Richard Orlinski’s now emblematic edges, facets and bevels have been artistically sculpting Hublot watches since 2017, when he and the Swiss watchmaker presented their first artwork to be worn on the wrist. Since then, no material shaped by Hublot, nor any component of the watches, has seemed able to resist Orlinski’s masterful faceting. Not even ceramic, not even a dial! The Classic Fusion Orlinski 40mm now comes in a monochrome mode in two editions entirely clad in ceramic, with the exception of the strap and the crown. In terms of colorimetry, the flashy blue and gloss black are reminiscent of the colour codes used in the artist’s XXL bestiary.
When art and technology fuse to shape time
The material chosen for these two editions is ceramic; a material of choice for Hublot ever since the launch of its iconic Big Bang collection in 2005. Since then, its R&D and Metallurgy departments have invented and patented several varieties of ceramic including a world first in 2018 with bright red ceramic, and Magic Gold, the only scratch-resistant 18K gold alloy to fuse 24K gold with boron carbide.
Hublot is unquestionably the master of materials, and of fusion, an art that the Manufacture is constantly perfecting. For the first time, faceted ceramic dresses the whole watch, including its dial. The result is a bevelled architecture that gives life to the ceramic in origami style.
If a crease gives clothing a certain effect, in this case it sets the tone for your wrists. These watches are like artworks to be worn, and ones that have naturally taken on the three-dimensional folds of Richard Orlinski’s sculptures. A deliberate emphasis, bright colours, encapsulated in two editions.
In terms of size, these two monochrome models keep the 40 mm diameter proportions of their alter ego, and beat to the rhythm of an automatic movement with a 42-hour power reserve and are worn on a soft rubber strap.
