The flying tourbillon watch from Hublot is limited to 50 pieces worldwide. — Photos: HUBLOT
When renowned Swiss watchmaker Hublot approached Takashi Murakami for a collaboration, his first instinct was to decline.
Yet, despite the initial rejection, Hublot chief executive officer Ricardo Guadalupe was determined not to take no for an answer.
His efforts paid off when in January 2020, the company welcomed the Japanese contemporary artist to the Hublot manufacture in Nyon, Switzerland.
“The quality of workmanship on the watches was incredible. I saw an opportunity to accomplish something great,” Murakami recalls about the visit.
Asked what intrigued him so much, the 61-year-old says the ambiance there brought back memories of his father.
Murakami and Guadalupe sharing a laugh like old friends.
“He was a taxi driver. He would sometimes take me to this garage where he got his taxi serviced.
“The place had a particular smell, and there was engine oil everywhere too.
“The ambiance inside the (Hublot) factory reminded me of all that,” he tells StarChrono in Singapore before the launch of the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire series.
The official launch later on the same day has Guadalupe and The Hour Glass managing director Michael Tay joined by Malaysian celebrities Chan Phei Yong and Muhammad Shameer Shauqeen Shaiful Izam who is better known as Meerqeen.
The latest series by Hublot is inspired by Murakami’s flower – the iconic and popular artwork which features a smiling flower with 12 petals.
Limited to only 50 pieces available worldwide, the transparent MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire has a watch case made entirely of clear sapphire.
Pushing boundaries
Incorporating Murakami’s bold vision into the elegant features of Hublot watches was a challenge, but Guadalupe says it kept him excited.
Their collaboration, says Guadalupe, offers the company an opportunity to push boundaries in innovation and creativity in watchmaking.
The MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon watch is 13.4mm thick and has translucent flange and strap.
“In today’s modern world, mechanical watches are no longer just a device to tell time; they have become a piece of art.
“To stay ahead of our competitors, we need to keep differentiating ourselves by offering new and exciting watches,” he reasons.
Speaking to StarChrono at the Hublot’s gallery of The Hour Glass at Raffles Hotel Shopping Arcade in Singapore, Guadalupe says Murakami’s philosophy and approach towards arts mirror those of Hublot’s.
Hublot’s aim, he further says, is to set the bar that will be followed by other brands of luxury watches.
“Like Murakami, we will keep pushing boundaries to keep our customers on their toes and surprising them with fresh and attractive designs.
“As the leader of The Art of Fusion, we are always exploring new ideas such as combining ceramic with alloy, platinum or aluminium, to be used as materials for the watches.
“Our customers do not want to choose between technology and style... they want both, with no compromise on either.”
Guadalupe takes great pride in the various efforts made by Hublot to remain competitive and relevant.
The watch’s caseback is also transparent.
In an October interview in Shanghai, China, he spoke enthusiastically about the investments made in research and development programmes.
“We have explored many areas, from new materials to a mechanical calculating machine, where we worked with the University of Geneva.
“We have also developed underwater robots for excavations and are working on a very ambitious planetarium,” he was quoted as saying.
Timeless art
For Murakami, the collaboration is more than just an artistic venture — it is a personal statement about his relationship with time and arts.
His artworks are noted for their bold colours and design.
Murakami’s smiling flower is interpreted on this Hublot watch dial.
Great works of art, he says, are ones that transcend eras and whose craftsmanship and quality can be admired by future generations.
“If you go to an art museum, a vast number of objects you see there were made by artists who are no longer alive.
“This collaboration is my chance to leave my artistic footprint on mechanical pieces that people will remember me by,” he says.
The man known for his quirky and friendly personality is no stranger to collaborations with high-end fashion and lifestyle brands.
From 2002 to 2015, he worked with Louis Vuitton on a venture spearheaded by prominent fashion designer Marc Jacobs.
He had also partnered with international celebrities such as Pharrell Williams and Kanye West on various other projects.
Murakami recalls his first brush with Hublot was in 2003 when he attended a party to showcase a watch.
“I remember seeing a black watch, which I thought looked really sporty.
“It left a lasting impression in my mind.
“To have my artwork incorporated into the Hublot watches is like a dream come true. It is so beautiful,” he says.
Despite the success of the collaboration, Murakami remains humble and refuses to claim sole credit.
“It is a brand-led collaboration and it is based on Hublot’s vision. It is not something that I could have done myself,” he reiterates.
He chuckles when asked if he would consider working on another creative project with Hublot.
“I don’t know! If they ask, maybe, but I have yet to receive such an offer,” he replies, before expressing pride in the craftsmanship of the latest watches.
Working with Hublot, he says, has given him a newfound appreciation for the production of luxury timepieces.
“Watchmaking is a very elaborate and complicated process that requires precise attention to details.
“Is that not like art?” he muses.
