Hublot and Jeff Koons Turn the Balloon Dog into a Watch

Jeff Koons’ Balloon Dog is one of those works that has become part of popular culture, taking the form of a balloon animal and turning something quite temporary and playful into a permanent, almost monumental object. Hublot‘s new collaboration transforms the normally sleek Classic Fusion into a watch that, like the balloon dog, looks inflated: meet the Classic Fusion Balloon Dog by Jeff Koons, offered in three limited versions.

The 50m water-resistant 42mm by 11mm case (and bracelet) is where most of the metamorphic work has happened, as Hublot re-engineered the architecture with domed and convex surfaces throughout. The sapphire crystal is raised and rounded, the case and bezel have been given a distinctly puffed-up profile, and even the H-shaped titanium screws feature inflated, domed heads. Every component maintains the visual impression of continuous pressure from inside, and the case looks softer and much more voluminous than a conventional Classic Fusion watch, despite being machined from metal.

The materials were chosen to reinforce the idea. The silver edition uses polished stainless steel, while the red and blue versions use polished anodised aluminium, allowing Hublot to achieve the saturated colours of Koons’ sculptures. The fun details include the metal-and-rubber crown designed to look like a balloon inflation valve, and a flexible rubber “dog tail” protruding from the case at 10:30.

The dial, with the Hublot logo and Koons’ signature, uses a polished, inflated construction with domed appliques containing three-dimensional white Super-LumiNova. The seconds hand has a Balloon Dog-shaped counterweight, and the hands use raised Super-LumiNova inserts. The date display at 3 o’clock features white numerals/black disc on all references. In all versions, the important point is that the artwork has influenced the physical construction rather than merely the decoration.

The collaborative series is powered by Hublot’s HUB1710 (Zenith Elite 670 base) automatic movement. Measuring 25.6mm in diameter and 3.7mm thick, it contains 185 components and 27 jewels. It beats at 28,800 vibrations/hour and provides a 50-hour power reserve. The movement features an anthracite ruthenium-treated mainplate and bridges. Its polished rhodium-plated oscillating weight has also been reshaped with an inflated effect, carrying the collaboration’s design into the mechanics.

The Classic Fusion Balloon Dog comes on an integrated strap with a stainless-steel deployant buckle that carries the same inflated theme, with a debossed metallic leather or polymer insert and softened attachment points. Limited to 200 pieces per colour, the Classic Fusion Balloon Dog is priced at CHF 20,800, EUR 24,600 or USD 25,100.

Quick facts: 42mm x 11mm polished stainless steel, red or blue anodised aluminium, sapphire crystals, 50m water resistance – inflated, polished rhodium-plated, red or blue finish, domed appliques with 3D white SLN – HUB1710 automatic (Zenith Elite 670 base), 50h power reserve, 4Hz – integrated rubber strap with debossed metallic leather/polymer insert

The MP-14 Origin by Jeff Koons

The more extreme part of the collaboration is the MP-14 Origin, limited to 30 pieces. It combines a 44mm octagonal sapphire-and-titanium case with Hublot’s first automatic central tourbillon. The sapphire case reportedly takes around 534 hours to machine. It is 30m water-resistant. On the dial, two concentric rings rotate to indicate hours and minutes with the suspended red and grey stainless-steel cubes. The two outer rings remain fixed. The rings are set with 202 baguette-cut diamonds and blue sapphires, totalling approximately 2.6 carats. A central tourbillon sits beneath a transparent sapphire dome coated with translucent blue varnish.

The watch is powered by the HUB9014 manufacture calibre made with Concepto, comprising 594 components, operating at a 21,600 vibrations/hour frequency, and a 60-hour power reserve. A peripheral oscillating weight provides automatic winding without obstructing the open architecture. A fully integrated sapphire-and-titanium bracelet completes the construction. The price is CHF 405,000.

Quick facts: 44mm x 20mm – polished sapphire crystal and titanium case – four concentric rings, 202 stones – rotating hour and minutes rings with red and grey stainless-steel indicator cubes – Calibre HUB9014, automatic central tourbillon with peripheral oscillating weight, 60h power reserve – integrated sapphire and titanium bracelet

For more details, visit hublot.com.