Following a very successful debut collab that gave birth to the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black timepiece only last February, Swiss watchmaker Hublot once again teams up with fashion's favourite Japanese artist to treat us with something a little bit more flashy, Murakami-style.
Left: Artist Takashi Murakami, Right: The Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow watch, by Hublot
Though sexy and iconic in its own right, the earlier All Black model was lacking the one thing we truly adore about Murakami’s art: colour. As if answering our prayers, just when the festive season is swinging into motion, Hublot unveils the new Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow, a sparkling timepiece that highlights Murakami’s signature smiling flower in a riot of rainbow hues—a key trend this season.
“Our continuing collaboration with Takashi Murakami is taking us to new lands of expression as yet unexplored by the watchmaking world. In this work, artistic creation and our company's know-how intertwine to give birth to a work of art you can wear on your wrist!” - Ricardo Guadalupe, HUBLOT CEO
A total of 487 coloured stones dress the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow by Hublot
The design follows its predecessor’s, featuring a 3D smiling flower that protrudes from the dial, its face emerging beyond the sapphire crystal encasement. A total of 487 stones cover the flower, expressing a gradient polychromatic effect by way of rubies, pink sapphires, amethysts, blue sapphires, tsavorites, yellow and orange sapphires. Similar to the All Black model, the twelve petals rotate around the face, courtesy of an ingenious ball-bearing system specially developed by Hublot’s engineers.
Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black watch, Hublot
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Apart from its celebratory colours, one other feature separates the Sapphire Rainbow model from the All Black: this time round, the watch is transparent. Honouring the characteristic features of the Classic Fusion model, the Sapphire Rainbow’s 45 mm case is cut from sapphire crystal, a technological feat pioneered by Hublot. The see-through case and back allow us to view not just the beauty of Murakami’s art but also the intricate machinations that beat at the heart of this Hublot masterpiece. That heart is Hublot’s own HUB1214 calibre—produced here without its stopwatch function—that is energised by a power reserve of 72 hours.
“This partnership with Hublot has enabled me to express my creativity in what is a totally new medium for me. The mastery of the watchmaker’s technicians has opened up new fields of possibilities for my inspiration. The result is this new watch in the colours of the rainbow.” – Takashi Murakami
This Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow watch is available in a limited edition of 100 numbered pieces. The watch is priced at MYR450,000.
