Hublot Only Watch 2023. In support of the Only Watch charity auction Hublot collaborated with Takashi Murakami to create a unique piece for Only Watch
In support of the Only Watch charity auction (Geneva, 5 November 2023), Hublot collaborated with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, a friend of the brand since 2020, to create a truly unique piece where Haute Horlogerie meets Haute Joaillerie.
Unique in its nature (only one piece has been created), but also in its construction, the Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon for Only Watch features a central tourbillon framed by a 12-petalled daisy, tipped with green as a sign of hope.
The case is made in polished sapphire crystal with a bezel - the 12 petals - crafted from polished stainless steel and set with 444 gemstones that give the piece a bright, joyful aesthetic. Like a real flower, these petals are angled towards the centre of the movement.
In the vision of Takashi Murakami, the central tourbillon – the heart of the watch beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour – represents the heart of the person who buys it at the auction in aid of research against Duchenne's disease, and also the hearts of those children fighting the disease.
Hublot’s very first central tourbillon represented a big challenge as it is very complicated to indicate the hours and minutes which compete for the same central position.
To succeed in this endeavour, the cannon pinion and the hour wheel had to be pivoted around the tourbillon support by creating a co-axial construction. This was made possible thanks to the central flying tourbillon that is seemingly suspended in mid-air with two hands passing under its cage to indicate the hours and minutes.
These hands gravitate towards 12 luminescent indices that echo the colours of the 2023 edition of the Hublot for Only Watch, as well as keeping the exact proportions required by the design of the iconic motif of Murakami’s work.
Thanks to its two barrels, the hand-wound HUB9015 movement offers a 150-hour power reserve (almost a whole week) – a very rare feature for such a construction. Mounted in series but on a single plane, these generously proportioned barrels can be admired through the case back which is made entirely from sapphire.
Under its domed sapphire crystal, this MP-15 Only Watch 2023 reveals a fine laser engraving depicting a broad smile, complete with two smiling eyes.
This piece comes with a unique calligraphy created by Takashi Murakami's own hand. He explains: "I decided to pick up calligraphy again. My mother used to love it and I took many classes in this art from the age of five to seventeen. I progressed to a very high level, attaining the 7th dan, which is equivalent to assistant instructor. When I went to art school, my calligraphy practice became more sporadic. But my mother brought it up whenever I spoke to her! So, I decided to return to it, working directly on my used coffee filter paper, which is a very good base for the ink. This enabled me to create unique calligraphy, “Time of Rainbow”, inspired by the unique watch I have designed with Hublot for Only Watch 2023."
Measuring 42 mm x 13.4 mm , the Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon for Only Watch offers water resistance up to 30 meters / 100 feet and is fitted with a transparent decorated rubber with Takashi Murakami flower motif.
The Only Watch estimate for this model is CHF 350,000 - 400,000. hublot.com
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