Saturday, 22 November 2025 22:19

Hublot and Daniel Arsham Pushing Boundaries with the Fluid Hublot MP-17 Arsham Splash

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MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire Image by Paul Wilmot Communications | Courtesy of Hublot SA

Following the success of the transformable pocket watch, the MP-16 Arsham Droplet, Hublot, and Daniel Arsham continue pushing the boundaries of horological creativity with a new timepiece that once again rewrites the rulebook on watch design. Drawing inspiration from the dynamic essence of water, organic forms, and sheer transparency, this latest creation translates the fluidity of nature into a bold, modern aesthetic. The result is a watch that moves effortlessly between sculpture and function.

The MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire represents the perfect fusion of Hublot’s renowned Art of Fusion philosophy and Arsham’s unique approach to fictional archaeology. Known for reimagining contemporary objects as discovered ancient artefacts, Arsham blurs the lines between past, present, and distant future. In this collaboration, those ideas crystallize into a timepiece that feels simultaneously futuristic and timeless, merging conceptual artistry with the technical mastery of modern watchmaking.

As Arsham’s first wristwatch design for Hublot, the MP-17 is conceived as a wearable sculpture, carrying his creative sensibility in every fluid curve and detail. The compact 42mm case is made possible through the integration of Hublot’s new, smaller Meca-10, an in-house manual-wind movement that becomes part of the visual narrative. Visible through both the dial opening and the sapphire caseback, the movement grounds the watch in mechanical rigor while reinforcing Arsham’s exploration of time as both impression and artifact.

HUBLOT - MP-17 MECA-10 ARSHAM SPLASH TITANIUM SAPPHIRE (Video by Paul Wilmot Communications | Courtesy of Hublot SA)

The selection of sapphire crystal, titanium, and rubber as key materials anchors the piece firmly within Hublot’s Art of Fusion ethos. The frosted box-shaped bezel made from sapphire, combined with shaped metal and flexible rubber elements, creates the ideal foundation for sculpting the timepiece’s water-inspired contours. Its defining detail is the dramatic splash-shaped opening on the dial — a natural evolution of the MP-16’s droplet form — suggesting the instant of impact when fluid motion freezes into shape.

Arsham’s distinctive perspective on time is woven into every aspect of the design. In his 2016 TED Talk, he remarked, “My work is about collapsing time. You’re not quite sure if it’s an object from the past or the future.” 

"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.

Daniel 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."

While the MP-16 brought this idea to life through its droplet-inspired structure, the new MP-17 delves deeper into the impression time leaves behind. With its flowing case lines, splash-shaped aperture, and transparent sapphire surfaces, it merges conceptual artistry with the technical depth of Hublot’s Meca-10 movement.

At first glance, the timepiece may appear to diverge from the recognizable Hublot silhouette, yet a closer look reveals the brand’s unmistakable signatures. The iconic six H-screws accent both bezel and caseback, while the distinctive lugs at 3 and 9 o’clock maintain a familiar architectural balance. A titanium H-shaped folding clasp reinforces the aesthetic continuity. Arsham’s signature green appears across the hands, numerals, markers, small seconds at 9 o’clock, and the power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock, tying the visual language together.

Ultimately, the Hublot MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire stands as more than a functional timekeeper — it becomes a meeting point between fine watchmaking and contemporary art. By placing an imaginative twist on traditional materials, forms, and perceptions of time, it invites collectors, enthusiasts, and art-minded audiences to experience horology through Daniel Arsham’s fluid, sculptural lens. This watch is not only worn on the wrist but also considered an object that embodies movement, impression, and creative evolution.

Limited to only 99 pieces, the Hublot MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire is available at Hublot boutiques and authorized retailers.

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