As Swiss watch corporations go, Corum isn’t an outdated title within the timepiece enterprise. The founders of the corporate, René Bannwart and his uncle Gaston Ries, nevertheless, introduced many years of Swiss watchmaking expertise to their new model when it was established within the Nineteen Fifties. Provided that, it’s not shocking the innovation and elegance mirrored in Corum’s timepieces make them favorites amongst luxurious watch shoppers. It’s additionally a model on my private most-wanted listing if I ever occur upon a fortune.
What makes them particular in my eye? Some Corum watches have peacock feathers adorning the face, whereas others embody uncommon supplies like meteorites. One other fascinating instance I’ve seen emulates the grill of a Rolls Royce with the form of its golden case. The Trapeze watches they made have fascinating trapezoid-shaped instances and mother-of-pearl dials. And whereas all these novelties are definitely cool, there’s one Corum assortment I’m significantly keen about. Earlier than we get to these, humor me as I share just a few different Corum collectible watches I wouldn’t say no to if gifted with one.
The Heritage Coin Watch
Corum nonetheless produces a number of kinds of Heritage watches, and a type of is the Heritage Coin Watch. This traditional Corum model, launched in 1964, has been owned by quite a few American presidents and lots of within the know relating to design and artwork.
After I first discovered about these watches years in the past, I had a little bit of a love/hate relationship with them. I believed utilizing an American gold coin to kind each the dial and the again of the case made for a phenomenal presentation in these traditional timepieces. Then I discovered that the cash used to craft them have been sliced in half to accommodate the motion, and that kind of ruined it. As an ardent proponent of preserving historical past by gathering, how may I condone destroying a pristine gold coin to create a watch? Nicely, because the years have handed, my views have softened a bit, and I’ve determined {that a} new collectible is born each time certainly one of these watches is made. They’re normally marketed to males, however I additionally love the search for the trendy girl, particularly fashions with leather-based bands.
Corum’s Golden Bridge Assortment
The Golden Bridge assortment by Corum happened within the Eighties. What makes this model so distinctive is that the gears and mechanisms making up the motion are all mounted in a line on a literal golden bridge that makes up the dial. It takes the thought of the oblong skeletal watch a step additional, giving it a sculptural look. Along with being clear on the again, the perimeters of the Golden Bridge are additionally open, giving one other peek into the layers of elements making up these wonderful timepieces. If that weren’t sufficient, many variations have diamond bezels.
The Golden Bridge has since been utilized in spherical and rectangular-shaped instances with oodles of gems and valuable steel gildings surrounding the essential idea, however I favor the understated (if a skeletal watch can actually be understated) look of the originals. Corum has even made a practical table clock that appears like an enormous Golden Bridge watch—the quintessential cool house or workplace décor in the correct setting.
The Bubble Assortment by Corum
Corum’s Bubble collection was launched in 2000 as a brand new period of innovation was ushered in by a brand new proprietor, Severin Wunderman. These watches have been clearly made to enchantment to collectors, with numerous themes depicted on the dials starting from comedian characters to playing motifs. What makes them so distinctive, nevertheless, is the paperweight-style domed sapphire crystal that distorts the dial. Even examples made with conventional watch dials and issues are immediately acknowledged as Bubble watches as a result of these distinctive rounded crystals.
Wunderman got here up with the thought for the Bubble by studying a dive watch made in the course of the Nineteen Sixties. The experimental watch had a big domed crystal to carry up throughout deep-sea dives. He appreciated the look and efficiently integrated it into Corum’s personal designs. I’m personally interested in a few of the designs on the dials as a lot because the rounded items of glass that cowl them.
Buckingham from the Artisan Assortment
So, right here we’re on the final however not least part of this characteristic. Corum’s Buckingham timepieces are eye-catching on their very own, with sq. instances and out-of-the-ordinary numerals across the dial. However the Buckingham Artisan Assortment provides panache to this fundamental watch model, making it my absolute favourite amongst all varieties of watches. These wonderful creations are colourful, eye-catching artistic endeavors full. And after I point out artwork right here, you possibly can take that actually.
Every certainly one of these little beauties has a miniature portray forming the dial. André Martinez is the artist behind these works that characteristic floral and bird-related themes. Within the vein of hand-decorated timepieces produced in the course of the 1800s (which I might additionally like to personal), he painstakingly plied the comb strokes on mom of pearl for every of those small Twenty first-century masterpieces utilizing a microscope. Each took 50 hours or extra to provide, and the result’s simply excellent.
As somebody who owns a modest assortment of unique artwork, extending that to sporting a one-of-a-kind portray on my wrist can be the epitome of what I’d need in a cool luxurious watch. I’m significantly keen on a flamingo model of this timepiece, however they’re all magnificent.
You’ll discover many of those Corum choices and extra within the Worthpoint® Price Guide. It’s also possible to study extra about Corum watches from our Dictionary. Which Corum is your favourite?
Pamela Siegel is a contract author and writer who has been educating collectors for greater than twenty years. Along with three books on matters regarding antiques and collectibles, she often shares her experience by on-line writing and articles for print-based publications. Pamela can be the co-founder of Costume Jewellery Collectors Int’l (CJCI) and the proprietor of Stylish Antiques by Pamela.
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