Easily one of Corum’s most iconic collections, the Admiral embraces the spirit of contemporary design inspired by a long history with maritime sailing. This collection is beloved by collectors, especially those with a yearning to indulge in an active yet elegant lifestyle. Now, Corum’s master craftsmen unveil six new versions of the coveted Admiral 42 Automatic with a distinctive dial motif.
It was three years after the inaugural America’s Cup reenactment race (celebrating the 1851 America’s Cup regatta, which today is the oldest international sailing competition) in 1957, that Corum released its first Admiral watch. The brand worked with the race organization, for which it was a sponsor, to establish the first then-square Admiral watches that made their debut in 1960.
Two decades later, in 1980, the Admiral collection was totally reimagined. It now boasted the 12-sided (dodecagonal) case shape and colored sailing pennants that quickly garnered it a cult-like following and elevated the series to the legendary status it enjoys to this day. In the decades since, the Admiral has enjoyed grand attention as new and more visionary evolutions (always inspired by marine races and sailing) set the stage for this master of the seas timepiece.
Today, as Corum answers the call of contemporary casual navigators and lovers of the sea, it brings new versions to the forefront that are ready to go the distance. Each of the six versions boasts a dial with the three-dimensional Grenadier fendu motif that was entirely designed in house in La Chaux-de-Fonds by the Corum team in 2019, and is unique and proprietary to the brand. Thus far, this dial motif has only been used on the 38mm and 45mm Admiral Automatic watches, so this marks a first for the Admiral 42 Automatic.
Essentially, the six new versions boast two dial colors among them: a rich Mediterranean sea blue and a striking midnight black. Each dial color is offered in three models: stainless steel case and bracelet; stainless steel case with color coordinated alligator leather strap; stainless steel case with 18-karat 5N rose gold bezel and crown and color-coordinated alligator leather strap with triple folding clasp.
A tour around the dial of each watch showcases an outer chapter flange with the famed nautical pennants transferred in outlined format and minute indexes, applied hour markers and white Super-LumiNova coated Dauphine skeletonized hands, date at 3:00 via an aperture and subsidiary small seconds dial at 6:00.
The sapphire crystal of each watch is treated with an anti-reflective coating, as is the case back that allows for viewing of the movement. Each watch is powered by the automatic CO 395 caliber that beats at 4 Hz and offers 42 hours of power reserve. Thanks to a screwed in case back, the Admiral 42 Automatic watches are water resistant to 100 meters. They are a tour de force perfect for today’s lifestyles.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Recommended Retail Price: CHF 4’200.- on alligator strap / CHF 4’400.- on steel bracelet / CHF 7’200.- for the Steel & Gold versions
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.
Unveiled in 1960, only five years after the brand’s creation, the Admiral collection embodies Corum’s maritime watchmaking heritage. Although it has always been loyal to its DNA, Corum has never been afraid to set sail for distant shores. That’s the case today with the Admiral 42 Bronze, a timepiece that showcases both a nautical design and watchmaking mechanics. Trendy chic and sporty, the collection features two new models housed in Bronze cases in order to pay tribute to the beauty and strength of the brass material used in old ships.
A living material
The special alloy of bronze used for the case and bezel will evolve over time to obtain a vintage patina. In order to be as homogeneous as possible over time, a unique satin-brushed finishing has been done on the entire case including the iconic dodecagonal bezel.
Faithful to the nautical roots of the Admiral collection, the model features the 12 pennant-shaped hour markers on the dial. The nautical colour palette of navy blue or maritime green dial fit perfectly with the associated colours alligator straps.
Equipped with a Corum automatic movement visible through the sapphire case back, the watch features a small second at 6 o’clock and a date at 3 o’clock.
Water resistant to 50 meters, the Admiral 42 Bronze is the perfect watch for all sailing afficionados.
Corum colors the mysterious and edgyAdmiral 42 Automatic Full Black timepiece.
Born in the 1960s, the very first Admiral’s Cup model was an unusual yachting watch with a water-resistant square case. However, the Admiral collection that we are now familiar with, is actually an evolution of the Admiral’s Cup model redesigned in 1983, with its instantly recognizable 12-sided case and nautical pennants on the dial. Over the years, this collection dedicated to the world-famous regatta has not only become an integral pillar of Corum, but also one of the most iconic nautical-inspired timepieces on the market.
One of the most identifiable characteristics of an Admiral timepiece is the use of 12 nautical pennants as hour markers. These flags in fact conform to the International Code of Signals for indicating numbers using colored flags, so each hour is represented by its corresponding pennant.
The latest Admiral 42 Automatic Full Black is the complete opposite of its colorful predecessors, and a first-ever within the Admiral family of watches. It features the iconic dodecagonal case in black PVD-treated stainless steel, paired with a blackened brass dial. The nautical pennants, minute markers presented in greyscale tones to balance the austerity of the all-black design, while markers for the minute and small seconds are made visible using a tone-on-tone effect. For this spring season, Corum introduces colorful and flashy hour’s markers flags, in blue, red, yellow, green and orange.
According to Corum’s product development department, “The main objective is to go against the classic codes of watchmaking by proposing a trendy watch instead of a traditional case in steel or gold. In addition, Corum wanted to break the codes of its Admiral collection representing classic navigation. The nautical flags of this new Admiral 42 Automatic are colored in different flashy tints.”
The Dauphine-style hour and minute hands are also skeletonized, given black PVD treatment, then filled with colored superluminova to ensure excellent legibility. Vulcanized black rubber straps with a black PVD-treated buckle complete the edgy look.
The original version, in “full black” of this Admiral 42 automatic, was created to bring this dark knight of a watch as mysterious, sporty yet intriguingly handsome at the same time.
The Admiral 42 Automatic Full Black is powered by the automatic CO 395 movement, which provides 42 hours power reserve. It offers a water resistance of 50 meters. All variations produced in a limited edition of 100 pieces.
