In 2009 luxury Swiss watchmaker Corum cemented its watchmaking expertise, by consolidating its major pillars, and unveiling its second in-house movement. The brand revealed its inexhaustible creativity. An exclusive new movement and four new models to reinforce the brand’s product pillars. Enriching or complementing the Admirals’ Cup and Golden Bridge collections, which together with the Romvlvs and Artisans lines represent the four pillars of the house of Corum, they bear eloquent testimony to the in-depth work conducted by its movement construction engineers, designers and master-watchmakers.
Also renowned for its mastery of the watchmaking art, Corum wrote a major new chapter in its history by presenting its second in-house movement. Designed, developed and assembled within its workshops, Caliber CO 007 was distinguished by a classically elegant design, a contemporary spirit, a baguette shape, titanium components and a system securing it by triangular casing clamps to the heart of the case.
In keeping with a reputation built on the exclusive nature of its creations, Corum launched the entirety of its models in limited editions or small production runs. Prominent among these were the Admiral’s Cup – GMT 44 & Black Challenge 44 with a second time zone, sporting chic and absolute black.
Embodying the sporting face of Corum since 1960, the Admiral’s Cup line has consistently appealed to watchmakers by the emblematic shape of its 12-sided case and its flange adorned with nautical pennants. Named after a prestigious international regatta, the collection is regularly enriched with classically elegant and technically sophisticated models.
With the Admiral’s Cup GMT 44, Corum displayed a chic, urban variation of its legendary collection. Skillfully blending sporting spirit and aesthetic elegance, this model signals the start of a new line that will be complemented by subsequent variations and is distinguished by softer angles, a thinner case and redesigned lines of force. To keep step with its times, the Admiral’s Cup GMT 44 displays a second time zone, an extremely useful complication much in favor among globetrotters and active individuals constantly juggling with time zones.
Designed for daily wear, the Admiral’s Cup GMT 44 features a 44mm-diameter satin-brushed and polished case. It is available in red gold, red gold/steel and steel versions framing a pure, understated dial with a date window at 3 o’clock.
The second time-zone markings appear around the rim, pointed to by a clearly identifiable red arrow. The white or black dial is rimmed with a flange bearing the 12 miniaturized nautical pennants serving as a reminder of the collection’s genetic heritage. To secure the case, Corum has fitted it with a solid screw-down back engraved with the Admiral’s Cup trophy, or a version with a sapphire crystal window enabling one to admire the gear trains in action.
Whether a genuine crocodile leather strap or a bracelet in the same metal as the case, the wristband is specially designed to ensure optimal comfort. The water resistance of the steel and steel/red gold versions is guaranteed to 100 meters, and that of the red gold variation to 50 meters.
The mechanical self-winding CO383 movement powers hour, minute, seconds and date functions, in addition to the dual time-zone display. Equipped with an oscillating weight engraved with the Corum brand name, it boasts a 42-hour power reserve and features rhodium-plated finishes. Altogether and including all its versions, less than 1,000 Admiral’s Cup GMT 44 watches were produced in 2009.
The Admiral’s Cup Black Challenge 44 meanwhile is a mysterious, fascinating and in vogue timepiece, black being one of Corum’s favorite colors. With the Admiral’s Cup Black Challenge 44, the brand introduced a new interpretation that endowed this model – in black or white dial versions – with a powerful, virile personality.
Both variations feature the signature Admiral’s Cup twelve-sided case. Measuring 44 mm in diameter, that has been given an avant-garde black PVD surface treatment using cutting-edge procedures to achieve an exceptionally hard (1300 Vickers) coating. Also applied to the crown and the chronograph pushers, this treatment further enhances the intensity of the color, while reinforcing the sophisticated nature of the timepiece. Equipped with a date corrector at 10 o’clock and water resistant to 100 meters, the case is secured by a back engraved with the Admiral’s Cup trophy. It is fitted with a vulcanized rubber strap complete with folding clasp. Protected by a 12-sided sapphire crystal, the dial features the collection’s characteristic nautical pennants. Since the latter are usually depicted in full color, the monochrome pennants of the Admiral’s Cup Black Challenge 44 reinforce the strength of the deep shade of the black dial and the purity of the white dial. The hands are coated with a luminescent substance in harmony with the dial color.
The Admiral’s Cup Black Challenge 44 houses Caliber CO753, a mechanical self- winding chronograph movement that is chronometer-certified by the COSC – a guarantee of precision and reliability. Powering chronograph functions as well as the date at 4.30 in addition to conventional hour, minute and seconds indications, this movement is graced with a rhodium-plated finish as well an oscillating weight engraved with the Corum brand name.
