Hublot And Takashi Murakami unveil a unique Black Ceramic Rainbow Watch
Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black ceramic rainbow
As a result of their new collaboration, Hublot and Japanese artist Takashi Murakami present thirteen new NFTs and thirteen unique timepieces including the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow.
The collaboration announcement, which took place on February 2nd at the Glass House in New York, saw the dynamic duo present their third joint artistic project, only two years after their first in 2021 where Murakami’s ‘Smiling Flower’ was explored.
Two years down the line, the two protagonists are interlinking their previous partnerships by rewarding the first buyers of the watches and collectors of the first NFTs through an exclusive approach. An artistic collaboration, we presume created to fortify the link between Hublot and Art, an initiative the LVMH-owned watchmaking brand has been spearheading for over a decade.
Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black ceramic rainbow
Japanese artist Takashi Murakami
Currently, only one of the thirteen watches has been unveiled: The Hublot Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow, referred to as the “masterpiece of the collection”. To discover the remaining twelve models, you will have to be armed with patience as the styles will only be revealed at Watches & Wonders, the watch fair held in Geneva between March 27th and April 2nd, 2023.
Interestingly, very specific conditions of sale will need to be respected if you intend to become the proud owner of one of the watches. Hublot has announced that the latest timepieces will only be made available to those who acquired one of the 324 NFTs from 2022. Subsequently, if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one of the watches, you will be offered one of the 12 associated exclusive NFTs inspired by Japanese video games & TV from the 70s.
You’ll then be given one year to trade the NFTs on OpenSea, the world's first and largest web3 marketplace for NFTs and crypto collectibles. Come April 2024, the proud owner of the 12 NFTs will be given the opportunity to buy the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow.
Taking inspiration from the two previously launched pieces, this watch reinterprets the iconic emblem of Takashi Murakami: the smiling flower. Here, the 12 petals of the flower form a perfect gradient of rubies, sapphires, amethysts, tsavorites and topaz. Thanks to an ingenious ball-bearing system developed by Hublot’s engineers, the petals create a dizzying spectacle of colour as they spin on an axis with each movement. The kinetic effect of the petals creates a striking effect against the 45mm black ceramic case. The centre of the smiling flower is placed on top of the sapphire glass to create a three-dimensional effect.
However, should no-one manage to collect all twelve NFTs, the horological marvel will be auctioned by Hublot to raise funds for charity.
We can’t wait to discover how this crazy gamble pans out and which metaverse lover gets their hands on the prize.
CLASSIC FUSION TAKASHI MURAKAMI BLACK CERAMIC RAINBOW TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS
REFERENCE
507.CX.9099.RX.TAK23 UNIQUE PIECE
MOVEMENT
Unico Manufacture, self-winding
Frequency: 4 (28'800 A/H) Power reserve (hours): 72 Number of components : 256 Jewels : 30
STRAP AND CLASP
Black lined rubber
Black-plated stainless steel deployant buckle clasp
GLASS
On Top the Polished Smiling 3D Flower Head
Set with 103 Colored Gemstones
DIAL
Microblasted rhodium-plated Rotating décor with 12 petals
set with 384 coloured gemstones
CASE
Satin-finished and polished black ceramic
Diameter: 45 mm Thickness: 13.45 mm Water resistance: 5 ATM
CASEBACK
Polished black ceramic
BEZEL
Satin-finished and polished black ceramic