Hublot and Contemporary Art

The historic watchmaking maison creates a limited edition signed by Daniel Arsham, bringing the pocket watch back into fashion


When Abraham-Louis Breguet created the first wrist watch for Caroline Bonaparte in 1810, it was considered more of a piece of jewelry (for women only) than an actual time piece, so much so that several decades went by with the traditional pocket watch forgotten in a drawer, first becoming a family heirloom and then a collector's item for fans of the genre.

In the end it took the creative drive of a contemporary and decidedly unconventional artist, together with the indispensable knowhow of a haute horlogerie brand, to make New York artist Daniel Arsham demonstrates an Arsham Droplet, made in collaboration with Hublot. It fashionable again. We are talking about New York-born Daniel Arsham and Hublot, from whose precious collaboration came the Arsham Droplet, a revolutionary watch that combines an antique style with contemporary, not to say futuristic, materials and innovative production techniques.

Three versions are available: pocket, pendantand table, all featuring the famous Hublot Meca-10 movement, which boasts a 10-day power reserve. Three models, all with a titanium case, rubber shock absorbers and sapphire crystal dial measuring 73.2 mm in length, 52.6 in width and 21.5 in thickness. Characteristics thatin length, 52.6 in width and 21.5 in thickness. Characteristics that make it an object of desire for true watch addicts before becoming a collector's item, even if the limited edition of 99 pieces will help it earn a place in several important vaults. It goes without saying thatthe price of €92,000 is certainly not within everyone’s reach. What also makes it truly unique is its versatility: due to two titanium chains, each with Hublot's patented double “one-click” system, the way it can be worn changes so that it can be used as a pendant, pocket watchor even admired as a sculpture resting on a decorative titanium andvisually-striking mineral glass support. A bit like all Arsham’s creations and designs that range from fashion to architecture and even music.

The Arsham Droplet watch is, so to speak, the extreme synthesis ofthe Art of Fusion that has always characterized Hublot, a company that, since 1980, has prided itself on combining vintage forms andavant-garde techniques, like gold and rubber, a concept and modality common to one of the New York artist’s very first projects with itsmore than explicit title “Future Relics”.


Share this article:

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Your browser is out of date!

Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now

×