Art, Technology, NFTs Fuse With New Hublot, Takashi Murakami Set

Just last week, Hublot announced its continued journey with famed artist Takashi Murakami as they embark on a new NFT and watch adventure. This time, the brand unveiled the 13th watch in a 13-piece  unique watch/NFT series. At the event, Hublot and Murakami released the unique Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow watch. The other 12 will make their official debut during the upcoming Watches & Wonders Geneva 2023 exhibition in late March.

The partnership between Hublotand the artist was first announced to the world in January of 2021 when it unveiled the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black watch. Hublot then released additional pieces in December of 2021, and, in April of 2022 released two NFTs with Murakami. The newest and fourth venture puts the brand – and the artist – even more intensely in the NFT world — especially since there is trading involved and some fun challenges if a collector wants to get his or her hands on this 13th rainbow piece.

Part of the Hublot Loves Art! concept and following on its motto  “The Art of Fusion,”  the newest venture is all about fusing art and technology along with the digital world. Japanese artist Murakami is best known for his smiling flower work that has become an icon in the world of art. The new Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow watch released tonight, and the additional 12 watch and NFT sets to come, all beautifully reflect Murakami’s work and uplifting spirit.

Exactly 12 of the watch/NFT sets, the ones making their debut in Geneva and up for sale in April 2023, will be for sale exclusive online at Hublot.com for 50,000 Swiss Francs each. The caveat: they are only available to sale for owners of the  324 NFTs the brand issued in April of 2022 in cooperation with Murakami (those were only sold to owners of one of the two previous Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami watches before they could  be traded on the decentralized NFT exchange  platform known as OpenSea).

Interestingly, starting tonight and until the start of sales of the 12 watches unveiled in Geneva, interested customers can try to find and collect one of the NFTs on OpenSea, giving them the rights to purchase the corresponding new watch/NFT. Following the purchase of their new watch/NFT set, customers will have a one-year time frame to trade the 12 NFTs on the OpenSea platform. In April of 2024, if any one collector has collected all 12 of the unique NFTs, he or she will be able to purchase the 13^th – the Rainbow version. If no one has all 12, the watch released tonight in rainbow hues will be auctioned for charity by Hublot.

As to the Rainbow version unveiled tonight (the 13^th watch In the series), inspired by the previous pieces and by Japanese video games from the 1970’s, the dial comprises 12 petals of a flower – each made from gemstones that include rubies, sapphires, amethysts, tsavorites and topaz in various shades – acting as the markers. A ball-bearing system developed by Hublot enables the petals to spin with every movement. The smiling center of the flower is placed on the inside top of the sapphire crystal for a three-dimensional appeal.

The Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow watch is housed in a 45mm black ceramic case and is powered by Hublot’s manufacture Unico Caliber with 72 hours of power reserve. This is the culmination of all of the other 12 watches and NFTs, each will be presented in a specific color of the rainbow. Each will retail for CHF 50,000.