Since the 16th century, watches have been helpful companions in one’s pocket. Of course, watches are mainly worn on the wrist these days, yet pocket watches have not lost their charm and still enjoy a certain popularity. Therefore, it is all the more exciting that Hublot has ventured into a new interpretation of the pocket watch with contemporary artist and brand ambassador Daniel Arsham. The result is the futuristic limited-edition Arsham Droplet.
Inspired by organic forms in nature, especially water, the pocket watch combines iconic elements of both partners. The fusion of tradition and modernity plays an important role in the masterpieces made by Hublot and Arsham. Working across different media, the contemporary artist builds a bridge between past, present, and future through his art and has already collaborated with well-known personalities such as Hedi Slimane and renowned brands such as Porsche. The New York-based artist focuses on everyday objects, which he redesigns in such a way that they look like ‘future relics’. The collaboration with Hublot has now brought about a timepiece that plays with the idea of a traditional pocket watch through its form and function. The Arsham Droplet is not just a pocket watch, but can also be worn as a functional piece of jewellery as a pendant or a decorative eye-catcher on a table stand.
The collaboration between Hublot and Daniel Arsham has resulted in a timepiece that by no means conforms to traditional case shapes. As the name suggests, the titanium case of the Arsham Droplet is drop-shaped and measures 73.2 mm x 52.6 mm. It measures 22.5 mm in height. In addition to its shape, the case is also characterised by its open-worked structure, which lends the timepiece a certain lightness and transparency. The narrow section of the case is permeated by interspersed, openworked circular shapes reminiscent of air bubbles in water. The wider part of the drop, on the other hand, is characterised by the dial, which has a regular round shape.
The special case is complemented by a microblasted and polished titanium crown. Moreover, rubber bumpers in the special mint green colour ‘Arsham Green’ with an embossed artist’s monogram, create a colourful accent along the sides of the metal case. Matching the Arsham Green colour of the dial, the bumpers create an overall harmonious look. Interestingly, this mint green hue is a special Pantone colour created by Arsham, which he repeatedly uses in his works. In addition to Arsham’s signature, there are also six H-shaped (for Hublot) titanium screws surrounding the dial.
Turning the timepiece over, the wearer can admire the caseback’s micro-blasted black M3 titanium frame, which reveals the organic circular shapes. An ‘Arsham Green’ rim frames the movement. Here, Arsham’s logo, consisting of two large juxtaposed and overlapping A’s in ‘Arsham Green’ and black, adorns the sapphire crystal. As a result, the movement is only partially visible.
To further protect this sensitive construction, anti-reflective sapphire crystal arches over the open-worked case and dial. In addition, a double sealing system consisting of 17 O-ring seals in an ingenious arrangement provides protection against water up to a depth of 30 m.
The dial showcases how well the fusion of Hublot and Arsham’s design really works. On the skeletonised dial, a semi-matt varnished ‘Arsham Green’ index ring and colour-coordinated hour and minute hands indicate the time. The three-dimensional Arsham monogram is located at 12 o’clock, while the Hublot logo is emblazoned below. Thanks to their skeletonisation, the small seconds with its quarter division in ‘Arsham Green’ and the titanium power reserve indicator with its exposed numerical disc appear to be floating.
The Hublot Meca-10 manufacture movement with manual winding is visible via the sapphire crystal from the front and back. The calibre, which is also used in the famous Big Bang, oscillates at a frequency of 3 Hz and has a remarkable power reserve of 10 days. The individual components are coated with grey PVD or in luminescent ‘Arsham Green’.
Water is ever-changing and can take up different shapes within in its three states of aggregation. The same arguably applies to the Arsham Droplet, which can transform into three different variations. This limited edition can be used as a pocket watch, a watch chain, and a table clock. The timepiece therefore does not come with a strap, but rather with two titanium chains and a table stand. The titanium chains consist of alternating circular and angular polished links and are each equipped with a patented, double ‘One Click’ system and clasp. Thus, the watch can be worn as a pendant around the neck or as a pocket watch.
The transformation into a sculptural table clock is achieved with the help of a table stand made of microblasted titanium, on which the timepiece can be placed. A magnifying glass, which is made of mineral glass and allows a closer look at the skeletonised dial, and a tinted sphere in ‘Arsham Green’ complete this transformation. Both emphasise the organic structures of the timepiece. There are only 99 examples of this special collaboration, each of which is available for 92,000 euros.
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