Thanks to a rich history and heritage in maritime and competitive sailing, Corum fuses the spirit of sport and glamour in its collections by transforming highly technical performance timepieces into avant-garde stylish masterpieces.
Launched more than 60 years ago, the Admiral product line is inspired by the great sailing races of that period in which Corum was a key actor. Iconic models of the Maison are highly recognized by their distinctive dodecagonal-shaped bezels and nautical pennants on the dials. Sporty yet elegant, Admiral watches embrace a lifestyle attitude, perfect for today’s navigators and sailors, as well as for those who simply love the seas.
Today, Corum unveils a new Admiral timepiece with a striking black carbon aesthetic combined with green SuperLuminova.
The 45 mm timepiece is crafted from ultra-light black carbon providing utmost comfort on the wrist and a unique look. Carbon is a lightweight material made of fibers, giving each watch an unmistakable appearance. Inspired by the tides and their seasonal changing colors, the case reveals its hidden beauty at night thanks to luminescent green inclusions in the carbon that glow like thousands of firelights. To achieve this special aesthetic, the carbon fiber has first been positioned in various ways and combined with green SuperLuminova elements. Then, both materials are melted together at specific pressures and temperatures – a subtle mix of skill and expertise. This process allows the multiple carbon fibers to create various shapes and make every timepiece unique.
Thanks to the in-house openworked movement, the Admiral watch offers a deep view of the automatic mechanism from both sides and reveals the component’s meticulous finishing. Often hidden, the barrel and its spring are partially unveiled. As a nod to the Admiral’s aesthetic design codes, the bridges have been designed with the same geometric shape as the iconic dodecagonal bezel.
The automatic movement, CO 297, developed in-house by Corum’s engineers, beats at a frequency of 4Hz, and has a power reserve of 48 hours. On the back of the case, the sapphire glass offers a beautiful view of the distinctive 360-degree rotor.
The Admiral watch displays hours and minutes in the center of the dial. At 3 o’clock, the power reserve is indicated, while at 9 o’clock, a 3-minute counter appears, paying tribute to the Corum’s three founders (René Banwart, Gaston Ries, and Simone Ries).
Completing the overall design, the timepiece is equipped with a matching black rubber strap. It is water-resistant to 100 meters.
Additional information
Recommended Retail Price: CHF 35’000.-
Limited Edition of 25 pieces
About CORUM
Founded in 1955, Corum represents creative and daring watchmaking. Corum uses an approach free of dogmas that enables a reconceptualisation of movement construction, its casing, and the artistic crafts that brighten the dial. Behind the many technical achievements (baguette movement) and aesthetic achievements (Coin Watch, Feather, Bubble), Corum continues the tradition of high-quality watchmaking that is ahead of its time.
Corum, established in La Chaux-de-Fonds, is opening itself up to the contemporary, street art, and classical art worlds, and in doing so attracting the attention of various trendsetters. At once disruptive yet respectful of its watchmaking heritage, Corum maintains its status of a niche brand aimed at demanding collectors of unconventional timepieces. Corum is currently based on four collections that embody its vision of 21st-century watchmaking: Admiral, Bubble, Golden Bridge and Heritage.
It was during the famed Basel watch exhibition in the year 2000 that Corum first unveiled its now-legendary Bubble watch. With an oversized case and huge domed crystal, the Bubble was the brainchild of the equally-legendary Severin Wunderman, then owner of the brand. That first Bubble wowed the world and the timepiece quickly developed a cult-like following. Now, 21 years after its unveiling, Corum is launching the new Bubble with the new X Ray watch, inspired by early designs.
Among the first Bubble watches to make their debut in 2000, was a watch with a stylized skull on the dial. Wunderman, who had just bought the brand, was also obsessed with life, death and the concept of Dia de Muertos, a celebration where friends and family gather to honor the dead in a festive manner. A self-made success who had been hidden in a school for the blind during the Nazi occupation of Poland, and then at the age of 10 immigrated to Los Angeles in the United States, Wunderman savored the unusual and unconventional. His goal with the Bubble was to disrupt the watch world and make a new statement. Corum was the perfect brand for him to do that with, as it had been a leader in creating extraordinary collections ever since its founding in 1955.
