The Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black. For its first collaboration with a Japanese contemporary artist, Hublot has created a subtly executed animated design based on the theme of Murakami’s artistic emblem, the smiling flower.
Takashi Murakami. His visually very modern style offers a subtle reflection between Japanese tradition and pop culture. He masterfully achieves this result by combining leading-edge multimedia tools with traditional Japanese techniques such as gold leaf. He coined the name Superflat for the artistic movement he began. The artist has also previously done collaborations with Hublot’s sister brand Louis Vuitton.
The Hublot Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black
Retail price is USD 27’300, the limited edition to 200 pieces. We understand it is already sold out.
The Case and Dial
The all black case is sized at 45 mm in diameter and 13.45 mm in thickness. The case is a mix of satin and polished black ceramic.
It might be hard to tell from pictures, hence a video attached, but the center of the flower is actually sitting on the crystal. The polished Smiling 3D Flower Head Set protrudes beyond the flat crystal and is decorated with 107 Black Diamonds.
The petals are black plated and set with 456 Black Diamonds. The petals are rotating on a ball bearing system and spins like a weighted rotor.
Perhaps missed out in official write-ups, the crown also appears to be redesigned. It looks like a flat onion shape, mimicking a flower from its stem.
The watch is water resistant to 50 m and also features an open caseback.
The Movement
The watchmakers in Nyon have installed the manufacture Unico calibre MHUB1214, a movement offering a 72-hour power reserve.
The modern styled movement uses Anthracite Ruthenium on its main plate and bridges, while the tungsten oscillating weight is plated anthracite grey. The movement features skeletonized sections to show more of the gears like an open-worked design. A silicon lever escapement is also used, beating at 4 Hz.
Concluding thoughts
The watch looks very attractive despite its all black color. The spinning dial with all that diamonds and the contrasting satin-polished ceramic surfaces make for a highly reflective timepiece. Subtle bling if one were to term it. Priced at USD 27’300, the limited edition to 200 piece collaboration piece is expected to be highly collectible especially in Japan, where the artist Takashi Murakami hails from and where Hublot has a super fan base.
