Hublot revisits the watch that established its distinctive design language with the Classic Fusion Tributo, a new release in yellow and white gold that honours Carlo Crocco’s original 1980 creation. Combining the defining contrast of precious metal and black rubber with contemporary Manufacture watchmaking, the new model reconnects the brand with its founding vision while introducing updated proportions and mechanical architecture.
Carlo Crocco’s Original Vision: Gold and Rubber
In 1980, Carlo Crocco introduced a watch under the MDM Genève name that challenged conventional ideas of luxury watch design. Its defining feature was the pairing of a gold case with a rubber strap, a combination that departed from the traditional materials associated with prestigious Swiss watchmaking.
The original Hublot established several visual signatures that remain central to the brand: a porthole-inspired bezel secured by 12 exposed screws, a restrained dial and a strong contrast between gold and black. Rather than relying on elaborate decoration, the design placed emphasis on proportion, material contrast and recognisable geometry. This philosophy became the foundation of Hublot’s Art of Fusion.
Classic Fusion Tributo: Original Design, Updated Proportions
The new Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo retains the essential aesthetic of the original while refining its dimensions for contemporary wearability.
The case measures 38mm in diameter and 9.5mm in thickness, compared with the 36mm dimensions of the original design. The 12 slightly domed bezel screws, exposed lugs and black rubber strap preserve the watch’s distinctive architectural character. A date display at 3 o’clock maintains continuity with the original design language.
A screwed crown contributes to the updated construction, with water resistance rated to 100 metres (10 ATM). The black-lined rubber strap and deliberate omission of Hublot’s One Click strap-changing system further reflect the brand’s intention to preserve the original design’s character.
From Quartz to Manufacture Automatic
One of the most significant changes lies beneath the dial. While the original 1980 watch used a quartz movement, the Classic Fusion Tributo is powered by the HUB1711 Manufacture self-winding calibre.
The automatic movement features a power reserve of approximately 50 hours and an open-worked oscillating weight shaped like Hublot’s signature “H”. Visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, the weight provides a direct visual connection between the movement and the brand’s design identity.
The transition from quartz to a Manufacture automatic calibre represents a substantial mechanical evolution, bringing contemporary watchmaking architecture to a design rooted in 1980.
Two Precious Metal Interpretations
Classic Fusion Tributo Yellow Gold
The yellow-gold version stays closest to the original watch’s visual identity. Its black lacquered dial features a subtle charcoal effect, while a yellow-gold oscillating weight continues the material theme inside the movement. Gold MDM lettering at 6 o’clock references the signature found on the original MDM Genève watch.
Classic Fusion Tributo White Gold
The white-gold version adopts a more formal aesthetic, pairing its precious-metal case with a polished black onyx dial and black-plated titanium bezel screws. A black tungsten oscillating weight gives the movement a contrasting visual identity, distinguishing this interpretation from its yellow-gold counterpart.
A Tribute That Extends Beyond Watchmaking
The Classic Fusion Tributo also preserves a link to Carlo Crocco’s philanthropic work. The MDM signature refers not only to the original MDM Genève identity but also to the Main Dans la Main Foundation, established by Crocco in 1998.
As part of the launch, Hublot announced a donation of CHF 100,000 to the Main Dans la Main Foundation, which supports humanitarian and educational projects aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children and communities in need.
Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo: Specifications at a Glance
Case material: 18K yellow gold or 18K white gold
Case diameter: 38mm
Case thickness: 9.5mm
Movement: HUB1711 Manufacture self-winding calibre
Power reserve: Approximately 50 hours
Water resistance: 100 metres / 10 ATM
Dial: Black lacquer with charcoal effect (yellow gold); black onyx (white gold)
Strap: Black-lined rubber
The Original Idea, Revisited
The Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo is a return to the design principles that defined the brand in 1980. Its gold case, black rubber strap, exposed bezel screws and minimalist dial retain the visual identity of Carlo Crocco’s original creation, while the updated case dimensions, 100-metre water resistance and Manufacture automatic movement bring the watch into the present.
Rather than simply reproducing a historic design, Hublot has reworked its founding concept through contemporary materials, construction and movement technology. The result is a tribute to the origins of the Art of Fusion that connects the brand’s early design philosophy with its current horological capabilities.