Swiss watchmaker Hublot has unveiled three new timepieces that explore different expressions of its identity, combining a return to the design of the brand’s first watch — created by Carlo Crocco in 1980 — with models inspired by the work of American artist Jeff Koons. The new releases comprise the Classic Fusion Tributo, the Classic Fusion Balloon Dog and the MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons, each bringing together watchmaking tradition, aesthetic experimentation and technical innovation.

The Classic Fusion Tributo is a tribute to the brand’s origins, reviving elements of the first Hublot watch launched in 1980, when the MDM Genève signature appeared on the dial. The original creation stood out for its combination of a gold case with a rubber strap — an unconventional pairing in the luxury watchmaking of the time.

The new edition preserves that identity, retaining the bezel with 12 visible screws, the minimalist dial and the black rubber strap. It does, however, feature a slightly larger 38 mm case, compared with the 36 mm of the original model.

The watch is available in two versions: one in 18-karat yellow gold with a lacquered black dial, and another in 18-karat white gold with a black onyx dial. Both incorporate the HUB1711 automatic movement, with a power reserve of approximately 50 hours and water resistance to 100 metres.

Another recovered element is the MDM inscription, positioned at six o’clock, which the brand says establishes a direct link to its history and to the journey of its founder, Carlo Crocco. Each version carries a reference price of €30,200 in Portugal, taxes included.

In contrast to the minimalism of the Tributo, the collaboration with Jeff Koons introduces a markedly different aesthetic, inspired by his Balloon Dog sculptural series, developed between 1994 and 2000.

The Classic Fusion Balloon Dog by Jeff Koons features a 42 mm case whose rounded forms reproduce the appearance of an inflated balloon. The model is available in three versions — polished stainless steel, anodised red aluminium and anodised blue aluminium — each limited to 200 pieces.

The watch incorporates a range of details that reinforce the connection to the artwork, including a crown that evokes the inflation valve of a balloon, a flexible rubber extension representing the dog’s tail, and a seconds-hand counterweight bearing the silhouette of the sculpture. Internally, the watch houses the MHUB1710 manufacture automatic calibre, with approximately 50 hours of power reserve and water resistance to 50 metres. The reference price announced in some European markets is €24,600, VAT included.

The partnership between Hublot and Jeff Koons extends further to the MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons, a creation within the Exceptional Timepieces collection that combines a visual architecture inspired by contemporary art with highly complex mechanisms. The model features an octagonal 44 mm case constructed from transparent sapphire and titanium. The composition incorporates concentric rings in white gold, set with baguette-cut diamonds and blue sapphires, surrounding a central tourbillon.

The HUB9014 movement — Hublot’s first automatic central tourbillon — comprises 594 components and offers a power reserve of approximately 60 hours. The architecture also includes a peripheral oscillating weight, which preserves visibility of the mechanism. The edition is limited to 30 pieces, with a launch price announced for the French market of €479,000.

According to the Espiral do Tempo website, with these releases Hublot underscores the breadth of its approach to watchmaking, reconciling a return to the aesthetic elements that marked its founding with the exploration of new forms of artistic and technical expression. Between the restraint of the Classic Fusion Tributo and the exuberance of the creations developed with Jeff Koons, the brand maintains its commitment to combining materials, forms and concepts that challenge the traditional conventions of the sector.

Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=560137