Arms-On: Restricted-Version Hublot Traditional Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey Watch

Though it’s greatest identified amongst fans for its defiantly avant-garde designs and cutting-edge supplies, Hublot additionally has a real dedication to the world of recent artwork. Over time, the model has collaborated with high-profile artists starting from Richard Orlinski to Takashi Murakami, however few partnerships have been as lasting or as fruitful as its relationship with American artist Shepard Fairey. Greatest identified for his daring “Obey” iconography and the world-famous “Hope” poster marketing campaign used throughout Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential marketing campaign, Fairey’s road art-infused fashion has been the premise for a number of distinctive Hublot references since 2018. For its newest collaborative design, Hublot brings an aggressive black-on-black look to Fairey’s recurring theme of the mandala. The brand new restricted version Hublot Traditional Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey is a pointy, unapologetically daring distillation of Fairey’s road artwork ethos, and one that ought to grow to be a coveted piece amongst Shepard Fairey collectors.

At 45mm-wide and 13.4mm-thick, the matte-black ceramic case of the Hublot Traditional Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey cuts an imposing determine on the wrist, however it’s the ending right here that instantly catches the attention. Though the general floor is bead-blasted, the bezel and principal case physique are crisscrossed with an ornate engraved sample. This sweeping arabesque motif can really feel nearly chaotic at first look, however a better look reveals it to be a seamless continuation of the mandala sample on the skeleton dial. This holistic sample offers the design an impressively unified really feel and makes a historically stealthy blacked-out design right into a watch that instructions consideration on the wrist. The 12 o’clock aspect of the case physique provides an additional layer of ornament, with an engraved ray sample extending throughout the case sides and built-in lugs. Beneath this ornate engraving, nonetheless, this is identical Aerofusion Chronograph platform as the usual manufacturing mannequin and will really feel acquainted to followers of the model. Hublot matches this mannequin with a sapphire show caseback, and charges the look ahead to a considerably underwhelming 50 meters of water resistance.

The dial of the Hublot Traditional Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey presents an especially ornate blacked-out sample however stays solidly legible for a black-on-black skeleton design due to clever ending selections. The repeating floral mandala sample radiates out from the dial heart, with indices and subdial rings showing to drift over gaps within the dial due to a decrease dial layer in sapphire. Though the principle handset visually fades into the background at some angles, with even minor quantities of direct mild, the polished surfaces make these faceted batons stand out starkly in opposition to the darker backdrop. This extends to the subdial fingers as properly, however the utilized faceted indices are much less efficient on this regard. With this in thoughts, the Traditional Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey is as a lot about translating Fairey’s artwork right into a wearable type as it’s about making a usable timepiece, and on this regard, the design succeeds brilliantly. The central stack of the handset is obscured by a rendition of Fairey’s well-known “Obey” emblem printed onto the underside of the crystal, making a seamless mandala design that runs from the middle of the dial all the best way down the case sides. Even the 6 o’clock date show is cleanly built-in into the sample, with a stenciled skeleton date wheel that preserves the visible depth of the intricate layered mandala.

Hublot equips the Traditional Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey with the modular ETA-based HUB1155 computerized chronograph motion. Whereas purists could decry using a non-manufacture motion at this degree, the HUB1155 is a dependable, easy-to-maintain platform that gives a good if unspectacular 42 hours of energy reserve at a 28,800 bph beat charge. Hublot’s ending on the HUB1155 is clear and modern, with predominantly brushed bridges and a dynamic signed skeleton rotor. To finish the bundle, Hublot pairs the watch with an built-in grooved strap in supple black rubber.

With an aggressive black-on-black colorway and an impressively ornate steady mandala sample, the restricted version Hublot Traditional Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey presents a stylishly punchy and aggressive translation of Fairey’s work to the wrist. Solely 50 examples of the Hublot Traditional Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey can be made, and the watch is out there now completely by way of Hublot’s North American boutiques and the model’s U.S. e-commerce platform. MSRP for the Hublot Traditional Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey stands at $25,900 USD. For extra particulars, please go to the model’s web site.