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Hublot Classic Fusion Titanium 33mm
Ref. 581.NX.1171.RX
The Classic Fusion line traces its shape to Hublot's original 1980 case design — the round porthole form with its row of visible H-screws holding a composite resin bezel lug between case and bezel. At 33mm in titanium it is the quieter expression of that architecture: the same structural language, worn closer to the wrist, weighing almost nothing. The matte black dial is deliberately spare — rhodium-plated baton markers, matching sword hands, a date at three, and little else. That restraint makes the case details do the talking, and the contrast between the brushed titanium and the polished screw heads reads differently in shade and in direct light. The rubber strap is fitted from the factory and sits flush against the wrist in a way that leather rarely does at this size.
- Reference
- 581.NX.1171.RX
- Brand
- Hublot
- Collection
- Classic Fusion
- Case size
- 33mm
- Case material
- Titanium
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Fixed
- Movement
- Quartz
- Calibre
- HUB2912
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 50m
- Bracelet / strap
- Rubber strap
- Strap colour
- Black
- Clasp
- Deployant clasp
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Mappin & Webb
Additional specifications
- Warranty
- 2 years
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 4 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (1,916), Watches Under 37mm (1,363), Women's Watches (1,251) and Titanium Watches (143).
What the specifications mean
Strengths
- 33mm wears small and slips under any cuff
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- 50m suits rain and handwashing, not swimming
Hublot Classic Fusion Titanium alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 581.NX.1171.RX | L52556752 | H6954 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,300 | £4,650 | £4,210 |
| Case size | 33mm | 32mm | 34.6mm |
| Water resistance | 50m | 30m | 30m |
| Movement | Quartz | Quartz | Quartz |
| Strap | Rubber strap | Leather strap | Leather strap |
| 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?
Yes. It is quartz, so expect a battery change every two to three years at a jeweller.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as women's.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference new, at £5,300. There is nothing to compare it against today.
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