In 1980, founder Carlo Crocco paired an 18K gold case with a black natural rubber strap — a provocative move at a time when precious metals were matched with metal bracelets or leather. Inspired by a porthole, the La Hublot used exposed screws, a clean dial and bold material contrast to establish what became the brand's Art of Fusion.
Forty-six years later, the Classic Fusion Tributo returns to that origin: a 38mm round case, a black dial and 12 H-shaped titanium screws on the bezel that double as hour markers. The lugs and rubber strap keep the original attachment rather than adopting a modern quick-release system.
The yellow-gold version pairs a black lacquer dial with gold hands and a gold MDM logo for maximum vintage flavour; the white-gold model uses an onyx dial and black-coated titanium screws for a more restrained look. Both are water-resistant to 100m and run the HUB1711 automatic, a 185-part movement beating at 28,800 vph with about 50 hours of power reserve, visible through a sapphire caseback.
The MDM signature at 6 o'clock references both the brand's early MDM Genève name and Crocco's wife, Marie-Danielle. Hublot is also donating CHF 100,000 to the Main Dans la Main foundation, giving the reissue a charitable dimension.
