For his second collaboration with Hublot, American artist, Daniel Arsham, interprets time through the lens of contemporary sculpture
Living up to its “Art of Fusion” credo, Hublot’s collaborative creations are never mere cursory partnerships. Rather, the watch brand is seriously intent—and open—to starting dialogues between itself and its fellow creators, often resulting in watches that cross the limits of convention.
Following that ethos, Hublot’s partnership with New York-based artist Daniel Arsham has evolved into one of the most thought-provoking exchanges between contemporary art and watchmaking. Their latest creation, the MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire, continues this narrative with a sculptural timepiece that is inspired by the motion of water.
Arsham, best known for his “fictional archaeology” that reimagines present-day objects as relics of the past, has long toyed with the perception of time. His 2016 TED Talk explored the concept of “collapsing time,” blurring distinctions between eras, and the MP-17 brings this philosophy to life. Whereas the duo’s earlier MP-16 Arsham Droplet pocket watch distilled the purity of a single water form, the MP-17 Splash captures the kinetic instant when the fluid is depicted to be frozen in motion.
“This collaboration explores the fluidity of time through a case inspired by the perfect geometry of a water droplet. The watch’s transparent structure captures the clarity and motion of water, suspended, precise, and always in flux,” explains Arsham.
Limited to 99 pieces, the watch’s 42mm titanium case houses Hublot’s HUB1205 Meca-10 manual-wind movement with 10-day power reserve. The movement’s architecture is visible through a transparent sapphire caseback and an aperture shaped like a splash across the dial. The piece’s frosted sapphire bezel and smooth contours create an interplay of light and texture—an incredibly challenging component to make, and a testament to Hublot’s manufacturing prowess.
While the silhouette seems a departure from traditional Hublot cues, closer inspection reveals the familiar six H-screws anchoring the bezel, the signature lugs, and the titanium folding clasp. Every design decision balances Arsham’s fluid minimalism with Hublot’s mechanical boldness. Arsham green highlights punctuate the monochromatic palette, enlivening the numerals, hands, and power-reserve indicator.
“Working with Daniel Arsham is a discovery of new design and perception. This watch invites us to see time in a new light, through Arsham’s unique and fluid vision,” says Julien Tornare, CEO of Hublot.
