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Hublot’s MP-15 Takashi Murakami is looking crystal clear

by Revolution . Nov 10, 2023

News

Hublot’s MP-15 Takashi Murakami is looking crystal clear

Murakami’s mischievous design remains — those playful eyes and a broad smile.

Coming from the creator who started off his creations with every color of the rainbow, throwing them into NFTs, and who just bedazzled an all-sapphire crystal MP-15 with a variety of colorful gemstones for Only Watch, Takashi Murakami has decided to go naked this time. “Up until now, my work has focused on color,” said the Japanese artist.

“It was a really exciting challenge to start a whole new chapter focussing 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.”

MP-15 Tourbillon Sapphire

With the colors removed, there’s only one thing left to see … well, see-through. The intricate craftsmanship of the sapphire crystal case.

We had a first look with the case here when they debuted it for the Only Watch auction. The impressive architecture resembles a flower, with the silhouette taking the shape of flower petals.

The focal point of this avant-garde timepiece is Hublot’s inaugural series-produced central flying tourbillon — a groundbreaking achievement in the manufacture’s 40-year history. Positioned at the center, it shares space with a mesmerizing sapphire flower motif, a creation by the renowned artist Takashi Murakami.

The motif, comprised of 12 intricately crafted petals, is a symphony of soft curves and bold volumes, embodying Hublot’s pursuit of absolute transparency to enhance luminosity.

The time is indicated by peripheral hands by passing beneath the tourbillon cage. The technical feat is accentuated by the absence of an upper bridge in the tourbillon, exposing its skeletonized components, a visual testament to the meticulous craftsmanship behind this timepiece.

The watch remains legible, with white indices on the flange, black-plated hands with SuperLuminova, and easy winding with a crown at 3 o’clock.

The MP-15 boasts a 150-hour power reserve, a remarkable achievement for such a complication. To facilitate winding, Hublot includes a specially designed stylus that’s rechargeable via a USB cable.

You’re welcome to wind the crown as you normally would if you find the instrument-assisted method undeniably odd, but the added feature easily classifies the watch as a collector’s model — just like all the MPs, said Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe, in a statement.

Tech Specs: Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire

Movement: Manual-winding HUB9015 Tourbillon; 150-hour power reserve
Functions: Hours and minutes; Flying minute tourbillon
Case: 43mm; polished sapphire crystal; Water-resistant up to 100m
Dial: Polished transparent composite resin
Strap: Transparent decorated rubber; sapphire crystal and titanium deployant buckle
Price: CHF300,000; EUR330,000; USD316,000; GBP273,000
Availability: Limited to 50 pieces

MP-15 Tourbillon Sapphire

Tech Specs: Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire

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