When Carlo Crocco introduced the first Hublot watch at the Basel Fair in 1980, he brought together two materials rarely associated in luxury watchmaking at the time: gold and rubber.
Presented under the MDM Genève name, the watch established a distinctive design language based on material contrast, a porthole-inspired bezel secured by twelve screws and a deliberately restrained dial.
Forty-six years later, Hublot revisits this founding model with the Classic Fusion Tributo, available in 18-carat yellow or white gold.
The original watch marked the beginning of what Hublot would later define as the Art of Fusion. Rather than relying on traditional ornamentation, Crocco built its identity around the contrast between a precious-metal case and a functional rubber strap.
The bezel’s exposed screws reinforced its nautical inspiration, while the uncluttered dial gave the watch an immediate, graphic character. The concept challenged established ideas about how luxury watches should look and feel, and became the foundation of the brand’s subsequent development.
Original Hublot models from the 1980s and, below, Carlo Crocco at the time
Hublot’s history has since included the introduction of the Big Bang in 2005, whose layered case construction and bold proportions brought a new expression of the fusion concept.
The Classic Fusion collection takes a more restrained approach, balancing the same interest in materials and construction with a simpler design. The new Tributo returns directly to the aesthetic of 1980, while incorporating the movement technology and finishing expertise developed by the manufacture in the intervening decades.
The 1980 original Hublot alongside the new Tributo (on the right)
The case diameter has increased from the original 36 mm to 38 mm, while the profile remains relatively slim at 9.5 mm thick.
Both versions feature polished and satin-finished 18-carat gold cases, with a bezel secured by twelve slightly domed H-shaped screws made of polished titanium.
The dial retains the original’s minimalist character, with no hour markers and a date display at 3 o’clock. A screw-down crown contributes to a water-resistance rating of 100 metres / 330 feet.
The exposed lugs and black lined rubber strap preserve the visual contrast central to the original design.
The watches also omit Hublot’s One Click strap-changing system, maintaining the construction and appearance of the historic model.
Although the exterior remains close to the 1980 design, the movement represents a significant change.
The original watch used a quartz calibre; the Classic Fusion Tributo is powered by the HUB1711, a self-winding manufacture movement visible through the sapphire crystal case back.
It operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) with a 50-hour power reserve and comprises 185 components.
Its open-worked oscillating weight takes the form of Hublot’s distinctive H, linking the movement’s contemporary construction to the brand’s visual identity.
The yellow-gold version, reference 262.VX.1130.RX.MDM, is the more direct expression of Crocco’s original gold-and-rubber combination.
Its matt black dial has a subtle charcoal effect, while a 22-carat yellow-gold oscillating weight continues the use of the precious metal inside the watch.
At 6 o’clock, gold MDM lettering recalls the signature found on the original MDM Genève Hublot.
The initials also refer to the Main Dans la Main Foundation, established by Crocco in 1998 and dedicated to humanitarian and educational projects supporting vulnerable children and communities in need.
The white-gold version, reference 262.WX.6870.RX.MDM, interprets the same design in a more formal manner.
Its black onyx dial provides a polished, deep-toned surface, complemented by black-plated titanium bezel screws.
Inside, the oscillating weight is made of black tungsten, giving the movement a darker appearance than that of its yellow-gold counterpart.
Both watches share the same case dimensions, movement architecture, water resistance and black rubber strap, but their different dial, screw and rotor treatments establish distinct visual identities.
The tribute also extends beyond the watches themselves, with Hublot making a donation of CHF 100,000 to Crocco’s Main Dans la Main Foundation.
Conceived and assembled in Nyon, the Classic Fusion Tributo includes Hublot's standard five-year warranty for eligible watches purchased from 1 January 2026. This can be extended by an additional five years through the Hublotista programme before the initial warranty expires.
The Hublot Classic Fusion Tributo models in yellow gold and white gold are priced at CHF 25,000 / €30,200 / US$30,900. hublot.com
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