Hublot & Street Artist Tristan Eaton Unveil Concrete Jungle Watch

Sweeping city views from the glass-enclosed penthouse at the Hotel on Rivington served as the parfait backdrop to unveil Hublot’s latest artist collaboration: Classic Fusion Aerofusion Concrete Jungle, a tribute to NYC and a continuation of the brand’s mantra “Hublot Loves Art.” The watchmakers teamed up with street artist and New Yorker Tristan Eaton for the special-edition timepiece, which features a real concrete bezel (see what they did there?) For the caseback, Eaton created a mosaic painting of the Statue of Liberty, reflective of his first large-scale work, Liberty, a five-story mural he painted in 2012 at the corner of Mulberry and Canal Streets. To kick off the evening, guests sipped cocktails and viewed Eaton’s works before heading downstairs to Cafe Medi for an intimate seated dinner of hamachi crudo, truffle-accented polenta, sea scallops, and chocolate mousse.

“When I met Jean-Francois [Sberro, managing director of Hublot America], he had come to Miami to meet me, and I was painting a wall, sweaty and covered in dirt, probably had the worst B.O., and wearing a spray mask. He saw through all of that and here I am today,” Eaton told guests. “[This watch is] a love letter from me and Hublot to the city. This city made me the artist I am today. I’m sure everyone here knows how hard this city can be, so to fight through that jungle and persevere means a lot. This project is a really great way to honor [that].”

Guests carried on to the after-party next door, at underground lounge JIA, where DJ Doug Rand was on music duty. The “Concrete Jungle” Classic Fusion Aerofusion timepiece is limited to 50 pieces, available for purchase at Hublot New York boutiques on Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue for $19,500.