This Minimalist Sports Watch Comes from a Brand You Wouldn’t Expect

Hublot isn’t exactly known for producing understated watches. The Swiss watchmaker’s reputation, perhaps more than any other brand, centers on producing oversized, loud, in-your-face timepieces.

While that strategy has led Hublot to be one of the more polarizing brands in the watch industry, it’s also proved useful in showing just how impressive Hublot’s watchmakers and designers are on those rare occasions when the brand dials it back.

Case in point: the new Hublot Classic Fusion Essential Taupe, a minimalist sports watch that’s the perfect picture of quiet elegance.

Hublot

Wait, that’s an Hublot?

I personally love it when Hublot goes full-on, over-the-top crazy. One of the coolest watches I’ve ever tried on from any brand was the Hublot Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon in full purple sapphire, an absurd crystalline stunner with a price tag north of half a million dollars.

But I also love it when Hublot shows restraint. The brand’s Big Bang Integrated Time Only 38, a simple black-dialed three-hander, was one of my favorite watch releases last year. I was also a big fan of the monochrome Classic Fusion Essential Grey from 2024, and I’m an even bigger admirer of this new Taupe version.

The watch, like the Grey version, is available in either a 42 or 45mm brushed and polished titanium case on an integrated rubber-lined woven fabric strap. The only difference is the color, with the monochrome gray dial and strap being swapped out for slightly more dynamic taupe ones. Both are stunning watches, but the Taupe’s contrast gives it the slight aesthetic edge for me.

Hublot

The dial is a simple affair, with the taupe — some might be tempted to call it champagne — sunray background supporting faceted applied indices, a white date window at 3 o’clock and a classic three-hand setup where Hublot’s “H” logo adds just a dash of flair on the seconds hand counterweight.

The case is thin at just 10.4mm but deceptively complex, with contrasting finishes of satin brushing and high polish, a screwed-on porthole bezel featuring mirror-polished H-shaped titanium screws, decorative “ears” and a screwed-in integrated strap system.

Hublot

The strap is nice. I love this combination of rubber with a stitched overlay of woven nylon. It feels very sporty and looks spectacular, with Hublot’s loopless deployant clasp (oddly in stainless steel instead of titanium) extending the minimalist vibes all the way around the wrist.

Flat sapphire crystals can be found on the top and bottom of the case, with the latter giving a view of the Cal. HUB1110 in the 42mm version or Cal. HUB1112 in the larger style. Both movements are automatics that beat at 4Hz and offer 48 hours of power, with the only difference being their size. The use of the larger HUB1112 in the 45mm watch keeps the date window from looking out of whack — a nice attention to detail that many other brands would not even consider.

Hublot

Pricing and Availability

In case you couldn’t tell, I’m a big fan of this release. While I would’ve preferred to see these in 39 and 42mm instead of 42 and 45mm, these are still Hublot watches at the end of the day, and buyers of the brand expect large watches.

They also expect large price tags, but as far as Hublots go, these are actually pretty reasonable. Both sizes of the Classic Fusion Essential Taupe list for $8,900, and they’re available exclusively from Hublot’s online boutique.

Hublot

Hublot Classic Fusion Essential Taupe

Specs

Case Size	42mm
Movement	Hublot Cal. HUB1110 automatic
Water Resistance	50m

• $8,900 at Hublot

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