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Five Minutes With ... Shepard Fairey On His Latest Collaboration With Hublot (VIDEO)

Obey this watch.

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Andre the Giant and Hublot have more in common than just size. Shepard Fairey has used both as subjects for his artwork. The Obey Giant and Obama Hope pieces will forever be associated with Fairey (and are something of historical artifacts), but he's moved to a different canvas of late: The wristwatch. Last month he released his second collaboration with Hublot, the Classic Fusion Chronograph Shepard Fairey, featuring signature features that have come to be associated with his work – specifically the use of the mandala (a geometric configuration of symbols) and, of course, one pensive wrestler.

Following the new release, we sat down with Fairey to discuss the creation of this piece, as well as his own feelings about the watch hobby – and collecting – in general. It might surprise you to know that he's a watch guy, and that he felt he needed a mulligan from his first Hublot collab. Hear him explain why in the video below.

Collaborations of this type usually hit two extremes from a consumer perspective: Love or hate. Some feel it represents the commoditization of art. But it's still art, and in a time when certain brands consider their watches to be functional art, a release like this feels more authentic than most.

Their first partnership, in 2018, took the form of the Big Bang Mega 10 and featured a collage on the case and bezel. "What I realized is that a lot of the detail of the collage is lost at that scale," Fairey said. "So I needed to go a little bit bold with this second watch." Fairey took more liberties in the overall design and it shows in the finished product, which is engraved in black titanium. The use of the mandala for the dial creates a hypnotizing effect. You almost don't know where the movement mechanics are in relation to the engraved dial (spoiler alert: they're underneath). The movement components lay in shadow and can be seen through the cracks and crevices of the ornate dial. At the very center is a star, and inside that star is the face Andre the Giant in Obey form – almost hiding in plain sight.

Fairey brings the mandala design elements out from the dial and onto the case – and even the lugs. The vertical lines on the rubber strap feel like a continuation of that aesthetic. You can just make out the chronograph seconds hand because of the red flourish (which is matched by the red minute track).

The new Fairey is a 50-piece limited-edition collector's item with an Andre the Giant-sized price tag of $21,700. In true Hublot fashion, it's large at 45mm, but you can make the argument that a larger case means more room for the artist’s design. The dial design makes telling the time secondary. Maybe that's the point.

The Classic Fusion Chronograph (non-limited) is quintessential Hublot. It's modern, sporty, and imposing with a great movement (the Caliber Hublot HUB1155 Self-winding Skeleton Chronograph movement) visible through a display caseback. That's everything you want out of a Hublot.

For more, visit Hublot.

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Visit Hodinkee affiliate Crown & Caliber to shop pre-owned Hublot models