Lot 20
HUBLOT
MP-15 TAKASHI MURAKAMI TOURBILLON ONLY WATCH
This sapphire watch is inspired by Takashi Murakami’s iconic smiling flower with at its centre Hublot’s first ever central tourbillon, surrounded by twelve petals set with 444 gemstones. The watch boasts an impressive power reserve of 150 hours.
Description
The MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Only Watch represents the Art of Fusion between Hublot and the artist, by merging the exceptional know-how of the Swiss luxury watchmaker with the playful universe of Takashi Murakami. This masterpiece is crafted in sapphire and showcases a unique central tourbillon especially conceived for this watch.
This complication represents the fusion of art and horological design. The idea is certainly to have Haute Horlogerie take centre stage physically, but not only that. The idea is also to show that the tourbillon – the beating heart of the watch – represents the heart of the person who buys it at the auction in aid of research against Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and also the hearts of those children fighting the disease.
Imagining this piece, Takashi Murakami explicitly requested the inclusion of a central tourbillon. A challenge in and of itself, this would become Hublot’s very first central tourbillon. This was a difficult challenge because, it becomes very complicated to indicate the hours and minutes which compete for the same central position. By accepting Takashi Murakami’s challenge, Hublot would have to make the right choices in order to integrate the aesthetic components of the central tourbillon to the technical requirements.
Specifications
Model name:
MP-15 Takashi Murakami Only Watch Sapphire
Ref: 915.JX.4802.RT.1198.OWM23
Case:
Polished sapphire — Shaped as Takashi Murakami’s smiling flower
Dial:
Smiling flower face with colored luminescent (Super-LumiNova) indices that echo the colors of the 10th Edition of Only Watch
Calibre:
HUB9015 Manual-winding central flying tourbillon
Bracelet:
Transparent rubber with smiling flower — Sapphire and titanium clasp
Dimensions:
Diameter: 42mm
Specificities:
Designed with Takashi Murakami — Sapphire watch case — Central flying tourbillon — 444 gemstones — Colourful luminescent indices — Power reserve: 150 hours — Decorated rubber strap
Artwork
A unique calligraphy in black ink on coffee filter paper, "Time of Rainbow", by Takashi Murakami will be gifted with the sale of the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Only.
The brand
Hublot
Hublot is a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1980 based in Nyon. For its first timepiece, this disruptive company combined gold with a rubber strap in a case with a design inspired by a ship’s porthole (hublot in French). Thus, the Art of Fusion was born, blending tradition, innovation, craftsmanship, and talents. It became the brand's aesthetic and technical signature.
This identity was strengthened in 2005 with the Big Bang, which attested to an unrivalled know-how in terms of complications, manufacture movements and state-of-the-art materials. Magic Gold, ceramic, sapphire and carbon have been developed to technical extremes.
This ground-breaking approach to watchmaking is summed up in its philosophy ‘Be First, Unique and Different.’ It gradually led to other collections with innovative designs: Classic Fusion, Shaped Collection and Manufacture Pieces. These draw on high levels of craftsmanship, both in terms of the materials so dear to Hublot and its manufacture movements.