Picture 1980 for a second. Back then, the luxury watch world ran on gold bracelets and leather straps, and a young Italian designer named Carlo Crocco showed up at Basel with a gold watch on a black rubber strap. Naturally, the industry scoffed. European royalty bought it anyway, and the “Art of Fusion” shtick Hublot still leans on today was born right then and there. Now, 46 years later and with Crocco himself consulting, the brand has remade that first watch properly as the Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo.
Twelve Screws, Zero Hour Markers
The Tributo stays remarkably close to the original source. The case lands at 38mm in yellow or white gold (up just 2mm from the original), and the bezel wears all 12 of its slightly domed porthole screws rather than the six on a standard Classic Fusion (“Hublot” is French for porthole, after all).
Now, it’s worth mentioning that Hublot has missed executing on this idea twice before. The 45mm 40th-anniversary edition in 2020 and the 2023 Classic Fusion Original both halved the screw count, and collectors took notice (no surprises there). This time, Crocco decided to vet the thing personally.
Lacquer or Onyx
Both dials are bare black expanses with the period-correct MDM signature at 6 o’clock, a nod to the MDM Genève name the brand launched under. The bezel screws handle hour-marking duty.
The yellow gold gets matte black lacquer with a faint charcoal grain, while the white gold goes full stealth with a polished onyx stone dial and blackened screws. Each rides a ribbed black rubber strap with exposed lugs. Hublot even skipped its One Click quick-change system to help keep the geometry true.
A Zenith Heart in a Hublot Case
Now, the part enthusiasts will probably care about most. Classic Fusions have long run Sellita-based movements (an understandable sore spot at this price bracket, to put it lightly). The Tributo instead debuts the HUB1711, a manufacture automatic built on the Elite 670 from sister brand Zenith, where current Hublot CEO Julien Tornare ran the show until last year.
It beats at 4Hz, holds roughly 50 hours of reserve, and spins an openworked H-shaped rotor behind the sapphire caseback. It’s offered up in 22k gold or black tungsten depending on your case metal. Hublot also backs it for up to 10 years via its 5+5 warranty.
Spec Sheet
Model: Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo
References: 262.VX.1130.RX.MDM (yellow gold) / 262.WX.6870.RX.MDM (white gold)
Case Size: 38mm
Thickness: 9.5mm
Case Material: 18k yellow gold or 18k white gold
Dial: Matte black lacquer (yellow gold) / polished black onyx (white gold)
Movement: HUB1711 automatic (Zenith Elite 670 base, 185 components)
Power Reserve: ~50 hours
Frequency: 28,800 vph (4Hz)
Water Resistance: 100m
Band: Ribbed black rubber with gold and black-plated folding clasp
Limited Edition: No
Pricing & Availability
Both versions are regular-production pieces priced at $30,900, available now through select Hublot boutiques and over at the brand’s website. Worth noting, Hublot is donating CHF 100,000 from Tributo sales to Main Dans la Main, the children’s charity Crocco founded in 1998 (yes, also MDM).
Recap
Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo
Hublot remakes its 1980 gold-on-rubber original in 38mm with all 12 porthole screws and a Zenith-based manufacture movement inside.
