Hublot unveils Anniversary Fusions
Founded in Switzerland in 1980, Hublot is celebrating its 40th anniversary with the launch of the Classic Fusion 40 Years Anniversary collection. Hublot has always been a fearless and pioneering brand, and this is no less true in 2020. The brand’s creation of a gold watch on a rubber strap in 1980 broke with conventional codes and laid the foundations for its own vision of haute horlogerie. To mark its anniversary, it has revisited its 1980 Classic Original, an iconic example of its disruptive approach
Straddling the past and the future, horological tradition and technical innovation, this 2020 edition is available in a mechanical version. An icon that works a variety of materials, finishes and modern and classic technologies into three collectors’ models to celebrate Hublot’s 40th anniversary.
According to Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot, these Classic Fusion models embody 40 years packed with technological advances and breaking with convention. Not content with simply reissuing the 1980 Classic Original, the marque has reinterpreted it to reflect the Hublot of today – one model featuring a mechanical movement in a 45 mm format for men. A brand-new contemporary version that celebrates Hublot’s innovative approach of the last 40 years.
The new Classic Fusion models capture the elegance and timeless refinement of the 1980 Classic Original, as well as four decades of ceaseless exploration and innovation. The black lacquered and polished dial is ultra-understated, featuring only faceted hands, an applique Hublot and H logo. The 45 mm case – made from yellow gold, titanium or black ceramic – includes the six famous screws and a sapphire crystal case back, and sit on a timeless, easily adjustable rubber strap with a triple deployant clasp for added comfort.
These signature details add a contemporary touch to the first Hublot watch, lending these models a beautifully timeless character. While the yellow gold edition is limited to only 100 examples, the other two are limited editions of 200 each. All three editions house the self-winding Caliber Hublot HUB1112 movement, and boast a power reserve of 42 hours.
Marrying original design with comfort, the 1980 Classic Original quickly captivated a discerning public seeking a unique horological product. Hublot’s founder, Carlo Crocco, had in mind a practical, robust and wearable model for all occasions. At the time, Hublot was the first watch brand to boldly combine precious gold with a modern rubber developed in its own workshops.
A happy marriage between two such disparate materials was something no one else had imagined. These were the origins of the ‘Art of Fusion’, an exploratory approach to materials underpinned by technological research and a fearlessness that has characterised Hublot for 40 years.
Hublot, since its inception, has been defined by its innovative concept, which began with the highly original combination of gold and rubber. This “Art of Fusion” stems from the imagination of its visionary Chairman, Jean-Claude Biver, and has been driven forward by CEO Ricardo Guadalupe since 2012.
The release of the iconic, multi-award-winning Big Bang in 2005 paved the way for new flagship collections – Classic Fusion, Spirit of Big Bang – with complications ranging from the simple to the highly sophisticated, establishing the extraordinary DNA of the Swiss watchmaking house and ensuring its impressive growth.
Keen to preserve its traditional and cutting-edge expertise, and guided by its philosophy to “Be First, Different and Unique”, the Swiss watchmaker is consistently ahead of the curve, through its innovations in materials – scratch-resistant Magic Gold, ceramics in vibrant colours, sapphire – and the creation of Manufacture movements, such as the Unico, Meca-10, and Tourbillon.
Fully committed to creating an Haute Horlogerie brand with a visionary future, Hublot is shaping a future that is fused with the key events and brands of our times, such as the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA EURO, and Ferrari, and the finest ambassadors our era has to offer – Kylian Mbappé, Usain Bolt, Pelé.
