Hublot’s long-running partnership with Ferrari has taken a dynamic direction this year. Unveiled last week at Baselworld 2019, the new Classic Fusion Ferrari GT, draws inspiration from the “Gran Turismo” universe. As always, you can expect nothing but quality craftsmanship and great engineering coming your way. With a completely new forward-thinking design, including a brand new UNICO manufacture movement under the hood, Hublot and Ferrari are writing a new chapter in their collaboration.
The line up is comprised of three watches… Microblasted Titanium: 526.NX.0124.VR Limited to 1000 pieces, Microblasted King Gold: 526.OX.0124.VR Limited to 500 pieces and 3D Carbon: 526.QB.0124.VR, Limited to 500 pieces. All three watches are powered by a new HUB1280 UNICO Manufacture Self-winding Chronograph flyback movement. This is the second of Hublot’s own chronograph calibres, unveiled in 2018 (HUB1280). Protected by four patents, the self-winding flyback chronograph movement, beats at a frequency of 4 Hz (28’800 A/h) and delivers 72-hours of power reserve which is extremely useful for day-to-day life.
Designed by “Centro Stile Ferrari”, the cases of the new Classic Fusion Ferrari GT measure 45mm in diameter with a thickness of just 13.15mm. The 3D Carbon version is an interesting one as this is the first time this material is being used in Fine Watchmaking. It is a polymer matrix composite (PMC) made of three-dimensional fibres; very popular in motorsport, has outstanding qualities of resistance and, in the case of the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT, offers a lightweight but a solid layer of protection, to the UNICO manufacture movement. The bezel of the Titanium and King Gold versions are in the same material as their cases, while the carbon version features a polished black ceramic bezel.
Personally, we love how Hublot has semi-skeletonised the dial to reveal parts of the HUB1280 Unico calibre. It’s the little details like the Prancing Horse at 12 o’clock, the red thread around the sapphire crystal, the Ferrari inspired crown and the red start/stop pushers, that brings a lot of automotive feel to these watches.
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 historical race cars.