When the 44mm Bubble was released, Wunderman said he was inspired by an experimental diving watch from the 1960’s that had an enormous, curved glass. He paired that domed look, which also had some distorting effects, with creative themed dials, and the rest, as they say, is history. Purposely designed to be different, to make a real individualistic statement, the Bubble fast became a new millennium icon, with a variety of intriguing renditions released over the years. They included playful, sometimes mischievous themes that ranged from the Bubble Jolly Roger, to Bubble Lucifer, Bats, Nightflyer and more. Intermittently, throughout the past six years, Corum also entered into collaborations with various renowned artists for Bubble watches.
Now, to honor both the coming of age of this iconic timepiece, and the dynamic man behind it, Corum releases a limited-edition watch with the same signature elements that made the Bubble famous, but with a contemporary and creative touch.
The Bubble X Ray pays tribute to the line’s roots with a highly stylized yet realistic looking skull taking center stage on the dial. While the huge domed sapphire crystal slightly distorts the image, it is fully visible in the dark because it is totally luminescent: disruptive in day and at night. In fact, when the lights go out, the skull glows green for an eerie yet provocative appeal. Bringing the luminescence full circle, Corum adds fluorescent green stitching to the synthetic alligator-like strap that is lined with rubber.
The watch is powered by an automatic movement (CO 082) that beats at 4Hz and offers 42 hours of power reserve. It is crafted in stainless steel with a black PVD treatment over it and boasts a sapphire case back for viewing of the movement. Both the domed front crystal and the back crystal are coated with an anti-reflective treatment. Water resistant to 100 meters, the 47mmm case offers hours, minutes and seconds and is being created in a limited edition of just 88 pieces.
Crafted with the same attention to detail and top-notch watchmaking, the Bubble X Ray perfectly embraces the original concept of the Bubble: daring, different, and designed for those who enjoy making their own distinctive statement. The X Ray is the first of several soon-to-come new Bubble watches.
It was more than 60 years ago that Swiss watch brand Corum first announced its Admiral collection. Inspired by the great sailing races from whose name the collection derives, the Admiral watch has undergone a host of evolutions and iterations since then. Known for its dodecagonal shaped bezel and colorful nautical pennants on the dial, the Admiral is a modern-day icon, a legendary watch that continues to steal hearts around the world. Today, to celebrate its mastery of the maritime watch, Corum releases a host of new Admiral watches that embrace a lifestyle attitude perfect for today’s navigators and sailors, as well as for those who simply love the seas.
The stand-out star of the newest Admirals is the Admiral 45 Automatic Openworked Flying Tourbillon Carbon & Gold watch. This revolutionary timepiece, created in a limited edition of just 48, represents an all-new case material for the brand. The dynamic 45mm watch is crafted in fluctuating layers of ultra-light carbon mixed with 18-karat gold glitter – rendering each and every case unique. For Corum, whose watchmaking standards are incredibly stringent, it isn’t enough to offer a unique case and high-tech material. The brand also super charges the watch with an openworked movement with flying tourbillon escapement.
The automatic flying tourbillon movement, CO 298, was developed in house by the brand. It beats at 3Hz to offer incredible precision, and the tourbillon escapement compensates for errors in timekeeping due to the effects of gravity on the watch when it is in a horizontal position. Equipping the piece with a flying tourbillon is also a nod to the sailing world, where safe navigation of the seas requires ultimate precision. The openworked movement is visible on both the dial side and case back side to showcase the meticulously finished components, the magnificent bridges and the mesmerizing constantly rotating flying tourbillon escapement. The Openworked Flying Tourbillon Carbon & Gold watch is finished with an equally as creative strap made of rubber and synthetic textiles with genuine gold stitching. The result: a high-tech, high-mech combination of stealth, precision, and perfection – water resistant to 100 meters.
