Corum

René Bannwart and his uncle, Gaston Ries, founded their luxury watch company, Corum, in the Swiss town of La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1955. The name "Corum" comes from the Latin word "quorum," which refers to the minimum number of individuals necessary for a deliberative body to conduct their business. Corum is renowned for their world-class timepieces with state-of-the-art movements.

Next to sophisticated technology, Corum is perhaps best known for their unorthodox designs. One example is the Big Bubble Magical 52 from 2000. Its dial features the famous Moon motif from the French classic "A Trip to the Moon" (1902). The modern Bubble collection is the most colorful and playful entry in Corum's portfolio. Other product lines include the Admiral, Golden Bridge, and Heritage.

Select models, including much of the Golden Bridge collection, boast elaborate diamond settings or a tourbillon. The Heritage collection is home to the striking Coin Watches series. As the name implies, these watches feature dials made of silver or gold coins. Finally, the sailing watches of the Admiral collection stand out thanks to their nonagonal bezels, elaborate movements, and colorful dials.

Corum introduced their first timepiece, the Golden Tube, in 1957. Its movement sits within a tube and was the predecessor to the so-called "baguette movement," which has powered every Golden Bridge watch since the collection debuted in 1980. In 2009, Corum launched the baguette caliber CO 007 inside the Ti-Bridge model. The company developed this caliber entirely in house, marking another exciting chapter in their history. When they aren't using their proprietary technology, Corum also sources calibers from Swiss movement manufacturers ETA and Frédéric Piguet.

Corum's catalog is split into four collections – Admiral, Bubble, Golden Bridge, and Heritage – each of which has something unique to offer.

The Admiral collection contains men's watches with a distinctive nine-sided bezel. The first version debuted in 1960 and was an immediate success. These sporty timepieces are geared toward sailing enthusiasts with an affinity for bold designs. With cases ranging from 32 to 47 mm in diameter, there's something for every wrist size. The collection's top model is the Admiral Cup 45 Minute Repeater Tourbillon. Corum only ever produced one copy of this timepiece, which is worth around 327,000 USD.

Admiral Cup Legend 42 Chronograph

Of course, most Corum Admirals have much more budget-friendly price tags. Take the Admiral Cup Legend 42 Chronograph ref. 984.101.20/0F01 AN10, for example. This 42-mm stainless steel watch features an anthracite dial with vertical stripes. There are 11 luminous applied indices, while the number "60" marks 12 o'clock. A colorless version of the corresponding international maritime signal number flag sits above each hour index. The minute track around the dial's edge completes the look.

The automatic caliber CO 984 powers this watch. This movement is based on the ETA 2894-2 and has a 42-hour power reserve. There are central hands for the hours, minutes, and chronograph seconds. The dial also has chronograph subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock, as well as a date display at 5. A sapphire crystal case back provides a view of the movement at work. One of the most interesting details is the crown guard, which is the same height as the crown itself. Corum mounts the final watch on a black crocodile leather strap with a triple-blade folding clasp.

Never-worn timepieces change hands for around 4,100 USD on Chrono24, while pre-owned watches demand roughly 2,700 USD. The Legend 42 Chronograph is also available with different color and band options.

Admiral Legend 32

The Admiral Legend ref. 400.100.20/V200 BL12 is a 32-mm stainless steel women's watch. While the larger men's models have nine-sided bezels, those of the women's and unisex editions are round and polished. Applied indices sit atop the mother-of-pearl dial. Each index is a full-color version of that number's corresponding international maritime signal flag, further underscoring the nautical theme. The automatic caliber CO 400 powers this model and provides it with central hour, minute, and seconds hands. However, this movement lacks a date display.

Corum pairs this watch with a three-piece link stainless steel bracelet. It comes with polished middle links and a triple-blade folding stainless steel clasp.

You can purchase a mint-condition model for about 3,100 USD. Pre-owned pieces remain a rare sight on Chrono24.

The Corum Bubble collection is home to some truly unique timepieces. At 42 to 52 mm in diameter, these watches make their presence known and are best suited to larger wrists. One exception is the Bubble Mini series, a line of particularly delicate women's watches that measure only 17 mm in diameter.

