This really does qualify as a historic creation – for Corum and for watchmaking as a whole. First dreamed up in 1964, the design is so singular that it has had a lasting impact on two consecutive generations of collectors – and presidents! George Bush Sr, Ronald Reagan, Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Richard Nixon, and Bill Clinton have all worn the Coin, as have a number of leading figures in art and design, including Andy Warhol.
And now, no fewer than three new models have been unveiled, two of them of American inspiration and powered by a Corum Watches (M) Sdn Bhd CO 082 automatic caliber, boasting a guaranteed 42-hour power reserve. The first has a sapphire set in its crown; the second, a diamond.
The dial of the first is an authentic dollar coin, made from sterling silver. Two blue-tinted steel hands glide over the emblematic eagle of the United States of America, their hue exactly matching that of the Corum name, stencilled on the underside of the crystal, and the colour of the alligator strap. The second uses a genuine “Double Eagle” coin, made from 22-carat yellow gold. Black hands and a black strap add a touch of contrast. To ensure the beauty of this rare timepiece shines out unimpeded, Corum has chosen to not feature its name on the dial – thus making this Coin even more of a rarity.
Heritage Artisans Coin Watch made with a double eagle gold coin © Corum
A 43-millimetre case houses a coin commemorating the anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel – minted in 1973 for the 25th anniversary of the Israeli Declaration of Independence proclaimed by David Ben-Gurion on May 14, 1948. The commemorative Coin is intentionally sober, featuring a silver case encircling the coin – over which two slim, black hands sweep. The same colour has been used for the alligator strap. This piece is also powered by a Corum CO 082 automatic caliber, with a guaranteed 42-hour power reserve.
And needless to say, the highlight of this watch has to be the domed sapphire crystal. The crystal itself is 8mm thick, and the general depth of the watch is a massive 18.5mm. The big domed crystal gives the watch substantial wrist existence, but more importantly, also creates distortion to give the watch a special look that alters and changes (distortion) depending on the angle that you have a look at the dial. Admittedly, the crazily domed crystal also affects legibility somewhat, but I would assert that skeletonized dials are not the most legible to begin with. What’s more, Corum also aims to deal with legibility issue with oversized leaf-shaped hands.The motion within is the calibre CO 082, which is based on Eterna’s grade 39. It provides 42 hours of power reserve and beats at 4Hz. Eterna can also be under the Citychamp group, and you will learn all about the calibre 39 in detail here. Corum does not disclose what kind of treatment and finishing has been done to the movement except that the plates and bridges are color-treated. As I mentioned previously, there are 3 colorways in complete. The ref. L082/031612 comes from a stainless steel case, with white Super-Luminova palms, and a movement finished using blue plates and bridges. The ref. L082/03165 comes in a black PVD stainless steel case, with green Super-Luminova hands, and a motion completed with matching green plates and bridges. And finally, we have the ref. L082/03166 which also comes in a black PVD stainless steel case, with purple Super-Luminova hands, and a motion finished with matching purple plates and bridges. All three colorways will include a blue coloured rubber strap with a pin buckle.Corum Bubble watches are fun and frequently use a cartoonish design component, and the new Bubble 47 Squelette watches we’ve got here are one of the wackiest yet. They are not for everybody, but if you have deep pockets and a sense of humor, they could be right for you.
Heritage Artisans Coin Watch celebrating the anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel © Corum
“This case structure allows us to use coins from currencies the world over – and makes all sorts of custom options possible,” concludes Corum’s CEO Jérôme Biard. “The three new Coin Watches also demonstrate that our Heritage collection is very much alive. Our heritage is not immutable; rather, it is living, creative, and constantly changing. First designed in 1964, these watches remain very much up-to-date – and continue to fuel the enthusiasm of our designers and collectors alike.”