Hublot, a Swiss luxury watchmaker, has announced the upcoming launch of 13 unique watches, each coming with its own non-fungible token (NFT).
The NFT collection — representing the fourth collaboration with Japanese artist and entrepreneur Takashi Murakami — is inspired by 1970s Japanese video games and television.
Twelve of the physical watches will be available for purchase on the Hublot website, but only to holders of one of the 324 NFTs launched by Hublot and Murakami last year as part of their third collaboration.
Those who do not already hold any of the NFTs will be able to purchase one or more on OpenSea.
The thirteenth watch will be even more unique since it will feature Takashi Murakami’s iconic symbol: the smiling flower. The flower will be the focal point of the clock, and each of its petals will be decorated with a rainbow gradient of different gemstones — including rubies, sapphires, amethysts, tsavorites, and topaz.
Only the collector who has collected all 12 of the new unique NFTs will be entitled to buy the thirteenth watch in April 2024. If no one has collected all twelve NFTs, the watch will be auctioned off with the proceeds going to charity.
The collection’s twelve watches will be available for purchase in early April 2023.
Hublot is not the first watchmaker to take steps toward Web3; in December, Timex partnered with Daz 3D to offer a completely personalized, limited edition watch line delivered with linked NFTs, while Rolex submitted a trademark application in November indicating its intention of entering the world of NFTs and the metaverse.
