Hublot unveils the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire

0 0 Tuesday 14 November 2023 Edit this post

With just 50 pieces available, the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire is the first limited edition Hublot watch with a central flying tourbillon. And, like most Hublot timepieces, it is unconventional.

Hublot MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire

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.

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 of the HUB9015 hand-wound movement can beat at its frequency of 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) for 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. Supplied with the piece, for which it has been specially designed, and rechargeable via a USB socket, the stylus is placed on the crown at 3 o'clock. It winds through 100 revolutions smoothly and easily until both barrels that drive the central tourbillon are fully wound.

Two twinkling eyes and a broad smile in the typical style of Takashi Murakami add a uniquely playful touch.

The hours and minutes are indicated by the tips of two hands that pass beneath the tourbillon cage, challenging traditional watchmaking principles.

In this design, the escapement and hands share a central space, requiring a co-axial construction by pivoting the cannon pinion and hour wheel around the tourbillon support.

Designed without an upper bridge and with all components skeletonized, this sophisticated tourbillon construction allows a clear view of the mechanisms, showcasing some of the gears and all of the tourbillon components.

Twelve white indices appear on the flange, while black-plated hands with white Super-LumiNova guarantee perfect legibility both day and night.

Measuring 42 mm in diameter with a thickness of 13.40 mm, the MP-15 is secured to the wrist with an integrated rubber strap featuring a titanium deployant buckle.