To appreciate the watch, you would first have to learn about Murakami, his philosophy and motivations. You may not have heard his name, but you have seen his work. He pioneered the ‘Superflat’ art movement in Japan, and is a predecessor to designers like Virgil Abloh, collaborating with Lewis Hamilton, Kanye West, Ben Baller and fashion house Louis Vuitton. His art has permeated visual culture. Approaching this latest work, Murakami says that he is focused on creating artistic pieces for people 100 years into the future. “That is my timeline,” he says during its launch in Singapore recently.
With just 50 pieces available, the MP-15 is the first limited edition Hublot watch with a central flying tourbillon. The Flying Tourbillon is a variation of a movement pioneered by Abraham-Louis Breguet, the first of which was designed in 1920. Since then, its considered the most complicated mechanisms, reserved only for the most exclusive timepieces. For this model, Hublot has fused the case, movement and dial in a unique arrangement. In the dial’s customary location sits the complication, with the hands occupying a peripheral position. At the centre, Hublot’s first series-produced central flying tourbillon – unique and different from anything the manufacture has created in its 40 years. It is surrounded by Takashi Murakami’s iconic motif, a flower composed of 12 petals made entirely of sapphire. The flower features soft curves and bold, generous volumes.
“Up until now, my work has focused on colour. It was a really exciting challenge to start a whole new chapter focussing on absolute transparency. The forms and volumes are perceived completely differently. With Hublot, we were able to preserve the individuality of my floral motif, but with a unique and different identity which was purer and perfectly in tune with Hublot’s mechanical universe. I’m very proud of the result,” Murakami said.
Hublot’s aim was to create absolute transparency in order to maximise the luminosity of the MP-15: sapphire case, sapphire case-back, sapphire crown, translucent flange and strap. The central flying tourbillon features an impressive power reserve of 150 hours, almost a full week – an exceptional technical achievement for this type of complication. To enable it to be fully wound, Hublot has created a special stylus for which it has been specially designed, and rechargeable via a USB socket.
Aficionados will appreciate the technical feat: the hands literally pass beneath the tourbillon cage, in a bold affront to the basic principles of traditional watchmaking science. Here, the escapement and the hour and minute hands vie for position in a single central space. To accommodate them, the cannon pinion and the hour wheel had to be pivoted around the tourbillon support by creating a co-axial construction. Hublot has also designed its tourbillon without an upper bridge. All of its components are skeletonised. This makes it easy to appreciate just how much work has gone into developing the MP-15, in which some of the gears and all of the tourbillon components – which appear to float in space – are visible.
The deeply innovative MP-15 nevertheless features the standard markers that enable it to be worn naturally and easily. Twelve white indices appear on the flange, while black-plated hands with white SuperLuminova to ease legibility during day and night. The model is traditionally wound and set using a crown at 3 o’clock. The modest 42 mm diameter of this piece makes it supremely easy to wear, not least thanks to its integrated rubber strap which offers optimal comfort.
Spec Sheet
Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire
Movement HUB9015 Manual-Winding Tourbillon, Frequency: 3 (21,600 Vph), 13.40mm thick,25 jewels, 236 components
Functions Hours and minutes
Case Polished Sapphire Crystal, 42mm diameter,
Water Resistance 3 ATM / 30m
Strap/Bracelet Transparent Decorated Rubber
Power Reserve Approx. 150 hours
Price MYR 1,450,000