A simple glance is all it takes. You see the watch from which it was born, and you feel the craftsmanship and innovation that have shaped it into what it is today. In 1980, Carlo Crocco shook up the watchmaking industry with a single fusion: gold and rubber. Under the MDM Genève name, Mr Crocco unveiled at Basel Fair a watch called Hublot, now known as the original Hublot. It marked a radical break: luxury stripped to its essentials, beginning with a bold material contrast that had never been seen before. Like a porthole, twelve screws secured a bezel reduced to its purest function. A plain dial with almost no embellishment. Minimal, graphic, immediate, unmistakably different. That watch did not follow the conventions of Swiss watchmaking; it challenged and broke its rules. Forty-six years later, the Classic Fusion Tributo brings that foundational design into the present. It connects the watch that started it all with the Hublot of today, uniting the full evolution of the Manufacture’s expertise. It is both a tribute to its origins and an expression of everything Hublot has become. What began as a disruptive idea has become one of the most recognizable design languages in watchmaking.
Classic Fusion Tributo
In terms of design aesthetics, the Classic Fusion Tributo stays true to the 1980 original: a gold case, a black rubber strap and the immediate black-and-gold tension that has defined Hublot from day one.
The case evolves from 36 to 38 mm without compromising proportion, while the twelve slightly domed bezel screws, tactile to the touch, retain their original function, marking time on a dial stripped of indices, with the date positioned at 3 o’clock exactly as intended in the original design language. A screwed crown ensures 100 meters of water resistance, reinforcing its functional integrity. The black lined rubber strap pairs with exposed lugs, revealing the construction’s architecture, while the absence of the One Click system is a deliberate choice that preserves the watch’s DNA. Every detail is deliberate.
Internally, everything changes. What was originally a quartz watch in 1980 became a Manufacture automatic movement. A self-winding architecture delivers approximately 60-hour power reserve thanks to an optimization of the gear train. Built around an open-worked oscillating weight shaped as the iconic Hublot “H”, visible through the sapphire case back, it reflects exactly what Hublot has become: sharper, deeper, more technical, without losing the original idea.
Two Attitudes. One Origin.
Both versions (in yellow or white gold) share the same DNA, same architecture, same technical base, and execution. However, their attitudes differ. The yellow gold Classic Fusion Tributo stays closest to the first Hublot ever made. It echoes the original gold-on-rubber contrast with a black lacquered dial, finished with a subtle charcoal effect. Inside, the oscillating mass in yellow gold reinforces full material continuity. At 6 o’clock, the gold MDM pad-printing is featured on the dial – a direct link to Carlo Crocco and the original MDM Genève signature seen on the very first Hublot. This signature also extends beyond watchmaking, celebrating a cause close to Mr Crocco. MDM also refers to the Main Dans la Main Foundation, founded in 1998, reflecting his long-standing philanthropic commitment.
The white gold version adopts a different stance: more formal, more ceremonial, drawing from the elegance of Italian tailoring. The polished black onyx dial and black screws add depth and intensity, evoking the refined rhythm of sartorial detailing. Inside, the black tungsten oscillating mass sharpens its identity, reinforcing a disciplined, highly sophisticated expression of the design.
From its gold construction to its Hublot Manufacture movement, the Classic Fusion Tributo carries forward a design born in 1980, proof that a bold fusion of materials can endure. That same endurance defines Hublot’s confidence in its watchmaking. Conceived, developed and assembled in Nyon, it reflects the precision, reliability and mastery of the Manufacture. Built to last and backed by a 5+5 warranty extending coverage up to ten years, it embodies a single conviction: at Hublot, design, craftsmanship and trust are built to stand the test of time.
“When I created MDM Genève, it was a deeply personal endeavor – hands-on, heart-involved, driven by a singular idea: gold and rubber. Entrusting it to others, even good and talented hands, was never easy for me. Yet, returning to Nyon, visiting the Manufacture, and discovering the latest creations, I see profound continuity and mastery. I see what those hands have collectively built. Witnessing Hublot’s evolution, I realize it was the best decision I ever made. It fills me with immense pride and deep gratitude. Today, seeing the very first design and the origins of the Art of Fusion brought back to life is deeply emotional,” said Carlo Crocco, Founder of Hublot in 1980.
“To respect Hublot is to honor its origins, not by freezing it in time, but by keeping it in motion. The Classic Fusion Tributo perfectly embodies this philosophy, creating a direct link between 1980 and the present. Carlo Crocco's vision remains – sharp, disruptive and vibrant. Now, this vision is realized with the full extent of our manufacturing expertise. It reflects minimalism by design, precisely as he envisioned it, and horological depth, as Hublot brings it to life today,” stated Julien Tornare, Hublot CEO
As a tribute to Carlo Crocco’s vision and values, CHF 100,000 will be donated to his Main Dans la Main (MDM) Foundation. This initiative reflects the brand’s desire to contribute to a cause that remains deeply important to its founder. Founded in 1998 by Carlo Crocco, the MDM Foundation supports humanitarian and educational projects aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable children and communities in need.
The Classic Fusion Tributo in yellow or white gold is available at selected Hublot points of sale and online at hublot.com.
