The originals from the 1980s are making a comeback.
One of the ‘it’ watches of the 1980s, Hublot’s porthole-inspired rubber strap watch has been revived. 42 years since the brand debuted with the iconoclastic Hublot – the first timepiece to combine a gold case and rubber strap – the brand pays tribute to its founder with a new collection based on the original design. Regards Carlo Crocco. The Classic Fusion Original collection follows the look and feel of the original and includes three sizes, each available in three material configurations.
The Classic Fusion Original has an almost minimalist design, simpler and sleeker than the typical Hublot. All three sizes are relatively compact and slim – the largest model is 10mm tall – giving it a surprisingly elegant silhouette on the wrist.
The clean design is very attractive, save for the date window, which doesn’t stand out too much but is still unnecessary. I would go even further in the direction of minimalism if the second hand were removed. That said, both the date and seconds hand are part of the original 1980 design.
Despite its clean styling, this Review copy watch is instantly recognizable as a Hublot. In fact, the Classic Fusion Original is arguably more distinctive than some of the brand’s other models, which sometimes resemble offerings from Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille.
Granted, it’s relatively expensive for a watch with a Sellita automatic movement, but while some competitors may offer more complicated in-house movements in the same price range, they lack the Classic Fusion Original appeal.
porthole
Founded in 1980 by Carlo Crocco as MDM Geneve, Hublot takes its name from its flagship product at the time, a watch with a porthole-shaped bezel, or hublot in French. The original model was the first luxury wristwatch to feature a precious metal case and rubber strap, a very novel concept at the time.
Measuring just 36 mm in diameter, the original Hublot watch was compact, with both a slim case and rubber strap, making it both elegant and sporty. The original was reproduced in 2020 for the brand’s 40th anniversary, but with a case diameter of 45 mm.
The Classic Fusion Original is essentially a smaller version of the 40th Anniversary model. It has the same overall design and most of the same details. I would remove the date window at three o’clock, but other than that I like the dial.
Like the anniversary model, the Classic Fusion Original recreates the minimalist style of the original by removing almost all superfluous elements from the dial. The dial is finished in glossy black lacquer, with only the Hublot logo at 12 o’clock. The glossy dial contrasts with the bezel and helps accentuate its brushed finish.
Admittedly, the badge at 12 o’clock is oversized, but the overall look remains restrained as the dial has no other markings. But the dial isn’t as flashy as the 40th Anniversary model, with a heavily applied logo that’s clearly three-dimensional. The logo on the Classic Fusion Original is almost flat by comparison.
The Classic Fusion Original has the same case as the standard Classic Fusion, so the case sizes are the same at 33mm, 38mm and 42mm. For Hublot, all three sizes are incredibly slim and incredibly stylish. Even the largest version is only 10mm high. Online copy watch
The largest 42mm model is just right for modern tastes as it’s big enough to be sporty without being overly large, while the 38mm feels almost like a 36mm vintage original.
Like most Hublot models, the Classic Fusion Original is available in titanium, Black Magic (a mix of black ceramic and black-coated titanium), or 18k yellow gold. All three have black resin embedded under the bezel, a key part of Hublot’s design, but the material (basically matte black plastic) feels out of place in an expensive watch.
As the most affordable, as far as Hublot is concerned, the titanium models are good value, but the ceramic and gold models are more attractive. The ceramic model has an all-black finish, typical of Hublot, while the gold model is a perfect homage to the original from the 1980s. This model is also available in a variety of metals, but the gold model is also the most attractive.
While Hublot does have a stable of in-house movements, including time-only ones, the Classic Fusion models are primarily powered by Sellita. So it’s no surprise that the Classic Fusion Original 38mm and 42mm are powered by the HUB1110, which is actually a Sellita SW300-1 with Hublot branded rotors. (The 33mm model is powered by a HUB2913, probably an ETA quartz movement.)
A clone of the ETA 2892, the SW300-1 is a tried and tested movement, but it has been around for so long that it has a short power reserve of just 42 hours. The movement is reliable and easy to service, but it’s not impressive.
Among the titanium and ceramic versions of the Classic Fusion Original, it’s an acceptable choice, though the watch would be quite compelling with a more complicated movement, even at a slightly higher price.
The final noteworthy element of the Classic Fusion Original is the double-fold clasp, a significant improvement over the single-fold clasp of Hublot’s standard issue. Not only is it less bulky on the wrist, but the bi-fold clasp is more comfortable. And the double-fold clasp is also easier to achieve a comfortable fit.
That said, this clasp requires the rubber strap to be cut to size, which means that the strap size is basically fixed once adjusted, as it can only be made smaller and not larger. But the added comfort is really worth it.
It’s also worth mentioning that the new buckle has a more refined finish compared to the standard buckle, which has many sharp edges. Discount fake watch
Hublot Classic Fusion Original 42, 38 and 33 mm
Diameter: 42mm, 38mm or 33mm
Height: 10mm, 9.85mm or 8.5mm
Material: Titanium, Black Ceramic or 18k Yellow Gold
Crystal glass: Sapphire
Water resistance: 50 meters
Movement: HUB1110 (42 and 38mm), HUB2913 (33mm)
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds and date
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Winding: Automatic (42 and 38mm), Quartz (33mm)
Power reserve: approx. 42 hours (42 and 38 mm)
Strap: Rubber strap with buckle