Hublot has released another not-so-subtle sapphire novelty. This time in the shape of a 45mm x 14.4mm Hublot MP-11. It’s a bright blue sapphire crystal statement piece that boasts a a 14 day power reserve. We wouldn’t expect anything less from Hublot.
Hublot debuted their first hublot sapphire Big Bang in 2016. Since then we’ve seen a fairly steady release of the Hublot sapphire rainbow: purple Sapphire, blue Sapphire, orange sapphire, yellow Saxem, green Saxem, and now we have ice blue – or “Glacier Blue,” according to Swiss HQ. I’m calling it faux paraiba tourmaline.
The Hublot MP-11 has appeared in several different case materials since it was introduced as a platform for the caliber HUB9011. It has 14 days of power reserve thanks to seven series-coupled barrels arranged horizontally, just below the display for the time. You can read how many days are left in the reserve on the display at the far left of the series-coupled barrels. Transmitting energy from the horizontally aligned barrel arbor to the vertical gears controlling the hour and minute display necessitated the use of a 90 degree helical worm gear, which is visible at the 10 o’clock position. The balance wheel can be seen on the other side of the dial, at 2 o’clock.
Hublot often makes watches that are both unobtainable/unwearable for most mere watch-loving mortals. I would argue that Hublot actually functions best when executing crazy MPs made of some outrageous material or highly complex mechanical configurations. Instead of being just another palatable watch that we relegate to the back of our mental library of okay-to-medium watches, these releases become a lesson for us all in how to admire innovation without taking personal offense. In fact I quite like finding things aesthetically offensive – it’s a mental exercise in understanding my own taste. It’s about honing in on the skill of appreciating things without actually wanting to wear them. Like Rick Owens inflatable shoes or a giant frilly Molly Goddard Dress. I would never wear said items but I adore them spiritually and think of them often.
No, this watch is not for me, but I absolutely love a mammoth sized colored crystal watch for its sheer bravado. As well as the fact it sort of looks like a giant, really expensive giant blue G-Shock. And if I were to spot this icy blue MP-11 in a Miami nightclub, I would admire it in all its water blue glory, and be secretly jealous that I wasn’t part of the Hublot $100,000+ watch illuminati.
