INTRODUCING: The Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Aspen Snowmass Limited Edition

Many brands align themselves with celebrities and famous influencers, but nothing is more authentic than nature and sport itself. In honor of the 75th anniversary of the Aspen Snowmass, fittingly Hublot, the official resort partner and timekeeper of the Aspen Snowmass, has decided to create a limited edition inspired by the slopes, powder, and action of the region. Hublot designs irrefutably have anything but “basic” aesthetics, but every now and again the cutting edge materials manufacturer elects to pare things back a bit – an exercise in less is more. As of late, Hublot has visibly dabbled into a Star Wars Stormtrooper evocative color scheme of black and white, notably seen in the Big Bang Integral Ceramic, and the new Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Aspen Snowmass Limited Edition is the latest entry into their monochromatic wave.

The 50 meter water-resistant case, 45mm in diameter and 13.4mm thick, is executed primarily in polished black ceramic. The chrono pushers, caseband, lugs, and lug facets are all polished, but brushed surfaces are introduced on each side within the mid-case where the strap integrates into the case. With the rich black backdrop, the white ceramic bezel, with black screws, really pops and draws the eye – its top surface finished with a rich brush and its flanking circumference mirror polished. I know I made the Stromtrooper analogy earlier, but when you limit your scope to the case it is actually more reminiscent of Darth Vader’s helmet with its gloss-like polish.

No cap, Hublot is a pioneering material manufacturer who has mastered a variety of case mediums long before other brands have even began exploring them. After all, they have not only a wide range of sapphire cased watches under their belt, in a rainbow range of colors no less, but they have also even have realized a sapphire bracelet. Insane. I mention this because this level of experience with cutting-edge materials really shines through as you look at the Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Aspen Snowmass Limited Edition in sunlight, an excelling level of fishing applied to the ceramic – perhaps only rivaled by holy trinity manufacture Audermars Piguet.

While the dial has the inevitable busyness of an openworked framework, it remains legible enough to cause no issues when discerning the time or complication information. The majority of the dial-side caliber components have been blackened to better tie-in to the vibe of the black ceramic case, and as a result the dial-side jewels that are visible almost act like pinkish stars in a black sky. The movement-side components are left in their rhodium plated finish, the brighter grey serving as a better backdrop for the date display at 6′. The bi-compax chronograph has two openworked registers at 9′ and 3′, the former a thirty minute elapsed minutes register and the latter a running seconds indicator. Considering the quick pace of X-Games activities like snowboarding and skiing, thirty minutes is more than ample in regard to timekeeping for these sports. The hands and indices throughout take have a brighter tone than the largely black components of the dial, polished and rhodium plated and faceted for maximum reflectivity. At 12′, you will notice a thematic switch-up to the index. As a tribute to Aspen, an Aspen Tree Leaf index takes the 12′ position with an elegant and curvaceous spade-like appearance to add further homage and intrigue to its appearance.

Were it not for the white and black strap, the Stormtrooper vibe would have been a stretch. This bi-color and bi-material strap really nails “Aspen chic”, a white powdery party in the front via its leather upper and a straight-business and comfort black rubber under and flanking to absorb sweat while active on the slopes. The strap is fastened to the wrist via a PVD black stainless steel clasp. As a tiny-wrister, I, and likely you, would imagine this 45mm timepiece would be way too large for my wrist. But I actually found I could confidently pull it off thanks to the compact and cambered lugs that wrapped around my wrist, as well as a sufficient number of loopholes that allowed me to safely and snugly secure it to my wrist.

If I had one snobbish criticism, it would be the Hublot HUB1155 caliber inside. Based on previous references, I can safely infer the caliber is an ETA-2892 movement outfitted with a module – so not the most glamorous caliber. That being said, Hublot has not simply sourced and dropped a mass caliber and module inside. They have made modifications and improvements to ensure the watch performs to their standards. Ultimately, while a tried and true robust caliber, the 42 hour power reserve is not very competitive with the near “weekend-proof” calibers we are seeing more and more of. But before you cry foul to the overall package, remember that a watch is not just simply the sum of its internals. Externals, across the larger marketplace, are largely the main draw for watch buyers – and, irrefutably, Hublot consistently delivers in this respect and has done so once again, in my opinion, with the Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Aspen Snowmass Limited Edition.

Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Aspen Snowmass Limited Edition pricing and availability:

The Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Aspen Snowmass, a limited edition of 25 pcs., is available exclusively at Hublot boutiques America wide and available on Hublot’s eCommerce platform. Price: $18,800 USD