There is always something so intriguing to me about a collaboration when the brands really just go for it. But, I guess if one of the collaborators is Takashi Murakami, it’s sort of hard not to. For those uninitiated, Murakami is a contemporary Japanese artist whose work is at once psychedelic and joyful – but leans just a tad into the grotesque. But even if you don’t know the name, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the artist’s work. Murakami has collaborated with a wide range of celebrities, from Marc Jacobs to Kanye West (long before his anti semitic rants, for the record) to Pharrell Williams. And now, Murakami adds yet another collaboration with Hublot.
The MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire Rainbow is really one of those watches that makes you pause. It will, undoubtedly, have its naysayers who might prefer a more conservative style; but there’s something incredibly charming about this one for me. On the one hand, there is a level of craftsmanship that’s evident even from the photos; but it’s also an element of playfulness that intrigues me – especially when we’re talking about a watch that’s in the *ahem* $374,000 price range.
You may remember that Murakami and Hublot have previously collaborated in the past, most notably on the Classic Fusion model with a decidedly Murakami lean. But that was just putting Murakami’s art within the context of Hublot. In 2023, they had released an MP-15 that showed the floral design but in a skeletal case. Now, we’re putting his work on full display with a floral design that shines in 444 colored gemstones that bring life to the twelve petals.
While the petals are, no doubt, the star of the show, the construction of the watch itself is quite interesting. The dial is made from a composite translucent resin, while the case is made from transparent sapphire crystal (you can read a bit more about that here). Now, I’m not saying I’d drop nearly $400k on a watch, but it’s the merging of art and technical precision that do have me looking into remortgaging my house a bit.
The last item to note about this particular reference is the tourbillon movement. Like its predecessor in the MP-15, the MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire Rainbow is fitted with HUBLOT’s first central tourbillon movement, offering approximately a 120 power reserve.
The MP-15 Takashi Murakami Tourbillon Sapphire Rainbow is a testament to a brand not afraid of “going there” and not simply slapping a logo on an old model and calling it a day. Hublot has undoubtedly put in the work to honor Murakami’s creative energy and, as the kids say, matched his freak. If interested in purchasing this particular watch, you can find out more details via Hublot’s website – but do act quick if you have the cash. There are only 20 pieces of this collection in the world.
