions lack. With no upper bridge and each component pared back allowing light to pass through unobstructed. Purely for aesthetics purposes, the space surrounding the 6 o’clock tourbillon has been opened up and is protected on both sides by anti-reflective sapphire crystal.

Highly wearable, with a guaranteed power reserve of at least four days, which in itself is a challenge for this model because not only is the movement retrograde it is bi-retrograde (another first for this timepiece). Never usually seen together the double-axis, bi-retrograde and four-day power reserve due to their energy-intensive nature.

Finally, adding to the series of firsts, Hublot has designed a bi-retrograde movement for both hours and minutes helping to make telling the time highly intuitive.

So, watch fans, it should come as no surprise that this ground-breaking MP-13 Tourbillion Bi-Axis will be limited to just 50 numbered pieces. And with 374 components in each model, we can see why.