Hublot Classic Fusion

[simong800]

Hello PH'ers,

A bit of a confession, I've had my head turned by a Hublot....something I didn't expect to find myself saying at any point.

Any owners here, or anyone who has looked at them?

I'd always associated the brand with massive blinged out pieces, which aren't really my bag, but the classic fusion line is a very good looking piece in my opinion.

I am in the market for something to add to a Rolex GMT and Omega Seamaster, and keen on something around the £6k odd price point (recently sold an Aquanaut and Royal Oak Chrono as I wanted less money tied up in watches and more in my stocks and shares ISA! So £6k ish is around the price point at which I don't see much opportunity cost to owning another watch).

I understand the main arguments against Hublot;

1. Some of the watches are ugly - agree, but same can be said of any brand and obviously subjective
2. Some don't have an in house movement including classic fusion - meh, can't even see the movement in my Rolex and guess servicing is cheaper with a standard movement
3. Value retention is poor - it's a watch not an investment, and appears I can buy at 35% off list, so this doesn't bother me too much


Am I missing anything? Any horror stories/positive stories/opinions etc?

Many thanks

P.S images of considered models from google;

[Ninjin]

I'm a fan but not of all Hublot.

Originally I wanted to purchase an AP Royal Oak Chrono end of 2011. Tried it on and just didn't look right. Then I saw what I bought. Financially it was the wrong decision as the AP would be worth 3 times what I could of got it for then.... But that's a different story! As I always preach, buy what your heart desires and not what others tell you to buy!

So mine is a Classic Fusion Aero Fusion Titanium (how do they make up these names!) and was blown away by the skeleton. It is such an interesting watch. I buy watches for myself and was quite pi$$ed off when they sponsored the World Cup in 2012 and ended up being known by every Tom, Dick and Harry. Then came the onslaught of footballers wearing them and the knock-offs.... Killed it for me totally as until up to then, no one knew what it was or its value.

I still have it but rarely wear it due to safety issues in the UK.

Here are some pics of mine:

[Jamescrs]

I quite like the Hublot's personally but my opinion probably doesn't count for much as my daily work watch is a Tag Aquaracer on a nato so i'd get criticised for that from other watch fans.

Personally I don't buy watches for the investment, I buy what I like the look of and will enjoy wearing, if you like it and having tried it on you are happy with it then just buy it and enjoy.

[simong800]

Ninjin said:

I'm a fan but not of all Hublot.

Originally I wanted to purchase an AP Royal Oak Chrono end of 2011. Tried it on and just didn't look right. Then I saw what I bought. Financially it was the wrong decision as the AP would be worth 3 times what I could of got it for then.... But that's a different story! As I always preach, buy what your heart desires and not what others tell you to buy!

So mine is a Classic Fusion Aero Fusion Titanium (how do they make up these names!) and was blown away by the skeleton. It is such an interesting watch. I buy watches for myself and was quite pi$$ed off when they sponsored the World Cup in 2012 and ended up being known by every Tom, Dick and Harry. Then came the onslaught of footballers wearing them and the knock-offs.... Killed it for me totally as until up to then, no one knew what it was or its value.

I still have it but rarely wear it due to safety issues in the UK.

Thanks Ninjin, that's pretty epic! The skeleton ones are really impressive. Will have to check one of these out in person before buying anything.

I liked my Royal Oak Chrono but never really clicked with it - I found the bracelet was too small but with an extra link it was too big, and I also became increasingly conscious of walking around with a £25k watch on my wrist given the increasing targeting of people for this kind of thing.

Not saying the Hublot would necessarily attract less unwanted attention, but I do think it would fly under the radar a little more and the price point of the one I am looking at doesn't come with the same "high value target" status that the Aquanaut and ROC have. Wishful thinking maybe? We shall see!

It's interesting how much hate they attract from some quarters, it seems like a bandwagon people like to jump on without any substantiated reasons. Great looking contemporary pieces at reasonable prices IF you buy pre owned.

Can I ask is yours stainless or titanium? Would be interested in any insights into titanium durability, scratch ability etc

[simong800]

Jamescrs said:

I quite like the Hublot's personally but my opinion probably doesn't count for much as my daily work watch is a Tag Aquaracer on a nato so i'd get criticised for that from other watch fans.

Personally I don't buy watches for the investment, I buy what I like the look of and will enjoy wearing, if you like it and having tried it on you are happy with it then just buy it and enjoy.

Thanks, great sentiments. The bandwagon Hublot bashing hasn't put me off, if anything it makes me fancy one even more hah!

[Ninjin]

si800 said:

Thanks Ninjin, that's pretty epic! The skeleton ones are really impressive. Will have to check one of these out in person before buying anything.

