Pushing case design with the Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis 5-Day Power Reserve
Ricardo SimeWhat is a watch case? Is it simply a container for the movement? The frame to a beautiful piece of art? For Hublot it seems the case is much more and should be a continuation of the design. And nowhere do we see this ideology play out better than in the new Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis 5-Day Power Reserve.
Long name, I know. But for everything going on in this watch, it should be longer. As Hublot just flexed, creating a complex and dazzling watch.
It all starts with the case. On first glance, I wouldn’t fault you for believing the case is bejeweled with coloured stones. But that is not what’s happening. Instead, Hublot created a woven carbon case with coloured composite sticks placed within. These sticks were created to visually represent a colour gradient, with thin bars of carbon placed between them to fill the gaps. Once a block of this mix is created, the final case is cut from it, smoothed and polished, leaving the great example we see above.
That’s how this 49mm wide, 17.95mm thick case was made. But the ingenuity doesn’t end there. Make your way to the dial and there you get a continuation of the case design, with the hour markers following the same colour gradient pattern. Moving outwards towards 7 o’clock you get the date wheel that has been divided into two parts. At 9 o’clock on the outside of the case, there is a switch which will allow you to move the date forward or back. And at 9 o’clock on the inside of the case is a power reserve meter showing you how much of the five-day power reserve is left.
One of the most interesting aspects of the dial though has to be the bi-axial tourbillon at 6 o’clock. Where we would normally see the lower lugs to a Big Bang case, we instead have the tourbillon cage rotating on two axis and “falling” from the main movement. All while pulling the case down along with it. It’s a captivating movement that really stands out.
That movement in question is the HUB9009.H1.RA.B. It’s a manual wind movement with a long five-day power reserve. A feat aided by the movement, which beats at only 3hz (21,600 bph). Some may feel this slower rate isn’t visually appealing. Yet that shouldn’t be an issue as most of the visual action will come from that stunning tourbillon cage. A cage where each axis moves in its own direction.
Overall, this movement continues to be the perfect companion to the MP-09 collection.
Once you make your way past the dynamic design of the movement, dial and case, the coloured motif continues with the strap. Hublot decided to go multicoloured alligator here, using all the colours seen in the case. All secured to your wrist by a satin-brushed black titanium clasp.
All together, the Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis 5-Day Power Reserve is quite an addition to the MP-09 collection. For a collection that already contained coloured pieces, this new reference takes things to a new level. Consider the year we’ve had where so many brands released colourful offerings. Instead of using precious stones for that effect, this interpretation of the trend here is fully ingrained into every part. Existing not simply on the surface but at it’s core, expanding our options for that look.
Once again, Hublot has given us a something truly unique and different.
The Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis 5-Day Power Reserve pricing and availability:
The Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis 5-Day Power Reserve is available through Hublot Boutiques. Eight pieces will be made. Price: AU$294,000