Hublot has unveiled an update to its enigmatic MP-10 Tourbillon Weight Energy System, a daring departure from traditional horology. With its bold dimensions, the boundary-pushing timepiece returns in two striking new versions, with the watchmaker showing off its mastery of materials like ceramic and sapphire.
While Hublot isn’t as audacious as MB&F when it comes to radical designs of haute horology timepieces, the watchmaker has its fair share of avant-garde examples in its product line-up. The MP-10’s unique design, absence of hands, and avant-garde roller display challenge convention. At first glance, it gives the impression of an automaton, but it’s not one of those.
In the press release, Hublot beats its chest, boldly stating that the watch is unrivaled, but a few watchmakers may have a thing or two to say about that. The latest iterations of the MP-10 are housed in black ceramic and translucent sapphire, materials that are emblematic of Hublot’s signature aesthetic. While the technical heart of the watch remains untouched (Hublot describes it as perfect), these new editions mark a small leap in form and material.
Latching on to the continued fascination by many with the UFO phenomenon, Hublot makes a subtle reference to the timepiece as a ‘watchmaking UFO.’ It’s bewildering to observe the obsession of many with something that may not even exist, but that’s a story for another day. Hyperbole aside, there’s no denying the unique design of the timepiece.
The black version is limited to 50 pieces and priced at $330,000. It offers a darker, more enigmatic take on a timepiece already known for its mechanical audacity. It aims to pledge its allegiance to the original and pay homage to the Hublot-pioneered All-Black series.
The MP-10 Tourbillon Sapphire is a brighter and more celestial interpretation. Encased in clear sapphire and matched with a translucent bracelet, the timepiece is flooded with light, revealing every detail of its 592-component movement. Limited to just 30 pieces and priced at $440,000, it highlights Hublot’s command of advanced materials and its willingness to experiment.
The MP-10 is as complex as it is sculptural. It features four rotating displays instead of traditional hands, with the hour and minute displays dominating the face of the watch, a two-tone power reserve below that, and the seconds display directly above the tourbillon cage angled at 35 degrees at the bottom.
I would call it the 6 o’clock position, but with a watch that doesn’t have a conventional dial, that seems like a misnomer. Doing away with the customary rotor that keeps an automatic movement ticking, the MP-10 has a pair of linear weights to take on that role. The entire mechanism is finished in satin-brushed grey, reminiscent of a high-performance engine on display.
While this timepiece’s design won’t appeal to everyone, it is undeniably a conversation starter; one observers will take a glance at and wonder about. Any collector who likes describing the details of the watches in their winders will enjoy discussing its intricate details with friends and fellow collectors.
The MP-10 is a kinetic work of art. With its futuristic materials, radical layout, and limited edition status, it reasserts itself as a horological feat and a collector’s item. If only Hublot had tossed in a minute repeater, that would have made the movement closer to perfection, as Hublot claims.