Admiral 42 Automatic
Corum also enhances this beloved collection with several new versions of the Admiral for men and women. The new Admiral 42 Automatic watches offer updated design details and upgraded finishing on cases. The Full Grey Monochrome version, crafted in sandblasted stainless steel with a gradient grey dial and nautical pennants in grey, offers an almost ethereal appeal. The unique monochromatic hues seem to recall fog rolling in from the oceans. The sandblasted steel features an anti-fingerprint coating for the bezel, case and bracelet. Just 100 pieces of this striking watch will be produced.
Turning to the sophisticated look of two-tone, Corum adds a steel and 18-karat gold version of the Admiral 42 Automatic. Thanks to a cloud white dial and colorful nautical pennants, it offers a more classic yet contemporary feel. This limited edition of 50 pieces is sold with a matching steel-and-gold bracelet or with a dark blue strap. The most casual version is probably the Admiral 42 Automatic watch (that is not a limited edition), which is crafted in polished and fine brushed stainless steel with an ocean blue dial and colorful pennants. Sold with either a steel bracelet or blue rubber strap, it is the quintessential Admiral piece.
All of the new Admiral 42 watches house the CO 395 automatic movement with hour, minute, date at 3:00 and small subsidiary seconds at 6:00. They all are equipped with 42 hours of power reserve, feature anti-reflective sapphire crystals and all have been upgraded from 50 to 100 meters of water resistance – a must-have for maritime inspired timepieces.
Additionally, improvements have been implemented on the Admiral 42 Automatic Chronographs range.
Admiral 38 Automatic
Because the Admiral collection is also in high demand by women who love both form and function in a watch, Corum unveils new fashion-forward, sporty chic Admiral 38 Automatic watches. The nicely sized 38mm watch is lighter in weight thanks to a titanium case and bracelet which gives unparalleled comfort on the wrist. Additionally, the automatic movement with oscillating weight is visible via the sapphire case back. The new versions joining the line-up include a pale pink dial model with Corum’s unique Grenadier Fendu finishing. It is crafted in a titanium case with 72 diamonds set on the titanium bezel and is offered with an ultra-light titanium bracelet or with a matching pink rubber strap.
Complementing the titanium Admiral 38 Automatic is a two-tone titanium watch with 18-karat gold diamond-set bezel and white dial with Grenadier Fendu motif. It is offered with either a matching two-tone bracelet or a white vulcanized rubber strap – perfect for a day at the yacht club or out on the water.
With these new editions geared for today’s discerning men and women, Corum clearly takes the legendary Admiral collection to new heights both technically, as well as design and performance wise.
Since its inception in 1955, Corum has always been on the cutting edge of design and technology, regularly taking risks with daring looks and innovative movements. That may be why the brand is known for many different icons in time, from the Coin watch to Admiral and Bubble. Easily the strongest legend in the Corum lineup, though, is the Golden Bridge watch with the world’s first-ever in-line baguette movement that was first released in 1980. Just over 30 years later, in 2011, Corum released an automatic version of the in-line movement that also took the world by storm.
Now, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Automatic Golden Bridge, Corum takes another leap, unveiling a new Automatic Golden Bridge series with avant-garde case that delivers sweeping views of the meticulously finished movement.
The original, almost rebellious, in-line movement was first created in the 1970’s by Vincent Calabrese. A self-taught Italian watchmaker with a passion for doing things differently, Calabrese had begun working on the idea of showcasing an incredible movement as an integral part of the overall design of the watch. He presented his patented concept, a 45-piece highly skeletonized in-line movement, at the 1977 Geneva International Inventors’ Show and the astute management at Corum immediately acquired the patent and worked with Calabrese to develop the revolutionary movement.
The first Corum Golden Bridge, with movement parts made of gold, made its debut at the 1980 Basel Fair. The alluring caliber – showcased in all its glory – was an immediate success and captured hearts around the world. Since then, all of the iterations and evolutions – with their minimalist design and gorgeous baguette movement – have left an indelible impression on the watch collecting world.
