Destined to Obey: The Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey
Clad in all black and dressed with a now-signature expressionless scowl, Shepard Fairey might cut an intimidating figure, but the legendary street artist-turned-activist (whose work you may recognize from the streets of Toronto and Vancouver) is as warm and passionate about his work and the watch on his wrist as one could possibly hope.
We were on the scene at the classic West Hollywood lounge Delilah, for the star-studded launch of Fairey’s newest collaboration with Hublot — the new Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey reserved exclusively for the North American market. As was the case with his prior Hublot collab, a portion of the proceeds of sale of this watch will go to Amnesty International.
The watch is a murdered-out ceramic remix of the 2021 iteration which sold out in short order, and arguably a design that’s even more on-brand for Fairey, whose personal style preferences are imprinted directly into the watch itself. This all-black aesthetic is paired with a series of special symbols and iconography from his work, creating a direct through-line between both his personal brand and his distinct style as an artist.
Like the 2021 reference, the starting point for this edition is Hublot’s 45mm Aerofusion Chronograph, but the new reference eschews the aged steel look in favour of a stealthy black ceramic case that features a dramatic micro-blasted pattern throughout the case and bezel. It’s finished with a very finely skeletonized dial in a stylized mandala motif — a totem representing harmony on one’s spiritual journey found throughout Hinduism and Buddhism, and a signature that ties together much of Fairey’s work. In addition to its through-line to Fairey’s charity contributions with Amnesty International, the mandala works particularly well as a focal point on the watch, as its symmetry creates a natural circular canvas upon which a time display can be neatly rendered.
Unique to this edition is a greater emphasis on a mix of brushed and polished black surfaces which have been layered throughout its dial. The intent here is to help create more separation and contrast between the chronograph totalizers, the hands, and associated indices. The end result provides a surprising amount of legibility, depth, and texture, yielding an especially striking and functional dial; this is not something often seen on an all-black watch.
As Fairey gestures towards his wrist with a grin, it’s quite clear that with each collaboration with Hublot, he continues to find new and interesting ways to communicate his distinct visual style and passion for human rights. Like the wildly popular Hublot Sang Bleu editions done in collaboration with designer and tattoo artist Maxime Büchi, or the wildly colorful editions produced with Takashi Murakami and Richard Orlinski, there’s a tangible through-line between Fairey’s Aerofusion Chronograph and his own mission as an artist. It’s quite cool to see a watchmaker empower its design partners with the ability to not just create a collaborative edition, but to use the watch as a genuine canvas. It’s this genuine connection and mutual admiration between brand and artist that makes Hublot’s many partnerships so special, and the end results so desirable for collectors.
Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey
Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey
Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey
Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph All Black Shepard Fairey
Before pausing for photos with actor Jeremy Piven and fashion consultant Nick Wooster, Fairey makes his rounds throughout the room to chat with friends Hublot CEO Jean-Francois Sberro and DJ Z Trip, before finishing the evening at the DJ booth, spinning through a set of classic hip hop numbers and showing his full range as not just an artist, but an entertainer. Only 52 pieces of this edition will be produced, and if history of the artist’s collaborations with Hublot are to repeat, they’re likely to be all spoken for very quickly, even with a retail price of $32,400.
Learn more about the new Hublot X Shepard Fairey collaboration here.
