foversta's Baselworld 2012 report on Corum highlights the brand's renewed strategy, focusing on the Admiral's Cup collection with new complications. This article provides a critical look at Corum's offerings, from an innovative tourbillon to an annual calendar, assessing their design, movement, and market positioning.
The 2012 collection of Corum is mainly focussed on the Admiral's Cup with new complications joining the line. Good news for me, I like it.
Honestly, I'm quite impressed by the new strategy of the brand: prices are more realistic and they start to take advantage of the good asset brought by the Admiral's Cup case. This case seems to be the Royak Oak of Corum if you see what I mean.
Last year, I liked the Admiral's Cup small second with caliber ETA2895: I found it was a worthy and affordable way to enter Corum collection. In 2012, new Admiral's Cup line is broadening with an impressive range of complication:
- a Tourbillon with micro-rotor
- an annual calendar
- a chronograph
- a mystery moon for the ladies
Let's start with the Tourbillon which is my fav novelty.
This
Admiral's Cup Tourbillon contains all what makes the Admiral Cup so special: the nautical pennants indexes, the twelve-sided bezel, the crown protector, the frange... if the small second watch was a bit unbalanced, it is not the case with the Tourbillon: the caliber is perfect for the case diameter (42mm) and so the Tourbillon bridge (which shape is inspired by the pennants) is very well located. It is hollowed in order to give a wide view on the 12mm tourbillon carriage. A real joy for our eyes.
Surprisingly, the addition of the Tourbillon works very well in the context of this watch inspired by the nautical sports.
By turning over the watch, we discover the unusual movement coming from La Fabrique du Temps. Its micro-rotor creates an original lay-out. I will not say that the finishings are outstandings: they are not especially on the micro-rotor very impressive. But on the other end, the sober style of the finishings enhances the beauty of the architecture of the movement. I love this 17mm micro-rotor and the large Tourbillon bridge. Movement frequency is 3hz and its power reserve is 60 hours.
The annual production of the Admiral's Cup Tourbillon will be limited to 15 watches in PG, 30 in PG/SS and 75 in SS. I understood that the price of the SS version will be very affordable for such contents (the Tourbillon is not a mere Tourbillon: again, it is a micro-rotor one). Expect a price around 45K euros. But of course, this has to be confirmed.
Another surprise was to discover the
Annual Calendar. It is quite funny to consider that this complication was more or less available only at one or two brands several years ago and that today it is becoming more and more spread. It is actually a good way to propose a calendar complication with a price much lower than the Perpetual Calendar.
The Annual Calendar uses a 42mm case available in SS or PG. The lay-out of the dial is logical and clever. Months are displayed by a tiny hand like it was a small second. Date is displayed around the dial thanks to a ring by the frange. The watch features a big central second hand. Movement performances are classic (4hz, 42 hours of power reserve).
A very balanced watch which seduced me thanks to its useful complication, the finishings of the dial and of the case. I don't know where the Annual Calendar module comes from.
Admiral's Cup Chronograph is less surprising, the complication being almost logical here. 42mm case is available in PG, PG/SS or SS. I found the dial less balanced than the previous two watches but the designers worked well to reduce this feeling thanks to the indexes. If you add the three types of dial (grey, charcoal grey or blue), you get a wide range of chronographs. Please note that the movement is COSC certified (4hz, 42 hours of power reserve).
Ladies' were not forgotten with a very charming watch: the
Admiral's Cup Mystery Moon. Why mystery? Because the whole dial is rotating: it is not the date disk which does a revolution but the dial. Obviously the section dedicated to the Moonphases display does the same as it is located in front of the date window. The sunburst finishings of the Indonesian MOP are really beautiful and contribute to the beauty of the timepiece. Stars of the Moonphases display are gems set. Case diameter is 38mm and is available only in SS. Movement has a 4hz frequency and 42 hours of power reserve.
Corum also introduced during the Fair evolution of existing models like this two tones of the Admiral's Cup small second (very appealing and elegant for a sportive watch) and for people who like high contrast several rubber straps of colours for the black chronograph. A daring watch for sure!
I would like to finish the report with the yearly "back to the past" move by Corum. This year, after the previous Grand Precis, Corum chose to re-launch the
Chargé d'Affaires alarm watch. This watch was originaly created in 1956 and the purpose of the Alarm was to help you not to miss your appointments (so the name of the watch).
If the dial design and the Schild movement are very classic, Corum had a strange idea to add this kind of big bridge over the movement. It brings depth but well... I think I would have preferred the watch without. This watch will lead to the usual comments: some will think that nothing will replace the Vintage watches and other will be happy to enjoy this old style with a newly made timepiece. But they will pay the price for that. We will have the same discussions than with the Grand Precis...
Anyway, this last watch is nicely made and after all, it doesn't change my overall feeling of the 2012 collection: Admiral's Cup line is now the keystone of the collection as the addition of new complications gives the proof of this strategy.
Sadly, I couldn't shoot any new Ti-Bridge.
I would like to thank a lot the Corum staff for the time they dedicated to me.
Fr.Xavier
