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Hublot has introduced the Classic Fusion Tributo, a new homage to the watch that launched the brand in 1980. The 38mm model retains the original’s gold-and-rubber concept but updates its size and replaces quartz with an automatic movement. Founder Carlo Crocco discussed the design’s origins and influence in an interview with Esquire.
Hublot has introduced the Classic Fusion Tributo, a new watch based on the design that launched the brand in 1980, updating founder Carlo Crocco’s original combination of precious metal and rubber with a larger case and automatic movement. The release returns attention to the idea that helped distinguish Hublot in its early years: bringing materials then seen as unlikely partners together in a luxury watch.
The Tributo has a 38mm case, compared with 36mm for the original, and is offered in yellow gold and white gold, Esquire reported. Its self-winding HUB1711 movement has a 50-hour power reserve, replacing the quartz movement Crocco chose for the first model. The report says Crocco later came to appreciate the lasting appeal of mechanical watchmaking, although he considered quartz more practical at the time.
The new model retains a black rubber strap, a central part of the original design. Crocco had wanted the first strap to remain straight; on the Tributo, it tapers slightly to maintain the proportions of the larger case. The watch also has 12 screws around the bezel and no hour indices. Crocco, who consulted on the new release, said keeping that dial design was non-negotiable.
The dial differs by metal: the yellow-gold version uses black lacquer, while the white-gold model uses onyx. Esquire describes the Tributo as an homage rather than a strict recreation, with its changed dimensions and movement reflecting a current version of the original concept. The report does not provide a price or indicate how many watches will be made.
Gold and Rubber, Revisited
The relaunch puts Hublot’s founding design back in focus and offers a tangible comparison between the 1980 watch and its present-day interpretation. Its central idea remains visible in the pairing of gold with rubber, while the larger case and automatic movement show where the new model departs from the first. That makes the Tributo relevant both as a product release and as a reminder of a design choice that Crocco says challenged watchmaking convention.
The wider significance should be kept in proportion. Crocco told Esquire that the original idea was considered risky because traditional watchmaking resisted combining rubber and gold. He also said imitators appeared within four or five years. Those are his recollections of the design’s reception and influence; the article does not independently measure how much the watch changed the wider industry. The release nevertheless gives collectors and other readers a new opportunity to see how Hublot interprets that early material contrast today.
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The 1980 Hublot Debut
Crocco spent three years developing the first Hublot before presenting it at the Basel Watch Fair in 1980, according to his Esquire interview. The original was a 36mm quartz watch with a gold case and black rubber strap. Crocco recalled that few people visited the booth during the fair’s first two days, before attention picked up on the third as word spread about the unusual design.
The name Hublot comes from the French word for a ship’s porthole, reflected in the case design. Esquire also reported that the first watch attracted royal buyers, including the King of Greece and the King of Spain. Crocco said he left the company nearly 20 years ago, after its sale to LVMH. His involvement in the Tributo is described as consultation on the new release, not a return to running the brand.
““At that time, the mentality of watchmaking was very classical.””
— Carlo Crocco, Hublot founder, speaking to Esquire
Price and Availability Not Listed
The Esquire report does not state the Tributo’s price, production quantity, or delivery schedule. It also does not specify the exact date of the Milan debut, describing it only as taking place “last month.” The available account does not give further technical details about the movement beyond its HUB1711 designation and 50-hour power reserve, or explain whether the two metal versions will have different production runs.
The report identifies Crocco as having consulted on the release, but does not detail the scope of that work or how design decisions were divided between him and Hublot’s current team. Claims about the original watch’s influence, including Crocco’s account of imitators and a shift in industry thinking, are attributed to him rather than supported by independent market data in the report.
Retail Details Still Pending
Hublot’s next practical milestone for prospective buyers will be providing pricing and availability information for the yellow-gold and white-gold versions. The source report does not say when those details will be announced, whether the watches will be limited, or when they will reach retailers.
Until the brand releases those details, the confirmed picture is focused on the design and stated specifications: a 38mm case, the HUB1711 automatic movement, a 50-hour power reserve, and a rubber strap. Any further claims about quantities, delivery dates, or market response remain unconfirmed in the material available.
Key Questions
What is the Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo?
It is a new Hublot watch that pays tribute to the brand’s first model, introduced in 1980. It retains the original’s gold-and-rubber design idea while changing the case size and movement.
How is the Tributo different from the original Hublot?
The Tributo has a 38mm case rather than 36mm and uses a self-winding HUB1711 movement instead of quartz. Its rubber strap also tapers slightly, and its dial material varies by case metal.
What movement and power reserve does it have?
According to Esquire, the watch uses Hublot’s HUB1711 automatic movement and has a 50-hour power reserve.
What did Carlo Crocco contribute to the new watch?
Esquire reports that Crocco consulted on the release and insisted that the Tributo retain features including its dial without hour indices. The article does not detail the full scope of his work.
When will the Tributo be available, and how much will it cost?
The source report does not give a price or retail availability date. Hublot’s production quantity and any limited-edition status are also not specified there.
Source: esquire.com
