Since 2017, Hublot has worked with renowned French sculptor Richard Orlinski, and over the last eight years, the partnership has produced a slew of collaborative watches. For LVMH Watch Week 2024, a pair of new Hublot Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski watches have joined the lineup — one in Yellow Magic and the other in Sky Blue — both featuring colored ceramic cases with characteristic Orlinski-style angles.
While these aren’t the first Hublot Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski models (Hublot released sapphire, King Gold, and black ceramic ones in 2019), they are the first to sport colorful ceramic cases. The cases measure 45mm in diameter and 12.05mm thick. Those familiar with Orlinski’s sculptures will immediately recognize the diamond-shaped facets on the case as his signature style. The liberal use of sharp angles creates striking contrasts between light and shadow, further emphasizing the sleek surface of the polished ceramic. The ceramic bezel is also defined by its angles, showcasing 12 sides and the customary six H-shaped titanium screws.
Commenting on the Hublot watches that bear his name, Orlinski, who has been the world’s best-selling contemporary French artist since 2015, said, “By giving me carte blanche, Hublot has enabled me to explore new creative frontiers. I’ve had the freedom to be able to take the Classic Fusion to the limits of its potential. Smooth yet dynamic, like the edges of its ceramic case, it embodies a kind of animality, the ‘Born Wild’ spirit that is a constant theme running through my work. I first imagined this design in 2004. That was 20 years ago. Today, I’m very proud to be showing the world, together with Hublot, that we’re still far from finished.”
The Yellow Magic Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski houses an open-worked dial, punctuated hands, indices, and a power reserve indicator in matching yellow, accompanied by a black chapter ring. For color continuity, the winding crown and bezel screws are also black, as are the black PVD-coated skeletonized bridges of the visible movement. Conversely, the Sky Blue Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski takes a lighter approach with silver-toned hands, indices, a sky-blue chapter ring, and silver rhodium-plated bridges.
Both variants run on the hand-wound HUB6021 skeleton movement, furnished with a tourbillon at 6 o’clock. The 184-component movement, visible through the sapphire crystals on both sides of the case, beats at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz) and supplies the watch with a five-day power reserve.
The new ceramic Hublot Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski watches come fitted with colored-matched smooth rubber straps. The yellow variant includes a black-plated stainless steel deployant clasp whereas the blue version sports a titanium deployant clasp. Hublot has limited the production of the 2024 Classic Fusion Tourbillon Orlinski Yellow Magic and Sky Blue watches to 30 pieces in each colorway and they’re priced at 95,000 USD. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.
