In 2018, we were lucky enough to spend some quality time with the Hublot Techframe Ferrari Tourbillon Chronograph, and it is worth revisiting the words we wrote then as a preface to the article we have for you today.
As a tour de force of what could be created by the teams in Nyon and Maranello, the Techframe is extremely impressive, but there were a few key takeaways that left us longing, primarily the largish size, the use of a tourbillon in a sports watch, and a lack of emphasis on the chronograph for an automotive themed timepiece.
The Classic Fusion Ferrari GT we have here today addresses all of those concerns, and represents an extremely compelling proposition. With its revised 45mm case, the size is further diminished by the sculpted form of the lugs that follows the curvature of the wrist. The chronograph complication is now front and centre with little to distract, and by dropping the tourbillon, not only has it contributed to reducing the case size and distraction on the dial side, but it has also made the pricing much more accessible.
The more appealing items that were lost in the transition are the satisfying lever actuation for the chronograph, the ergonomic crown position at four o’clock, the interesting space frame-esque lug design, and perhaps the greatest loss, the quick release mechanism for the strap. But all are totally acceptable to get to the form and price-point of the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT.
The nice parts that have been retained are the cool bayonet-fitting crown to ensure that the cavallino rampante etched on the ceramic top is always correctly orientated when screwed in, and the ceramic puck that appears to be suspended in the centre of the case housing the calibre. With its sensitive use of the Ferrari typography and the polished cavillino rampante on the dial that disappears under many lighting conditions, as well as the Torx-screw details to the pushers, the watch is clearly linked to motorsport without feeling overwhelming.
The HUB1281 Unico manufacture calibre fitted to the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT is clearly less complicated, and less lavishly finished, than the HUB6311 from the Techframe, but is very fitting to the application. With a fun Ferrari centre locking wheel motif to the winding rotor on the back, and enlarged chronograph minute recorder on the dial side, combined with the well-positioned date window on its inner rim, it represents a carefully considered design that speaks volumes for having a team such as Flavio Manzoni’s consulting on watch design.
Available in micro-blasted titanium, as shown here, for HKD 166,000, King Gold (Hublot’s proprietary alloy of rose gold) for HKD 292,300, and so-called 3D Carbon for HKD 205,800 (all prices correct at the time of publishing), the Classic Fusion Ferrari GT comes in a wide enough lineup of materials to please most clients of the brand. The strap is perhaps the one area that is lacking: a sort of rubberised leather that is no doubt durable but not especially pleasing from a tactile perspective. It is something that could easily be resolved by the team in Nyon over time, with a variety of options between alligator, pure rubber and even a sophisticated textile such as Kevlar, being nice to see on the watch (a pin buckle for those that prefer them would be a pleasing addition).
Overall, the Hublot Classic Fusion Ferrari GT is another strong addition to the line-up of this successful partnership between the two companies. With its relatively wearable case size and ergonomic form on smaller wrists, together with a more accessible price point, it is easy to imagine the owner of a newly acquired Ferrari Roma, or SF 90 Stradale, seeing the watch in the display case at the showroom next to the configurator, and adding it to the options list.
