Hublot has been promoting its image with “Hublot Loves Art” and it has been successfully hit the high-note in its each collaborative timepiece addition. Hublot is a luxury Swiss watch brand that might be unheard to anyone. It is a must have timepiece for every true watch enthusiast. For a while now, Hublot has been upholding its image as a special place for street artists and their art in any category.
The art-loving campaign has gained momentum which has propelled Hublot to launch few art-themed timepieces. The latest collaboration again happened to be between the famous street artist Shepard Fairey and Hublot. The famous American artist is admired as a painter and as a skateboarder who also happens to be the founder and owner of OBEY Clothing company.
The intriguing bold mandala theme was designed by Shepard Fairey, expressing the natural life cycle and the harmony between different cultures.
The classic mandala design has appeared across many civilizations in the past. The unique design is considered to represent cosmos metaphysically or symbolically. In other means it also means to represent the time-microcosm of the universe. So all the senses of depiction of universe, time and life is a perfect theme to describe life and its cultural complexities living in accord.
The second collaborative base watch chosen by Hublot and Shepard Fairey is from the Classic Fusion series, a chronograph model with a 45mm dial. The artwork on the timepiece initiates with a brushed and engraved, broad titanium case. The little touch of asymmetric engraving on the upper and lower facets of the case is discreet but unavoidable. The upper lugs carry a sun-rays pattern opening outwards, while the lower lugs are kept plain. The stripped rubber wristband truly compliments the upper sun-rays pattern on the case. The black stainless steel deployment buckle also has a brushed finish.
The extensive artwork of the theme appears on the dial base. The dial is carefully skeletonised within the mandala style to reveal the outstanding self-winding chronograph calibre underneath it. The centre of the clock hands is overlapped by Fairey’s obvious “Star Gear” signature. The classic fusion faceted clock hands and indices enhance the complicated design theme up to an exceptional level. The track-time around the dial and sub-dial hand are finished in red to further energise the design.
Fairey has been expressing his delight over the expertise delivered by the professional artisans in Hublot. The watchmaker in the Hublot has been dedicated to deliver the complete expression of the artist through the watch and it’s every millimetre.
Fairey further added, “Hublot’s watchmakers and engineers are true masters in their field, enabling me to go further in expressing my inspiration and pushing the limits imposed by the materials and technology. I must say, I am very impressed with the final result of this second timepiece that I have created in collaboration with Hublot. I wanted to integrate the art of the mandala into the piece as, for me, this evokes the connection between the inner self and the outer world. A powerful concept to consider when looking at a watch and thinking about time.”
The CEO, Ricardo Guadalupe of Hublot stated his expression as, “With his roots in street art – a type of expression which is essentially a form of protest – Shepard Fairey is truly shaking up the art world; his works make us think. This is an inspiring approach that is also in line with the brand’s “Hublot Loves Art” program. For this second watchmaking work of art, the artist wanted to immerse himself fully in the technical aspects made possible by the expertise of our brand, to produce a piece with a striking visual impact, where the ornamental elements communicated with the heart and mind, allowing each individual to freely interpret this message.”
The Shepard Fairey Fusion Chronograph will be produced in limited numbers with only examples. The Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph Shepard Fairey watch has a hefty price to suit its limited edition class.