I liked my Royal Oak Chrono but never really clicked with it - I found the bracelet was too small but with an extra link it was too big, and I also became increasingly conscious of walking around with a £25k watch on my wrist given the increasing targeting of people for this kind of thing.

Not saying the Hublot would necessarily attract less unwanted attention, but I do think it would fly under the radar a little more and the price point of the one I am looking at doesn't come with the same "high value target" status that the Aquanaut and ROC have. Wishful thinking maybe? We shall see!

It's interesting how much hate they attract from some quarters, it seems like a bandwagon people like to jump on without any substantiated reasons. Great looking contemporary pieces at reasonable prices IF you buy pre owned.

Can I ask is yours stainless or titanium? Would be interested in any insights into titanium durability, scratch ability etc

I think you will feel safer with the Hublot you like as it's not the stereotypical in your face styles. Mine is titanium but I do look after my watches. The last pic is actually a recent pic of it after 9years of ownership. I do find it's a bit bulky and you tend to catch it (it wears like a G-Shock GA100 but heavier!) so I tend to be very careful. The only thing I have done damage wise was in an Qatar A380 toilet! Caught the the bezel edge on one of the grab handle inside the toilet next to the door and managed to just flatten one of the bezel edges. It's so minor most wont see it but I know its there.

The ref you like maybe thinner but with mine, you haven't a hope in hell of putting it under a cuff!

I understand the haters, there are groups of haters of all brands for whichever reason. As long as you buy with a decent discount, then you cant go too wrong with one.

Edited by Ninjin on Wednesday 21st April 12:54

Edited by Ninjin on Wednesday 21st April 13:54

[T6 vanman]

Tend to wear mine for an evening only, and happy with my Hubby

Yes ... It's an expensive watch but style wise is quite unique.

You either buy a Sub along with everyone else or you plough your own furrow .... Personally option B appeals to me more

If you like it ... then go for it,

[EK993]

If you like it, go for it. I absolutely love mine, and bought it for me, not to gain approval from others.

[dxbtiger]

EK993 said:

If you like it, go for it. I absolutely love mine, and bought it for me, not to gain approval from others.

That poor Panerai has caught cyclopsis from the Rolex

[richthebike]

My colleague has one and its great

[Ballistic]

I wouldn't mind adding one of these to my collection.

si800 - where are you seeing them at 35% of list?

[anonymous-user]

My friends got a black / black / black Big Bang ( I think ), I really like it but it’s too big for my wrists!

I’d definitely get one, at a good discount ... I’m all for buying what you want but I’m not one for burning (too much) money.

[simong800]

richthebike said:

My colleague has one and its great

Lovely that, tried the black dial version on this morning and was impressed!

[simong800]

Ballistic said:

I wouldn't mind adding one of these to my collection.

si800 - where are you seeing them at 35% of list?

Watches World has them showing at a good price.....looks like 30% actually, but still decent (£6300 odd vs £9000 retail for the 45mm chrono)

[gregs656]

si800 said:

Watches World has them showing at a good price.....looks like 30% actually, but still decent (£6300 odd vs £9000 retail for the 45mm chrono)

They won’t have stock.

[EK993]

If you don’t mind ordering from the US

https://www.jomashop.com/hublotwatches.html

[Blue One]

My Hublot 4000m Oceanographic Diver. Not a daily but nice to break out and wear on occasion. 👍🏻

[simong800]

Just reviving this one to ask any of the Hublot owners here of their experience with the Hublot Ceramic.

Any positives/negatives at all? Is it as scratch proof as expected?

After a fair bit of back and forth currently weighing up the Classic Fusion Chronograph in Ceramic versus Titanium versus the Big Bang.

Cheers!

[T6 vanman]

si800 said:

Just reviving this one to ask any of the Hublot owners here of their experience with the Hublot Ceramic.

Any positives/negatives at all? Is it as scratch proof as expected?

After a fair bit of back and forth currently weighing up the Classic Fusion Chronograph in Ceramic versus Titanium versus the Big Bang.

Cheers!

Mine's ceramic, Visually it's unmarked and it does get worn, The strap is also showing no wear,

I think the decision between Ceramic versus Titanium comes down more to do you want a 'Black' or 'Metal' watch case.

For me I like the stealth nature of the Ceramic, It doesn't shout 'expensive watch' like the Titanium watch does

I've got 17cm wrist (girly small) and the Ceramic also disguises it's size well ... see previous post of image

Edited by T6 vanman on Monday 10th May 11:56

[simong800]

Thanks T6, that's helpful.

I am a bit of an OCD freak, the polished bezel of the AP Royal Oak Chrono and Patek Aquanaut I had severely limited the amount of time I wore either and/or how much I enjoyed wearing them (compared to my ceramic bezel Rolex GMT Master and Omega Seamaster). I don't bash my watches up at all, but I worry (unnecessarily!) about scratching them so perhaps the ceramic works well here.....