Hublot presents a floral tourbillon by Takashi Murakami
With just 50 pieces available, the MP-15 – developed with Takashi Murakami – is the first limited edition Hublot watch with a central flying tourbillon. This quirky, playful, yet high-tech model, which combines floral sapphire and a central tourbillon, offers a magnificent interpretation of the visual effects of sapphire
The MP-15 is for people who do not want to choose between technology and style but want both. The dial is the face of the watch, yet, on the MP-15 Takashi Murakami, there is no dial in the true sense. 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 sits 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 Murakami’s iconic motif, a flower composed of 12 sapphire petals that features soft curves and bold, generous volumes. 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. To enable it to be fully wound, Hublot has created a special stylus – rechargeable via a USB socket – which, when placed on the crown, winds it through 100 revolutions smoothly and easily until both barrels that drive the central tourbillon are fully wound. Murakami has underlined the tourbillon’s mischievous nature by incorporating two twinkling eyes and a broad smile.
Around the edge, the hours and minutes are indicated by the tips of two hands. These are peripheral, rather than central. 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, with some of the gears and all of the tourbillon components appearing to float in space. Twelve white indices appear on the flange, while black-plated hands with white Super-Luminova guarantee perfect legibility both day and night. The model is traditionally wound and set using a crown at 3 o’clock. Moreover, the modest 42 mm diameter of this piece makes it supremely easy to wear, not least thanks to its integrated rubber strap that offers optimal comfort.
