Nyon-based luxury watch manufacturer Hublot collaborated with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami to create a timepiece inspired by Murakami’s iconic smiling flower. The Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Only Watch also marks the first time the watchmaker incorporated its very first central tourbillon.
The Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Only Watch, reference 915.JX.4802.RT.1198.OWM23 is intended for this year’s Only Watch auction this November in Geneva, a charity auction with the entirety of the proceeds benefiting Duchenne muscular dystrophy research.
Fans of Takashi Murakami will recognize the signature rainbow cartoon flower design in the 12-petal 444-gemstone case. The 42mm-wide by 13.4mm-thick case features a 12-petal flower-shaped stainless-steel bezel encrusted with 444 rainbow-colored gemstones, a domed polished sapphire crystal housing the central flying tourbillon, fine laser engraved eyes and smile on the crystal’s underside, sapphire case sides, sapphire crystal winding crown, polished titanium screws, a small pair of hour and minute hands that appear to float under the central tourbillon, rainbow-colored luminescent hour markers, polished clear composite resin dial disc, and worn with a transparent rubber strap with a deployant-style buckle made from titanium and clear sapphire. The watch has a water resistance of up to 30 meters.
The Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Only Watch is powered by the caliber HUB9015 Manual-winding central flying tourbillon. It features the movement’s highlight piece, the centrally-mounted flying tourbillon, specified by Murasaki himself. It also features two series-mounted open-worked single-plane mainspring barrels visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, a 236-component movement, and a power reserve of approximately 150 hours.
The one-of-a-kind Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Only Watch is expected to go up for auction at Only Watch on November 5th. For more information regarding the auction, please visit the Only Watch website, and for more information on the watch itself, check out the Hublot website.