Hublot’s Classic Fusion Orlinski Collaboration Displays Innovation

Richard Orlinski, a French contemporary artist, has had the highest global sales of any French artist since 2015. In 2004, he launched his artistic career by sculpting a crocodile out of bright red resin, an instant classic in the sculptor's bestiary. Richard Orlinski is motivated by a desire to open up art to as wide an audience as possible, so his work explores a wide variety of styles and formats. Minister of Culture Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin honored him with the title of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in 2021.

This new chapter of the collaboration, dedicated to the Classic Fusion Chronograph Orlinski by Hublot at Watches And Wonders 2023, brings together art enthusiasts and those who value extreme precision. Some people will be immediately drawn to the facets produced by the internationally renowned visual artist's signature folds and iconic angular architecture. The Hublot chronograph dial's intricate workings will captivate others' attention. The case of this one-of-a-kind watch is comfortable at 41 millimeters in diameter, so it will fit comfortably on any wrist. When the fusion process reaches a new pinnacle of magic, the watch transcends into a work of art.

“Those who know me know that I am highly demanding and do not impose any limits on myself. It is undoubtedly this shared approach that has united us since 2017. This collaboration is such a success because it is the result of perfect harmony between innovation and know-how”, says Richard Orlinski, French Contemporary Artist, and Hublot Ambassador.

Both are one-of-a-kind in their own right; one is accessorized with the traditional black natural rubber strap, while the other features a three-dimensional silhouette that runs the length of the watch. The titanium in this new collection has been micro-blasted to create a matte finish on the facets, lending the pieces an air of understated sophistication. The bezel becomes a polygon with its distinctive decagonal shape, a hallmark of Hublot's partnership with Richard Orlinski since 2017. The HUB1153 automatic chronograph mechanism powers all Orlinski Classic Fusion Chronograph watches.

“Hublot has always been driven by innovation and a bold sense of design that goes against the grain. There are many parallels between watchmaking and art, both of which require creativity, passion, determination, and boldness. These values come together in this collaboration with Richard Orlinski to explore new and memorable designs. This fusion of high-quality Haute Horology and Art allows us to move towards new creative horizons, as innovative as they are unique”, says Ricardo Guadalupe, Hublot Ceo

Six years and four iterations later, the artist's fingerprints can be seen in every curve and angle of these monumental sculptures. As a sculptor, you can use the fusion technique to make your strokes into potent works of art. A symbiotic union between the disciplines of watchmaking and sculpture, bringing out the best of each. Remarkable examples of miniature art have withstood the passage of time. Hublot, ever the innovator, has once more pushed the envelope to reach for the stars.