Hublot Classic Fusion Ferrari GT King Gold
Cars & motorsport
Hublot's New Ferrari Watches Will Get Your Heart Racing
To celebrate the 90th anniversary of Scuderia Ferrari, Hublot has worked with the iconic team from Maranello on some very special timepieces.
By Josh Shanks
Contributor
Let's be honest, most partnerships in the world of watchmaking are in name only. A watch brand finds a cause or a company in need of advertising and drafts a multi-beneficial partnership which usually results in a trough of limited edition timepieces. For Hublot and Ferrari, that is assuredly NOT the case. Neither brand needs to notoriety or recognition, yet this two-way relationship brings the best minds from Switzerland and Italy together to produce some seriously cool pieces.
Hublot Classic Fusion Ferrari GT
At Hublot's Baselworld 2019 press conference, Scuderia Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto helped the brand launch an entirely new case design. The new Classic Fusion Ferrari GT (Gran Turismo) collection is a contemporary entry in Hublot's Ferrari collection, designed in full collaboration with the Scuderia.
The Classic Fusion Ferrari GT was probably my favorite Hublot novelty of Baselworld. A complete 360-degree departure from anything Hublot has done, this Classic Fusion Ferrari GT deserves the accolades it's receiving. Available in three distinct models each featuring a different case material, Titanium, King Gold, and 3D Carbon. All-in-all, Hublot plans to deliver 2,000 Classic Fusion Ferrari GTs, with the following allocation – 1,000 pieces titanium, 500 pieces King Gold, and 500 pieces 3D Carbon.
This lineup of sporty chronographs features Hublot's new HUB1280 Unico movement, the brand's in-house automatic chronograph. The movement is nearly entirely visible through the sapphire crystal dial and caseback and further enhanced by a Ferrari prancing horse at 12 o'clock. Raised numerals indicating the 12, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 o'clock indications provide a supple depth to the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT.
Unlike its Big Bang and Techframe Italian cousins, the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT forges its own path. With an elegant new case design, powerful movement, and striking lines, this collection redefines what it means to be a Hublot timepiece. Already much of the buzz from Basel about Hublot is that of a rebirth. The Classic Fusion Ferrari GT took a lot of people by surprise and I expect this collection will do quite well.
The Classic Fusion Ferrari GT in titanium will be the most accessibly priced piece in the collection. At $22,000 USD, it represents a moderate value proposition considering the design elements and UNICO movement. The 45mm case actually felt right at home on my 7.5" wrists. Which I contribute to the curvature of the case and its sloping lugs. In each model, a Schedoni leather strap is paired to a deployant buckle with the brand also including a spare rubber strap.
The Classic Fusion Ferrari GT will hit Hublot retailers and official brand boutiques later this summer. Pricing is as follows – $22,000 for the titanium (1,000 pieces), $38,800 for the King Gold (500 pieces), and $27,300 for the 3D Carbon (500 pieces). Word on the street is that these pieces will go quickly so register your interest now.
Hublot Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary
Imagine having the opportunity to sit down with the same designers which helped to bring Michael Schumacher an astounding five straight F1 world championships. Now imagine these designers hanging up their F1 hats and donning that of a watch designer. Unhampered by the plethora of F1 regulations, the Scuderia's designers are given nearly free reign to design whatever Hublot their hearts desire.
Coupled with the fact that 2019 is the 90th anniversary of the founding of Ferrari's F1 exploits. This year, Ferrari and Hublot have brought to market timepieces that would even warm the heart of Enzo Ferrari, the notoriously rigid founder of Ferrari. Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe explained, "Scuderia Ferrari is the only organization of its kind in the world as it is both a monument to motorsport and a modern racing team that is competitive and at the cutting-edge of technology. It embodies the passion and values that Hublot shares every day. Happy birthday Scuderia, we look forward to sharing many more victories with our legendary partner!"
The Scuderia's birthday was the unique opportunity to bring out the big guns. Enter the Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary. A flyback chronograph which packs a mighty technical and engineering punch. This three-piece, extremely-limited Big Bang collection incorporates the very best of Hublot's materials prowess with Ferrari's racing aesthetics.
Comprised of three models each limited to 90 pieces. Case material range from stunning sapphire, weighty platinum, and aggressive 3D Carbon. Each featuring a bezel made from the very brake discs which Scuderia Ferrari uses on its F1 cars. This collection is unequivocally Hublot.
The Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary collection reflects the design codes which have made Hublot's partnership with Ferrari so successful. Unlike the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT, this collection has a familiarity to it whilst still presenting a fresh upgrade to the line. Each model in this collection brings something different to the table. From a Nomex strap on the 3D carbon piece to a stunning polished sapphire mid case on the Sapphire version, I quite enjoyed experiencing the whole range.
Sized at 45mm across the board, the three Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary models offer three unique metal and color combinations. Ferrari inspired subdials on these flyback chronos are reminiscent of an RPM gauge. Whether you want Ferrari Red, Yellow, or translucent sapphire, there is assuredly a LOT of choice within this lineup.
Pricing is as follows, $69,000 for the Sapphire, $40,900 in platinum, and $34,600 in 3D Carbon. Each piece is strictly limited to 90 pieces and Hublot will be producing ten "collectors sets" which feature all three models.
(Photography by Liam O'Donnell)
Experience the entire collection at Watches of Switzerland
Just in time for the New York Auto Show, Watches of Switzerland's Hudson Yard's location will be hosting the first US preview of Hublot's 2019 Ferrari timepieces. On display will be the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT and the Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary. The showcase opens Wednesday, April 17th and continues until the conclusion of the auto show on April 29. Click the banner below for more information!
