Hublot and Daniel Arsham Unveil the MP-17 MECA-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire
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Hublot, the Swiss luxury watchmaker, has announced its latest collaboration with American artist Daniel Arsham: the MP-17 MECA-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire. This new timepiece builds upon the success of the MP-16 Arsham Droplet and reimagines watch design with inspiration drawn from water, organic forms, and transparency.
A Fusion of Art and Horology
The MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire represents a seamless blend of Hublot’s “Art of Fusion” philosophy and Arsham’s distinctive “fictional archaeology” vision. Arsham reimagines contemporary objects as ancient artifacts, blurring the boundaries between past, present, and future. This marks Arsham’s first wristwatch design for Hublot, transforming the timepiece into a wearable sculpture imbued with his creative direction.
Design and Innovation
The watch’s compact 42mm case size is enabled by Hublot’s new, smaller Meca-10, an in-house manual-wind movement visible through both the dial opening and sapphire caseback. The selection of sapphire crystal for the frosted box-shaped bezel, alongside titanium and rubber, underscores the essence of the Art of Fusion and provides a foundation for sculpting the watch’s organic, water-inspired shapes. A striking splash-shaped opening on the dial directly evolves from the droplet inspiration of the MP-16.
According to a company release, Arsham’s perspective on time is central to his design approach. In a 2016 TED Talk, he explained, “My work is about collapsing time. You’re not quite sure if it’s an object from the past or the future.” While the MP-16 Arsham Droplet explored this concept through form, the MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire focuses on the impression time leaves behind.
Signature Hublot Elements and Artistic Details
Despite its departure from familiar Hublot aesthetics, the MP-17 retains key signature elements, including the six H-screws on the bezel and caseback, the distinctive lugs at 3 and 9 o’clock, and the titanium H-shaped folding clasp. “Arsham green” accents adorn the hour and minute hands, numerals, hour and five-minute markers, the small seconds hand at 9 o’clock, and the power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock.
“Working with Daniel Arsham is a discovery of new design and perception,” says Julien Tornare, CEO of Hublot. “The MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire represents the next exciting chapter in our collaboration with our ambassador, artist Daniel Arsham. It’s a testament to Hublot’s Art of Fusion, seamlessly blending fine watchmaking and art to create a timepiece that is visually stunning whilst pushing the boundaries of innovation. This watch invites us to see time in a new light, through Arsham’s unique and fluid vision.”
Arsham adds, “This collaboration with Hublot explores the fluidity of time through a case inspired by the perfect geometry of a water droplet, crafted using Hublot’s Meca-10 movement. The watch’s transparent structure captures the clarity and motion of water, suspended, precise, and always in flux.”
Technical Specifications and Availability
The Hublot MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire is limited to 99 pieces and is available at Hublot boutiques and authorized retailers.
REFERENCE: 917.NJ.6909.RX
CASE: Shiny Microblasted Titanium, Size: 42 MM, Thickness: 15.35 MM, Water Resistance: 50M
CASE-BACK: Shiny Microblasted Titanium, Glass: Sapphire Crystal with Anti-reflective treatment
BEZEL: Polished & Laser Textured Sapphire Crystal, Screws: 6 H-Shaped Titanium
DIAL: Rhodium plated & Shiny Microblasted with Green Arsham Superluminova
MOVEMENT: HUB1205 Manufacture manual winding skeleton power reserve movement in grey PVD, Thickness 6.8 mm, Diameter 33.50, Frequency (HZ): 3 (21’600 A/H), Power reserve: 240 Hours, Number of components: 264, Jewels: 29
STRAP AND CLASP: Charmille grained Black Rubber decorated with the Arsham Monogram, Titanium Deployant Buckle
PRICE: CHF 60’000, EUR 69’000, USD 69’000, GBP 57’000
Discover the video showcasing the timepiece here: https://youtu.be/2mJljSSbdqM
This collaboration is more than just a timekeeper; it’s a fusion of fine watchmaking and contemporary art, inviting collectors and art enthusiasts to experience time through Daniel Arsham’s unique and fluid lens.
