Hublot’s relationship with the art industry is nothing new. The luxury watchmaker regularly draws on creative minds to collaborate on timepieces that push the boundaries of technical innovation and aesthetics. Most recently, Hublot released a new addition to its Classic Fusion line in collaboration with artist Richard Orlinski. Last year, the company also teamed up with French artist Marc Ferrero on a new version of its Big Bang One Click watch. There was also a collaboration with visionary designer Yohji Yamamoto who created a sleek new Big Bang GMT All Black. And Hublot shows no signs of slowing down.
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Today, the Swiss watchmaker added another art icon to its team of brand ambassadors—Takashi Murakami. And it’s truly a match made in heaven. The Japanese artist known for a style that fuses pop culture with traditional Japanese techniques is joining forces with the company known for the Art of Fusion, the philosophy that lies at its core.
And the result of this partnership is absolutely mesmerizing. After Murakami visited the company’s manufacture at the beginning of last year, the artist was inspired to put his signature twist on a Hublot legend—the Classic Fusion All Black.
The new watch is a triumph of art and technology. It features Murakami’s signature motif, the smiling flower present both in and on the watch. Thanks to a ball-bearing system developed by Hublot, the 12 black-plated petals start turning while the center of the flower is inserted onto the sapphire glass, creating a cool three-dimensional effect. In addition, 456 black diamonds transform the timepiece into a luxe objet d’art.
Another highlight of the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black? The 45mm case is crafted from polished ceramic and houses a Unico movement that offers 72 hours of power reserve. The timepiece is fitted with a black rubber strap with a black-plated stainless steel clasp.
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“When I visited the Hublot manufacture in Switzerland for the first time, I realized to what extent the traditional know-how, precision, futuristic technology, and craftsmanship were all intertwined in the creation of a watch. Bringing my art into the creativity of these watchmakers represents a unique adventure for me,” said Murakami in a press release.
The Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black is produced in 200 copies and retails for $27,300.
