Hublot × Jeff Koons: Balloon Dog and MP-14 Origin Bring Art to Watchmaking
Inflated forms and a transparent mechanical universe: For his collaboration with Hublot, Jeff Koons brings two of his artistic motifs to the wrist. The Classic Fusion Balloon Dog echoes the plump surface of his balloon figures. The MP-14 Origin, on the other hand, combines transparent layers, gemstones, and ring-shaped displays around a central tourbillon.
Classic Fusion Balloon Dog: The Shape Becomes Soft
Koons’ *Balloon Dog* is part of the “Celebration” series. The monumental sculpture transforms the fleeting impression of a knotted balloon into polished stainless steel. With this watch, Hublot similarly reverses our perception: the metal case appears almost soft thanks to its rounded contours. The hands and hour markers also echo this padded shape. A small decorative rubber extension at around half past ten evokes the balloon’s tail; the counterweight of the seconds hand references the dog.
The case measures 42 millimeters and is 11 millimeters high. The red and blue versions are made of polished, anodized aluminum, while the silver version is made of stainless steel. The colored models feature rubber straps with metallic-looking leather inserts; on the silver version, the insert is made of a metallic-looking polymer. The watch is water-resistant to 50 meters.
The automatic HUB1710 caliber operates at 4 hertz and offers approximately 50 hours of power reserve. Each of the three color variations is limited to 200 pieces. Hublot lists the price at 24,600 euros each. What makes this watch special is not so much an additional complication as the consistent application of its sculptural form to the entire watch.
MP-14 Origin: A Tourbillon Under a Blue Dome
The MP-14 Origin takes Koons’ “Gazing Ball” works as its starting point. A blue, translucent-lacquered sapphire crystal dome sits over the central tourbillon. Four white gold rings are arranged around it. Two of them rotate to indicate the hours and minutes, while the other two feature fixed scales. Red and gray markings make the time information clearly visible within the spatial composition.
The four rings are set with a total of 202 gemstones weighing approximately 2.6 carats. Blue sapphires mark the hour and quarter-hour positions. The octagonal case, made of sapphire crystal and titanium, is 44 millimeters wide and 20 millimeters high. An integrated sapphire crystal bracelet with titanium screws extends the transparency beyond the case; the folding clasp is made of titanium. The watch is water-resistant to 30 meters.
594 pieces and an open center
Inside, the automatic in-house caliber HUB9014 is at work. Its peripheral rotor keeps the center of the dial unobstructed. The movement, featuring a central tourbillon, consists of 594 components, beats at three hertz, and offers a power reserve of approximately 60 hours. Concealed winding and time-setting mechanisms reinforce the watch’s sleek, sculptural appearance.
Only 30 pieces of the MP-14 Origin will be produced, priced at 479,000 euros. Together, the two models demonstrate the breadth of this collaboration: The Classic Fusion reimagines a familiar watch through its design, while the MP-14 develops its own mechanical architecture around the artistic motif.
