Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Hublot has unveiled a new collection of 13 unique NFT-linked watches designed in collaboration with artist Takashi Murakami.
Hublot and Takashi Murakami
At an exclusive event held at the Glass House in New York on February 2, Hublot and Takashi Murakami announced their fourth joint art project: the launch of thirteen new NFTs and thirteen unique timepieces.
Hublot and @takashipom launch a collection of 13 unique watches and 13 unique NFTs. This announcement represents a continuation of past projects, by rewarding collectors of the first NFTs through an exclusive approach. https://t.co/hWcpdg3yBv pic.twitter.com/5eYvGNCD28
— Hublot (@Hublot) February 3, 2023
“When my collaboration with Hublot turned into introduced, we made it recognized that we might embody new sorts of creative expression. After developing the watches and virtual works of art collectively, we are imagining new ways to get entry to modern-day art.” – Takashi Murakami
The thirteen exclusive NFTs are inspired by 1970s Japanese video games and television, as is the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black, the first collaboration between the Swiss watchmaker and Takashi Murakami launched in January 2021.
These NFTs are linked to a limited edition of 13 new and exclusive Classic Fusion timepieces that will be presented at Watches & Wonders 2023 in Geneva.
Twelve of these watches will be available for purchase exclusively online at hublot.com, which will only be accessible to owners of at least one of the 324 NFTs issued in April 2022 as part of Hublot’s third collaboration with Takashi Murakami.
These 324 NFT were initially offered to owners of one of the two Hublot x Takashi Murakami watch models (Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black and Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Sapphire Rainbow) before they could be exchanged on OpenSea.
The duration between the assertion of the challenge in New York in February 2023 and the beginning of sales in early April 2023 in Geneva will allow any collector inquisitive about one of the new watches to get their fingers on one of the NFTs to be had on OpenSea.
Any buyer lucky enough to purchase one of the 12 unique new watches will receive an exclusive matching NFT.
Hublot and Takashi Murakami take the watch as a work of art to a new level, combining the art of fine watchmaking with digital art.
The 13th watch in the collection, presented in New York, is the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow which is also a masterpiece.
Inspired by the two previously launched pieces, this watch reinterprets Takashi Murakami’s iconic emblem: the smiling flower. Here, the 12 petals of the flower form a gradient of sapphires, topaz, amethysts, rubies, and tsavorites.
Thanks to an ingenious ball-bearing system developed by Hublot’s engineers, the petals create a dizzying spectacle of color as they rotate on an axis with each movement.
The kinetic effect of the petals creates a striking effect on the 45 mm black ceramic case. The center of the smiling flower is positioned on the sapphire crystal to create a three-dimensional effect.
The other twelve references, which can be purchased by NFT owners on the dedicated e-commerce platform, are reminiscent of the master flower and represent one of the petals. Twelve references for twelve hours on the dial and twelve NFTs.
The launch, which represents the third watchmaking collaboration between Hublot and the Japanese artist, is proof of the incredible collectability of this partnership.
Collectors will have a one-year period during which they will be able to redeem the twelve NFTs on the OpenSea platform.
In April 2024, only the collector who has managed to collect the 12 unique NFT will be entitled to acquire the 13th coveted watch: the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow.
If no one manages to collect all twelve NFTs, the watch will be auctioned by Hublot to raise funds for charity.
This fourth NFT Collection, in collaboration with Japanese entrepreneur and artist Takashi Murakami, is inspired by Japanese television and video games from the 1970s.
Those who do not yet own any of the NFTs will be able to purchase one or more from OpenSea.
The thirteenth watch will be even more exclusive and will feature Takashi Murakami’s iconic symbol: the smiling flower. The flower will be the focal point of the watch and each of its petals will be decorated with a rainbow of different gemstones, such as rubies, sapphires, amethysts, tsavorites, and topaz.
Only those who have collected the 12 new unique NFTs will be able to purchase the 13th watch in April 2024. If no one has collected all 12 NFT, the watch will be auctioned and the proceeds will go to charity.
Watchmaker and Web3
Hublot had already participated in Web3 last year.
During the Qatar 2022 World Cup, Hublot presented the “Hublot Loves Football” Metaverse Stadium. The company, the official timekeeper of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, is now the timekeeper of the Metaverse.
In December, Timex partnered with Daz 3D to offer a line of limited-edition, fully customized watches equipped with connected NFTs.
In November, Rolex filed a trademark application with intentions to enter the metaverse and the world of NFTs.
Follow us on our social networks and keep up to date with everything that happens in the Metaverse!
