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Hublot Classic Fusion 45.5mm Ceramic
Ref. 04880005392
The Classic Fusion Black Magic is the watch that established Hublot's argument for ceramic as the defining material of its identity — not a coating or a flourish, but the case itself. The 45mm sizing places it squarely in the proportions Hublot designed the Classic Fusion around: large enough to carry the integrated rubber strap without looking overwhelmed by it, the whole assembly reading as a single black object rather than a collection of components. The all-black presentation — ceramic, dial, strap and clasp in one unbroken colour — works because the ceramic holds its finish in a way that anodised metal or PVD cannot over time. Scratches that would catch the light on coated steel simply do not accumulate here in the same way. The movement inside is a Hublot calibre built on an ETA or Sellita base, which is a practical choice: well-understood, straightforward to service, and nothing the watch is pretending otherwise.
- Reference
- 04880005392
- Brand
- Hublot
- Collection
- Classic Fusion
- Case size
- 45mm
- Case material
- Ceramic
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Learn more about Hublot
Carlo Crocco, who had worked in his family's Binda watch business, founded Hublot in 1980 with an idea that sounds trivial and was not: he paired a gold case with a natural rubber strap. Nobody had done it. The material cost almost nothing and the case cost a great deal, and the combination broke a rule the industry took seriously.
The name is French for porthole, describing the case shape with its exposed bezel screws.
The brand was moderately successful for two decades and then transformed under Jean-Claude Biver, who arrived as CEO in 2004 having already revived Blancpain. Biver launched the Big Bang in 2005 and articulated the art of fusion — combining materials that do not conventionally belong together: gold with ceramic, carbon fibre with rubber, titanium with tantalum.
The material development that followed was genuine. Hublot produced Magic Gold, an 18-carat gold alloy infused with ceramic and hard enough to resist scratching, and coloured ceramics previously thought impossible to sinter at high temperature, particularly a vivid red.
Hublot has been aggressive in sponsorship — FIFA World Cups, football leagues, Ferrari — which has made it divisive among traditionalists. It is also, commercially, one of the most successful watch launches of the modern era. LVMH acquired the company in 2008.
- 1980
- Carlo Crocco pairs a gold case with a rubber strap.
- 2004
- Jean-Claude Biver becomes CEO.
- 2005
- The Big Bang launches the art of fusion.
- 2008
- Acquired by LVMH.
- 2011
- Magic Gold, a scratch-resistant gold alloy, is developed.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (1,916), Automatic Watches (1,472), Watches 44mm and Over (688), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (262), All Black Watches (233) and Ceramic Watches (91).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
- 45mm is a large watch with real presence
Hublot Classic Fusion alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 04880005392 | 04220000484 | A13022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,850 | £5,495 | £5,850 |
| Case size | 45mm | 46mm | 41.5mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 100m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Rubber strap | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | — | 48 hours | 42 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Showering yes, swimming no. 50m covers splashes and brief immersion, but a swimming stroke generates well above the pressure that figure describes.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb at £4,850, pre-owned. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.
Is this available new?
Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as pre-owned only, at £4,850 from Mappin & Webb. A pre-owned watch has been worn, and is normally sold under the retailer’s own warranty rather than the manufacturer’s.
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