Hublot and Italia Independent: the art of fusion

Industry: luxury watchmaking

Location: Milano, Italia

Related to: luxury

Reviewer: Massimo Vito Domenico Mastrorocco, Parsons School of Design

Company: Hublot x Italia Independent x Rubinacci

Website: hublot.com

Fusion of materials and match of styles is among the strongest aesthetic values the luxury watchmaker Hublot believes in. And the new Hublot Classic Fusion Italia Independent Collection is all about this. As the CEO Ricardo Guadalupe said at the presentation party hosted last February the 21st in Milan, “the Classic Fusion Italia Independent truly represents the fusion of three forms of expertise”.

For this new collection, the watchmaking expertise of Hublot teams up with the famous Italian tailor Rubinacci and the creativity of Lapo Elkann through his design company Italia Independent. The fruit of this trio collaboration really is the art of fusion.

The collection consists of six timepieces whose dials and straps are characterized by houndstooth, tartan and Prince of Wales patterns. The textiles are supplied by the venerable Naples tailoring house Rubinacci, which lends the watches their panache and prestige.

Having a Rubinacci suit is the province of connoisseurs and dandies, such as Lapo Elkann, who had the idea to mix these fabrics from the 1930s with the watches. “It’s very British, very trendy at the moment”, Guadalupe said.

The watches come from the Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph family, with a 45-millimeters case and range from just over $15,000 to $35,100. Thanks to their design, they provide a swanky formal style which makes them clearly and mainly addressed to the collectors.