Hublot introduced the new Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black model, designed in collaboration with Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami.
Born in Tokyo, Japan Murakami is most appreciated for his unique ability to blend traditional Japanese art education with popular culture. Its art, which is often full of wild colors and enthusiasm, is interestingly regarded as a combination of high art and pedestrian art. However, Murakami's seemingly innocent work conceals a dark message, "a subtle critique of Japan's contemporary culture and the intrusive influence of the West on that culture," as explained in the artist's profile on theartstory.org. As was the inspiration behind Murakami's incredibly well-known Flowers work, which aims to convey the undertone of the destruction message created by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings in 1945.
Working closely together, Murakami and Hublot decided to design the new model on the Classic Fusion platform. The single flower figure, which then decided to be three-dimensional and dynamic, was another mutual decision of the duo. For this, Hublot watchmakers placed the face of the flower on a fixed dome-shaped sapphire disk. The 12 leaves were then mounted in a ball bearing system such that they would spin freely as when the watch is worn. Finally, for a final touch, the flower's face and petals were embellished with a total of 563 black diamonds.
Designed in Classic Fusion style, the case is 45mm in diameter and 13.45mm thick. Sapphire crystals are used on both sides of the black ceramic case, which consists of satin and glossy surfaces. The case was produced resistant to 50 meters of water pressure.
The dial of the model is prepared in black lacquer tone and decorated with a flower figure with 12 petals. The figure, which hosts a total of 563 diamonds, including the smiling dome-shaped center, is fixed to the movement with a mechanism that can rotate freely with the movement of the wrist.
The Caliber MHUB1214 UNICO movement, developed and produced by the brand in-house, was used to give life to the new model. The automatic movement operating at a frequency of 4Hz (28'800 A / h) provides 72 hours of power reserve when fully wound. The basic components of the movement, which can be viewed through the sapphire crystal display on the case back, have been darkened following the general theme of the model.
To accompany the model limited to only 200 units, a rubber strap with black line detail and a Hublot signed folding clasp made of black coated stainless steel were preferred. The list price for the model is CHF 25,900.