Naturally, when Corum opted to create an automatic version, it turned to its strong research and design team to develop the complex caliber. The creation was more than four years in the making, as the brand tirelessly pursued a way to showcase a floating linear movement with an oscillating weight on rails. The Corum Golden bridge Automatic, unveiled in 2011, ushered in a new era for this contemporary icon.
Corum 10th Anniversary Golden Bridge Automatic Collection
In honor of the 10th anniversary of the automatic in-line movement, Corum releases the new Golden Bridge Automatic series. Consisting of four models, the tonneau-shaped case offers a dramatic view of the movement thanks to the panoramic sapphire crystal and case back in a larger size. Also, for the first time, Corum creates the sapphire crystal as a single sapphire piece that extends from the top crystal to the sides of the watch – allowing for a 360-degree view inside. Sapphire is one of the most difficult materials to deal with as it is brittle and can break in the manufacturing process. It also requires special attention to corners and metal case connections to render the watch water resistant. However, Corum’s in-house engineers and watchmakers have mastered the process with this single piece that covers the top and sides.
The new versions feature cases created in polishable Grade 5 titanium with the crown at 6:00 for ergonomic comfort and for aesthetic appeal. They include a titanium and 18-karat gold model in a limited edition of 150 pieces, and a full titanium version in an edition of just 50 pieces. Each of these two materials are also offered with diamonds set on the case. Just 100 pieces of the diamond-set titanium-and-gold version will be produced, and only 25 of the diamond-set titanium watch will be made.
Additionally, Corum has invented a discretely placed floating harness system for its hand-applied indexes, yielding a highly modern and sophisticated flair. The design is actually born out of the need for function. Because there is no dial to affix the indexes to, the harness system links to the movement base so that the markers seem to be floating in space. As indicated in the series name – Golden Bridge – the main plates and bridges of the movement are in 18-karat gold for all versions.
All of the 10th anniversary Golden Bridge Automatic watches boast a sapphire case back made of smoked crystal for an almost mystical look. Additionally, they are all powered by the original automatic movement that remains incredibly advanced even by today’s standards. With all of its 194 parts in one line, the exclusive Corum Caliber C0313 boasts 40 hours of power reserve, a variable inertia balance wheel for long-term precision, a miniaturized barrel and main plate, bridges made of 18-karat gold, and a platinum linear oscillating weight.
Water resistant to 30 meters, the Corum Golden Bridge Automatic 10th anniversary watches are finished with a soft-touch alligator strap and triple folding clasp. If the new case and breathtaking side views aren’t enough, perhaps the best thing about this series is the amazing new entry-level price for the Golden Bridge Automatic.
The refined rectangular look of the Golden Bridge is the original case shape of this iconic in-line baguette movement that was introduced 40 years ago by the avant-gardist founder of Corum, René Bannwart.
“The Golden Bridge became an icon in watchmaking because it was the first watch to be fully transparent showing the work of the watchmaker and the beauty of the mechanics.“ Elizabeth Doerr, Watch Journalist & Editor-in-Chief of Quill and Pad.
Today, Corum is paying tribute to the very first model from the collection by introducing two new limited edition models to celebrate the 40th anniversary.
Golden Bridge Rectangle 40th Anniversary in 18k white gold.
For the first iteration of the Golden Bridge Rectangle, Corum added an astonishing play of finely hand-crafted floral engraving on the 18-carat white gold case to create yet another classic edition of the signature Haute Horlogerie timepiece. The acanthus and fern plants are a nod to the “Style Sapin” created in La Chaux-de-Fonds. These floral details have been engraved on all Golden Bridge baguette movements since the timepiece was launched in 1980. This masterpiece is limited to three pieces honoring the three co-founders of the Brand which was born in 1955.
Golden Bridge Rectangle 40th Anniversary in 18k rose gold.
