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Hublot @ Baselworld 2019 - the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT

By: Sascha : April 7th, 2019-04:39

Dear friends and Hublotista,

Baselworld 2019 is a few days ago now and so there was enough time to reflect the Hublot novelties in peace.

I would like to dedicate a separate article to each essential novelty.

The most important novelty for me is the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT. Why? Take a look:

The Classic Fusion Ferrari GT is the second Hublot, after the Techframe presented in 2017, whose design comes from the Ferrari Design Centre.

One often heard of the visitors to the Hublot exhibition stand in Basel: "... it doesn't look like a Hublot at all...".

And this is exactly what makes this watch, which is available in three versions - King Gold, Titanium and 3D Carbon - the most important innovation for me. Together with Ferrari, Hublot presented a completely new design in one of the most important collections, the Classic Fusion.

I am sure that in 2005, when the first Hublot Big Bang was presented, people were thinking very similarly. So new was the design and so different was it from the old Hublot watches.

This is exactly what we experienced in 2007. During the presentation of the Techframe, the reaction of many was: "... oh, it doesn't look like a Hublot at all...". And today, 2 years later, everyone immediately recognizes the Techframe as a Hublot.

With certainty, in the coming year most people who see a Classic Fusion Ferrari GT will also say: "...yes, that's a Hublot...". New things just need some time....

Inside the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT ticks the HUB1281, a modification of the 42mm Unico 2 known from the Big Bang Unico 42mm that Hublot presented in 2018. The movement looks very similar to the Unico, but has been technically improved in many points. The chronograph mechanism has been completely redesigned, as has the automatic winding system. With the same diameter, this saves 1.6 mm in height.

The Ferrari GT measures 45 mm in diameter, which is not noticeable on the wrist. The movement is fixed in its waterproof container with 4 screws floating in the case. A gap running all around makes the watch optically very light and flat.

As a special feature, the Ferrari Design Centre gave the variant in 3D carbon a red, circumferential ring around the sapphire crystal. This looks incredibly good.

The Classic Fusion Ferrari GT, like all other new models, was presented at an impressive press conference at the beginning of Baselworld, which was entirely dedicated to Ferrari.

Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot, led the press conference.

And of course Jean-Claude Biver, the legendary Hublot patron, was not to be missed. Everyone present was delighted to see him in good health again!

The Classic Fusion Ferrari GT was presented in detail by Flavio Manzoni, Head of the Ferrari Design Centre.

And this is what Hublot writes about the new Classic Fusion Ferrari GT:

" Since their collaboration was announced in 2011, Hublot and Ferrari have always created watches featuring unique design and motorisation. Each new edition shows a new style. This year, Hublot presents an airy and elegant piece that relates to the “Gran Turismo” universe. The launch of the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT watch, whose extremely innovative design integrates the new UNICO manufacture movement in a body with distinguished and dynamic lines, sees Hublot and Ferrari write a new chapter in their partnership.

The long-term collaboration between Hublot and Ferrari is one of a kind and an endless source of creative inspiration that henceforth intertwines the destiny of these two prestigious houses. From the Big Bang Ferrari to the MP-05 LaFerrari or the Techframe, the race for innovation and refinement encapsulates the unstoppable creative impetus that drives the Ferrari Design Centre and the Hublot team. From the start of their union, Hublot and Ferrari had, above all, been involved in the worlds of racing and Formula 1 with the Big Bang Ferrari editions.

From 2017, with the Techframe Ferrari Tourbillon Chronograph which celebrated the 70th anniversary of Ferrari, Hublot and Ferrari joined the universe of GT and this year they are going even further in this world, which has always defined a travel philosophy that combines tradition, elegance and technical perfection.

“Driving over long distances at high speed in comfort and with style.” This is how to summarise the “Gran Turismo” spirit; the term also defines a category of limited-production, very high-performance luxury cars. The GT world is one of innovation and refinement, with a passion for mechanics and a love of passion, performance and innovation: values shared by Ferrari and Hublot. As a vibrant homage to “Grand Touring” cars, Hublot and Ferrari have decided this year—and for the first time to combine their sense of aesthetic creativity and mechanical innovation in a Classic Fusion, a watchmaking chassis that is both traditional and modern, in line with the stylistic codes of the GT universe.

Another first: the famous UNICO manufacture movement has been integrated into a 45-mm-diameter Classic Fusion case. This is the second of Hublot’s own chronograph calibres, unveiled in 2018 (HUB1280). Protected by four patents, this self-winding flyback chronograph movement, with 4 Hz frequency (28'800 A/h) and a column wheel that can be seen from the dial side, has technical specifications that are fit for a champion with, in particular, a thickness of only 6.75 mm and 3-day power reserve that is very useful for day-to-day life. The entirely new Classic Fusion Ferrari GT is available in three different cases: Titanium (limited edition of 1,000 pieces), King Gold (limited edition of 500 pieces) and 3D Carbon (limited edition of 500 pieces).

All-new in the Fine Watchmaking world, 3D Carbon is a polymer matrix composite (PMC) made of three-dimensional fibres. This high-tech material, which is very popular in motorsport, has outstanding qualities of resistance and, in the case of the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT, offers a lightweight but solid layer of protection, to the UNICO manufacture movement. Designed by the “Centro Stile Ferrari”, the new Classic Fusion Ferrari GT is true to the image of the creations leaving the Maranello workshops.

Its design is very contemporary; Hublot worked on the motor and Ferrari on the body. One of the main design features of the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT is the case, conceived as a true concentrical suspended element that enhances the dial presence and the sophisticated manufacturing making process. For this purpose, the “Centro Stile Ferrari” designers applied their expertise, building bridges between automotive design and watchmaking motorisation, and thereby proving that they love to work and surpass themselves on other projects than those linked to cars.

Entirely different yet resolutely complementary to the Techframe launched in 2017, the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT is a watch for lovers of fine mechanical pieces who want to display a contemporary and refined style. The dial is transparent thanks to the use of sapphire crystal and reveals the high-precision mechanics of the UNICO HUB1280 calibre, with the famous Prancing Horse appearing at 12 o’clock. Each and every detail has been subjected to meticulous finishing touches like the red thread around the sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a stylistic reference to the legendary Ferrari colour.

The straps of the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT have been subtly created in black rubber and dressed in Schedoni leather, like the seats of the Maranello race cars. Round like a racing tachometer, the new Classic Fusion Ferrari GT is a piece for our time, with particular attention paid to the ergonomics and a thickness of only 13.15 mm, a rarity for an integrated flyback chronograph. This innovatively designed, airy watch of rare elegance opens a major new chapter in the partnership of excellence between Hublot and Ferrari.

The Classic Fusion Ferrari GT is certainly one of the most interesting Hublot watches we have seen in the last years!

Cheers,

Sascha

Hublot

Beautiful design!

Not a fan of almost any Hublot model...

Thanks a lot! :-) [nt]

Wow nice!