Big Bubble 52 Magical Elisabetta FantoneCorum produces a whole range of watches under the "Big Bubble Magical 52" name. Like smaller Bubble timepieces, a different artist is behind each model's dial design. Canadian artist Elisabetta Fantone is one such Corum partner. Fantone used the dial of the ref. L390/03667 to pay tribute to Spanish painter Salvador Dalí. This watch features a black-coated case and is limited to a run of 88 pieces. Its dial shows Dalí in a spacesuit encircled by white SuperLuminova dot indices. The automatic caliber CO 390, a modified Eterna 3903A, ticks away inside the case and has a 65-hour power reserve. Instead of hands, the time is displayed using two blue SuperLuminova circles. The larger circle represents the hours, while the smaller circle shows the minutes. This watch has no seconds display.

A vulcanized black rubber strap holds the timepiece securely on the wrist. You can purchase this model for around 3,300 USD new. Used watches are few and far between, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.

The Golden Bridge collection is perhaps Corum's most famous line of watches. Each features a baguette movement that seems to float in empty space between two panes of sapphire crystal. These men's and unisex watches are divided across two series, Round and Rectangle. Round models measure 39 or 43 mm in diameter, while the Rectangular editions are available in four sizes. One particularly unusual detail is the position of the crown at 6 o'clock. Corum crafts the cases out of materials like titanium or gold, with select models boasting diamonds and a tourbillon.

Rose Gold and Diamonds

The ref. B113/01045 is the perfect example of a men's Golden Bridge watch. Its case is made of 18-karat rose gold and measures 34 x 51 mm. The bezel is encrusted with diamonds weighing a total of 1.05 carats. Thanks to the lack of a dial, you can see straight through the watch and admire the entirety of the baguette movement CO 113 within. This in-house caliber uses baton hands to display the hours and minutes and has a 40-hour power reserve. Corum pairs this Golden Bridge with a brown crocodile leather strap with a pin buckle. Never-worn watches change hands for approximately 43,500 USD.

Miss Golden Bridge

As its name implies, the Miss Golden Bridge series was made with women in mind. Corum offers both white and rose gold versions, each measuring 21.3 x 43.99 mm. The most luxurious pieces also feature glittering diamonds.

The ref. B113/00824 is a stunning 18-karat rose gold timepiece. Its bezel is studded with diamonds weighing a total of 0.68 carats. This luxury watch has no dial and tells the time using black skeletonized leaf hands, which are powered by the baguette caliber CO 113. The final watch is mounted on a black alligator leather strap with an 18-karat rose gold pin buckle. This model sells for about 27,500 USD new on Chrono24.

If you prefer less flashy watches without diamonds, you're sure to enjoy the ref. B113/00975. This version comes on a three-piece link bracelet in rose gold and costs roughly 15,500 USD. You'll also find white gold models available with or without diamonds.

Corum splits the Heritage collection into five lines: Corum Lab, Eleganza, Sublissima, Romvlvs, and Coin Watch. Of these series, the Romvlvs and Coin Watch are the most famous.

Romvlvs 44 Annual Calendar

The first Romvlvs watch debuted in 1966. Today's collection contains the limited-edition Romvlvs 44 Annual Calendar. Its rose gold case is 44 mm in diameter and features a distinctive bezel with Roman numerals. Next to rose gold, green is the dominant color here: The sapphire crystal dial, rubber strap, and rubber bezel all come in this emerald hue. This model gets its power from the caliber CO 502. Based on the Vaucher VMF 5002, this movement has hands for the hours and minutes, month and day windows, and a retrograde date display. Prices for this rare collector's item sit around 54,500 USD. If you prefer blue over green, you should keep your eyes open for the ref R502/03811.

Coin Watch: With Real Currency

Corum uses real coins to create the dials of the Coin Watch series. For example, the manufacturer equips the ref. C293/00831 with a 20-dollar gold coin made of 22-karat yellow gold. The case itself is 18-karat yellow gold and measures 36 mm in diameter. A 0.17-carat diamond adorns the crown. The automatic caliber CO 082 lends this Coin Watch its hour and minute hands, as well as a 42-hour power reserve. This model comes on a black alligator leather strap with a yellow gold pin buckle. You can purchase a new timepiece for about 20,500 USD. Pre-owned examples are a relatively rare sight.

There are numerous versions of the Coin Watch. One particularly interesting model features a 925 Silver Eagle coin with a skull motif. This watch is 43 mm in diameter and powered by the caliber CO 082. Be sure to have some 19,500 USD on hand if you'd like to call this timepiece your own.