Hublot X Takashi Murakami’s Classic Fusion Piece Auctioned for $2,69,600

Arushi Sakhuja 

Earlier this year Hublot and Takashi Murakami collaborated on an exciting watch series. With just 13 editions, the last Hublot X Takashi Murakami’s Classic Fusion was recently sold at Phillips TOKI Watch Auction in Hong Kong. Fetching a whopping HKD 2,095,500, it supersedes the original estimate of HKD 450,000 by multiple times. Along with the unique timepiece, the winning bidder will also receive an NFT artwork linked to the watch, as well as a very rare opportunity to visit Takashi Murakami’s studio in Miyoshi, Japan. The proceeds from the auction are being donated to Fond’Action contre le cancer, a Swiss-based non-profit foundation established in 1999.

The beauty of the timepiece lies in how the two come together to bring contemporary art and watchmaking together. Colourful, slick and captivating in design, they were the pair who introduced the concept of bridging the digital and the physical world in 2022. What began as a series of 324 unique NFT artworks by Murakami inspired by low-res videogame graphics and TVs from the 1970s gave way to Hublot & Takashi Murakami’s Classic Fusion collection of 12 unique editions, each paired with its own unique artwork. While all the pieces have now been sold, this was the last remaining piece auctioned (and for a good cause).

Speaking about the design of the watch, Hublot & Takashi Murakami’s Classic Fusion piece can be described as contemporary, kinetic art. Staying true to Murakami’s aesthetic it features his signature Smiling Flower on its dial. Making it luxurious, are the 103 gemstones used to create the set face. Adapting the flower for a watch, the flower comprises twelve petals to form a disk that spins with the motion of the wrist. Powered by Hublot’s automatic manufacture movement with a power reserve of 72 hours, the also petals spin adding a little more drama to the piece.

And while each of the 12 unique Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic pieces featured a rainbow smiling flower face with 103 gemstones, watch sets them apart is the colour. Each piece had a single colour and type of gemstone on the spinning petals. The 13th and final piece combines the 45mm black ceramic case of the first-ever Hublot X Takashi Murakami’s Classic Fusion series with the rainbow petals of the Sapphire Rainbow edition. The fun doesn’t end there, it also features a jaw-dropping 384 gemstones onto the petals to form a perfect colour gradient with different types of rubies, sapphires, amethysts, tsavorites and topaz stones.

Being a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, Hublot X Takashi Murakami’s Classic Fusion surely hit the right spot being a collector’s piece. Whether you keep it as a keepsake or opt to wear it, the watch is sure to shine bright. Hublot and  Takashi Murakami’s creations continue to amaze with every new iteration.