Hublot and Berluti Team Up To Create Special Leather Classic Fusions
One of the benefits afforded to sister brands is the opportunity to collaborate in original ways. LVMH-owned siblings Hublot and Berluti, the illustrious Parisian shoemaker, have joined forces to create the Classic Fusion Berluti collection. Launched last spring in Hublot's King gold ($29,400) and black ceramic ($14,600) with a platinum model ($32,500) recently added, this creative collaboration fuses the art and soul of both houses.
The watch's strap is made of Berluti's signature Venezia leather, known for its lustrous patina and rich, multidimensional shading. Olga Berluti developed the top-secret natural mineral tanning process that distinguishes Berluti leather and its characteristic bespoke footwear, which is among the most coveted in the world. (Bertuli also uses its leather to craft high-end cigar cases.)
But what makes these limited-edition watches stand apart is that the Venezia leather is also applied to the dials, which are embossed with hour indexes and the Hublot logo. While it may appear a simple concept, the hides must undergo a special process to neutralize the organic elements to ensure that the material will not fade and degrade, as one would expect with age and constant exposure to light. Meanwhile, the straps are backed with rubber for enhanced durability and comfort.
The Scritto versions in King gold (limited to 250 pieces) and platinum (limited to 100 pieces) are embellished with fanciful calligraphy script taken from an 18th century letter that Olga Berluti purchased at auction. Each watch reproduces a different part of the letter's text, so every piece is unique.
Limited to 500 pieces, the All Black version has a sleek, black ceramic case fitted with a Venezia Nero-Grigio strap bearing Berluti's hallmark Gaspard incision, a nod to the distinctive scarification created by Alessandro Sartori, the brand's artistic director.
Measuring 45 mm, all three are powered by an automatic HUB1100 movement and come packaged in a leather-clad shoebox stocked with complimentary shoe-polishing accessories that come standard with a pair of Berluti shoes.
