In order to truly bring something fresh to the watch space these days, you have to totally throw out convention and be willing to do something audacious. Hublot knows a thing or two about audacity, with past models that include rainbow gem-encrusted Big Bang or the polarizing Key of Time, which lets you literally alter the speed at which time is displayed.
This time around, the Swiss brand has teamed back up with Daniel Arsham for a radical timepiece with a bezel that looks like a frosted drop of water.
A Water Droplet Frozen in Time
Building on their 2024 collaboration, the MP-16 Arsham Droplet pocket watch, this latest creation marks Arsham’s first proper wristwatch for Hublot. The defining characteristic here is that splash-shaped opening carved into the dial, which frames the skeletal Meca-10 movement beneath. It’s an evolution of the droplet motif, only now it feels more dynamic, as if you’ve captured the exact moment a droplet hits the surface and explodes outward.
The frosted box-shaped sapphire bezel reinforces this liquid aesthetic, wrapping around a 42mm micro-blasted titanium case. Despite the unconventional form, Hublot’s design ethos remains intact. Six signature H-screws secure the bezel and caseback, while those distinctive lateral bulges at 3 and 9 o’clock anchor the integrated rubber strap. Arsham’s signature green accents pop throughout: on the hands, numerals, minute track, small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock, and the linear power reserve indicator at 3.
The Compact Meca-10 Movement
What makes this 42mm size possible is Hublot’s newer, downsized Meca-10 caliber (HUB1201), introduced earlier this year. This manual-wound, skeletonized movement still delivers the same impressive 10-day power reserve as its larger predecessor, thanks to twin mainspring barrels. The rack-and-pinion power reserve display remains one of the most visually striking complications Hublot has developed. At 21,600 vph, it’s not the fastest movement out there, but the industrial aesthetic and architectural finishing suit the overall design philosophy well.
Through both the dial opening and sapphire caseback, you get a secondary, unobstructed view of the movement’s grey PVD bridges and mechanical ballet.
Spec Sheet
Model: MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire
Case Material: Micro-blasted titanium with polished and laser-textured sapphire bezel
Case Size: 42mm
Lug-to-Lug: 15.35mm
Movement: HUB1201 Meca-10 manual-winding
Power Reserve: 240 hours (10 days)
Frequency: 21,600 vph (3Hz)
Water Resistance: 50m
Band: Black rubber strap with Arsham monogram pattern
Limited Edition: 99 pieces
Pricing & Availability
The Hublot MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire is limited to just 99 pieces worldwide and retails for $69,000. It’s available now at Hublot boutiques and authorized retailers.
Recap
Hublot MP-17 Meca-10 Arsham Splash Titanium Sapphire
Hublot and artist Daniel Arsham have created their boldest collaboration yet, a 42mm wristwatch with a frosted sapphire bezel and splash-shaped dial opening that frames the brand’s skeletal Meca-10 movement.
