Contemporary artist Takashi Murakami has launched his own watch brand, Time Objects, debuting with the Skull Flowers Cylindrical Jumping Hours Tourbillon collection.
The five-piece series marks a transition from his previous collaborative work with luxury houses to independent production, utilizing a specialized Swiss manufacture to execute his signature aesthetic.
By using Kross Manufacture's manufacturing infrastructure, Murakami establishes a platform that mirrors the independent operational models seen elsewhere in the industry, SJX Watches reported.
Establishing the Time Objects Brand
Murakami’s venture into watchmaking follows years of iterative collaboration, most notably with Hublot. His entry into the industry began in 2021 with the Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami All Black, a partnership that evolved through several iterations, including the 2023 Classic Fusion Takashi Murakami Black Ceramic Rainbow, which featured rotating gemstone petals, according to Monochrome-Watches.
The launch of Time Objects formalizes this interest under the artist’s own corporate umbrella, Kaikai Kiki, which was originally established as the Hiropon Factory in 1996. The brand’s philosophy, termed “The Chronos Paradox,” focuses on the dualities of life and death, beauty, and transience.
This thematic exploration is physically manifested in the Skull Flowers collection, which features 33-component grade 5 titanium cases shaped like skulls, measuring 44 mm in diameter and 18.4 mm in height.
Engineering the Cylindrical Display
The technical core of the Skull Flowers watch is a custom movement, the hand-wound cal. KM 7012 TM, developed by Marco Tedeschi. Tedeschi, a veteran of the industry who joined Hublot in 2007 and later served as CEO of Romain Jérôme, founded Kross Studio in 2020 to focus on small-batch production for specialized projects. The movement features 409 components and 81 jewels, delivering a 125-hour power reserve.
The time display departs from standard frontal layouts, utilizing a lateral aperture at six o’clock. The hours are displayed on a rotating cylinder that jumps instantaneously at the start of each hour, while a trailing disc tracks the minutes.
The system uses a 24-hour scale, an unconventional choice that distinguishes between morning and afternoon cycles, SJX Watches noted. The tourbillon, positioned at 12 o’clock on the movement’s reverse, is visible through the sapphire caseback, with the bridge shaped to match the artist’s flower motif.
Prices Range from CHF85,000 to CHF148,000
The collection is limited to 12 pieces for each of the two entry-level versions: the Black Rainbow and the All Black, both priced at CHF85,000. Higher-end configurations, including full pavé diamond and rainbow settings, reach up to CHF148,000. These price points place the collection within the territory of established haute horlogerie, targeting the crossover demographic of contemporary art collectors.
| Reference | Configuration | Price (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| TMSKL26-TN-RAIN | Black Rainbow | 85,000 |
| TMSKL26-TN-ALLB | All Black | 85,000 |
| TMSKL26-TN-RAIN-FPRB | Full Pavé Rainbow | 140,000 |
| TMSKL26-TN-ALLB-FP02 | Full Pavé Black Diamonds | 142,000 |
| TMSKL26-TN-RAIN-FP01 | Full Pavé Diamonds | 148,000 |
The design choices, such as the rotating flower petals in the eye sockets, are intended to function independently of the time display, relying on the movement of the wearer’s wrist. The winding mechanism is integrated into the case back, allowing the skull’s profile to remain free of a traditional crown, with time adjustments handled via a discreet pusher on the left side of the case.
Recent industry movements, such as Chanel’s acquisition of a minority stake in Kross Manufacture, show the rising value of these specialized production capabilities for high-end projects.