While the Golden Bridge is proudly honoring its 40th anniversary, Corum is also celebrating its 65th birthday. The 18-carat rose gold version salutes the 40th anniversary of the Golden Bridge collection with an original “Limited Edition 1 0f 40” engraving inside the watch case at 3 o’clock and honoring 65 years since the Brand’s creation with Corum’s iconic symbol – the key – on the sapphire case back. Faithful to the roots of the collection, this Haute Horlogerie timepiece features an 18-carat gold Golden Bridge baguette movement.
“We were inspired by the Art Deco period,” explained Boon Chong Soon (Corum Marketing and Sales Director), “which formed the basis for some of the first pieces designed by Mr. Bannwart. In including our iconic emblem of the Corum Key on the sapphire case back for the Rose Gold version, and hand-engraving on the entire case of the White Gold, these are not only for the anniversaries of Corum and the Golden Bridge but also a tribute to the artisanal history of watchmaking in La Chaux-de-Fonds.”
Perfectly proportioned, the Golden Bridge fits beautifully on the wrist, and unlike its role model from 1980, thanks to modern technology this refined version is fully water-resistant to 30 meters. The Golden Bridge Rectangle shows a timeless and discreet elegance, yet focuses on the functionality of its brilliant movement, leading the eye along the path of Caliber CO113’s energy transfer from spring barrel at 6 o’clock to the escapement at 12 o’clock.
Exactement 10 ans après leur première série limitée commune, le détaillant parisien et la maison de La Chaux-de-Fonds créent une nouvelle œuvre conjointe, limitée à seulement 10 exemplaires.
En 2010, la maison familiale Dubail et Corum scellaient leur destin avec une collaboration horlogère limitée à 25 pièces, une Admiral’s Cup toute de noire vêtue avec des accents de rouge. Une pièce rare dont les collectionneurs se sont rapidement saisis et qui posait les fondations des séries exclusives Dubail : très peu de pièces, gravées et numérotées, aux accents de noir et de rouge.
Depuis, Dubail s’est imposé comme un partenaire de premier plan pour Corum. Le détaillant, fort de six adresses parisiennes, s’est spécialisé sur la Golden Bridge ainsi que sur les collections joaillières de Corum.
La Golden Bridge s’est donc naturellement imposée lorsque Corum et Dubail ont voulu célébrer les 10 ans de leur première série limitée commune. Le modèle retenu est la Golden Bridge Round 43 mm. Une pièce atypique, un cercle parfait au sein duquel s’étire le célèbre mouvement baguette de la maison, créée il y a tout juste 40 ans (1980).
Ses ponts et sa platine sont en or, gravés du nom de la maison, terminés à 6h par la couronne permettant la mise à l’heure et le remontage d’une réserve de marche de 40h. De part et d’autre de ce mouvement se déploient quatre séries symétriques de câbles. Pour Dubail, ils ont été spécialement traités en PVD noir, tout comme la boîte en titane PVD noir.
Ces câbles poursuivent l’inspiration architecturale de la collection si bien nommée
« Bridge » (pont en anglais). La pièce associe le « pont » qui maintient en place son train de rouages à celui qui traverse les villes et rivières pour relier les hommes.
Symbole d’ouverture, le pont est aussi l’un des ouvrages d’art les plus complexes jamais réalisés par l’homme, une prouesse capable de défier les siècles et les éléments. La construction, suspendue dans le vide, convoque l’esthétique des plus grands ponts érigés par l’homme. Elle souligne aussi le caractère aérien du mouvement baguette : le Calibre CO113 et ses 16 haubans parviennent à conjuguer
l’expression légère et suspendue du mouvement avec la force et la résistance de la structure câblée.
Pour Dubail, Corum a habillé sa Golden Bridge d’un bracelet alligator, à la place du caoutchouc. La pièce, gravée et numérotée, sera disponible en mars 2020, uniquement chez Dubail Paris, et éditée à seulement 10 exemplaires.
