Following the unveiling of Hublot‘s first central tourbillon at Only Watch, a collaborative MP Model designed in partnership with Takashi Murakami, the two are collaborating yet again. This time unveiled a completely translucent watch that will retail in the six figures, the latest of the brand’scollector-driven special editions produced in partnership with the famous Japanese contemporary artist, best known for his iconic smiling flower motif.
The MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire. Limited to just 50 pieces priced at US$316,000, this timepiece represents a groundbreaking fusion of art and technology. Showcases the central flying tourbillon, with the case, movement and dial fused into a singular seamless entity. Encircling the tourbillon is Murakami’s signature motif: a 12-petal flower crafted entirely from sapphire. Completely transparent, the 42mm watch features a sapphire case, caseback, crown, translucent flange and strap, achieving a level of luminosity that allows sunlight to not just shine on but pass through the floral piece.
To facilitate easy winding, Hublot provides a specially designed stylus that is rechargeable via a USB socket. The stylus, placed on the crown, smoothly winds through 100 revolutions, ensuring the tourbillon is fully wound and ready for action. Hublot challenges traditional watchmaking principles with the MP-15’s peripheral hands that boldly pass beneath the tourbillon cage. The escapement and hands share a central space, requiring a co-axial construction with pivoted cannon pinion and hour wheel. The tourbillon itself is a work of art, designed without an upper bridge, allowing a captivating view of its skeletonized components.
Despite its innovative features, the watch retains standard markers for easy reading, with twelve white indices and black-plated hands coated in SuperLuminova for visibility in any light. The watch, traditionally wound and set with a crown at 3 o’clock, boasts a modest 42 mm diameter and an integrated rubber strap for supreme comfort.
“Up until now, my work has focused on color,” Murakami said in the news release. “It was a really exciting challenge to start a whole new chapter focusing on absolute transparency. The forms and volumes are perceived completely differently. With Hublot, we were able to preserve the individuality of my floral motif, but with a unique and different identity which was purer and perfectly in tune with Hublot’s mechanical universe.”