Color Revolution: Hublot's Colored 3D Carbon Watches

A case with a striking shape created from edgy carbon fiber.

Hublot launched its new “MP” (Manufacture Piece) collection ten years ago with the sole intention of showing off what the manufacture has achieved. The line began with the MP-01 chronograph which had a 10-day power reserve and provided a skeletonized view of the three-barreled movement on the dial side. The next member of the family was the Hublot MP-02 "Key of Time".

Not only did it experiment with the shape of its unusual-looking "barrel", it also experimented with time itself. The watch allowed the wearer to speed up the hands of time by four or slow them down to four times that of normal time, and without losing track of the real time. Another model from the series called the MP-05 "LaFerrari" boasted a record 50-day power reserve.

The MP-09 model which debuted in 2017 didn't fall short of meeting the high standards set for the MP series. The manufacture's engineers placed Hublot's first multi-axis tourbillon at the bottom of its dial. It looks as if it didn't fit inside the dial's standard circle and "slid" down to where it sits between the lugs. This unusual architecture which maximizes the view of the tourbillon has become the MP-09 watch's distinguishing feature.

The first two versions of the Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis in titanium and King Gold were followed by the third black 3D carbon version in its case made of carbon fiber. The word 3D in the watch's name is a reference to Hublot's skilled manipulation of the carbon fiber, which the manufacture's engineers can sculpt to form all sorts of curves, angles and inclined planes.

This material was also used for the 2021 novelties: four MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis models made of colored carbon fiber. Hublot is following the same course with carbon fiber as ceramics, gradually fanning out the color palette with unusually bright models for such materials (the colored ceramics in watches by other brands look far more subdued).

Now Hublot is also giving the multi-layer composite a dash of color with its solution-dyed 3D carbon cases. The shade of the case's colored parts is matched with the rubber strap, hands and hour markers.  The new Hublot MP-09 Tourbillon Bi-Axis 3D Carbon watches are equipped with the manual-winding HUB9009.H1.RA movement which has a five-day power reserve.

Its focal point is the Tourbillon Bi-axis in its special place at the bottom of the case. The first axis completes one full rotation every minute, and the second axis makes a second rotation every 30 seconds. Each version of the watch (yellow, blue, green and red) is limited to 8 pieces — a lucky number which is sure to go down well with clients in Asia.