Hublot is no stranger to creating special edition wristwatches, but its latest collaboration with Singaporian retailer The Hour Glass might be one of its most impressive to date. The Hublot Classic Fusion Elements collection takes the reserved aesthetic of the original Hublot timepiece, and dials it up to 11 with dials made from five different semi-precious stones in tiger’s eye, red jasper, malachite, turquoise and lapis lazuli.
The Elements collection uses Hublot’s 42mm Classic Fusion as its canvas, which is both the most minimalist design that the watchmaker offers, as well as one that traces its roots to the very first wristwatch with the Hublot name on its dial. Building on that uncluttered template, the collection is impressively rich with detail, from the construction of the case to the carefully selected slices of stone used as dials.
All five models feature cases made from polished titanium, which is nicely contrasted against the crown and bezel screws in King Gold, which bring a subtle two-tone warmth to the impression they leave you with. If the combination of titanium and King Gold wasn’t unusual enough, the polished finish of the titanium case is also unusual in watchmaking, but perfectly serves to elevate the timepiece to celebrate their respectively exquisite dials.
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In a showing of restraint, Hublot and The Hour Glass are limiting each dial variation to just 10 pieces, which combined with the unique pattern found in each dial, makes them all the more exclusive. While tiger’s eye, malachite, and lapis lazuli are not unusual to find as dial materials in watchmaking, the inclusion of a red jasper dial is genuinely rare and showcases Hublot’s expertise in stone and gem cutting. None of the dials is cluttered with hour markers or unnecessary text, which sees the King Gold hands cut a striking figure across their surface and celebrates the intricacies of their patterns all the more.
Beneath each of the stunning mineral dials is the Caliber Hublot HUB1100, which is based on the Sellita calibre SW300-1, but remains a reliable workhorse movement for Hublot, running at 28,800vph and offering 42 hours of power reserve. All five of the different dial variations arrive on a black alligator leather strap, which features a rubber backing for longevity and comfort.
While Hublot might be best known for its large sports watches, which typically feature very technically focused movements and cases, it’s a refreshing change to see a collection that is more elegant in its elevated restrain. Only 50 pieces of the Elements collection will be produced in total, but we hope it’s a sign of more to come.
The Hublot Classic Fusion Elements references with red jasper, tiger’s eye and malachite dials arrive with a slightly more affordable RRP of $27,800. The Hublot Classic Fusion Elements references with turquoise and lapis lazuli dials have an RRP of $32,200. All pieces within the collection are only available via The Hour Glass.
