Where art meets engineering: the Corum Golden Bridge Round 43 Art Deco
The recently introduced watch release Corum Golden Bridge Round 43 Art Deco can characteristically be defined as a blend of deconstructed movement meeting trendsetting visual artistry.
Combining art with architecture, Corum in its trademark style fuses the aesthetic of the vertical baguette movement — an identifying hallmark of the brand — with suspension bridges to create watches that appear as aerial works of art, with the movements floating in the void framed by the case.
The Context
I have always been fascinated by Corum as a brand – they are not as old as say Patek, but are not a new micro or an independent brand either trying to establish it’s roots. Established in 1955, amongst the big players they are relatively young.
But the niche brand producing watches for collectors of unconventional timepieces that has come to be known for its creative and daring watchmaking approach, their 65 year run has helped them find their own unique voice. It is here in this middle ground, of being able to take from the centuries-old brands and also work alongside new ones is what sets Corum apart.
Corum currently offers watches under four collections — Admiral, Bubble, Golden Bridge and Heritage — and this new release features under the Golden Bridge category.
The New Watches
The new Golden Bridge Round 43 Art Deco is being made available in two series — limited to 188 pieces — with the main difference being in the materials used: rhodium or gold finish (movement, cables, crown). Both versions come on a black vulcanised rubber bracelet.
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The Movement of the Reference 113.955.95/F371 CA55R – B113/03951 (gold finish) OR reference 113.955.95/F371 CA59G – B113/03952 (rhodium finish)
The heart used — CO 113 — is a manual winding mechanical movement beating at the frequency of 4Hz (28’800 A/h).
The movement is encased inside a 43mm diameter and only 8.80mm thick titanium (grade 5) with black DLC treatment case. It comprises of 19 rubies, bridges and main plate in 18k gold, a logo engraved on the bridge, and boasts of a 40 hours power reserve and 30 meters (3 ATM) water resistance.
The display case-back is covered in titanium grade 5 with black DLC treatment and with glare proof sapphire crystal.
The Dial
The watch face shows the traditional functions of hours and minutes and is covered by a sapphire crystal with antireflective treatment.
The dial is where most of the magic for this watch occurs.
16 brass cables — either in 5N golden-coated brass or in rhodium-plated brass — are drawn from the titanium case and settle higher up, underneath the flange.
The gold bridges and main-plate finish at 6’o clock by the crown — either in 5N 18k rose gold or 18k white gold — used for time setting and the winding of the 40-hour power reserve.
Complementing these finishes, the watches come on a black vulcanised rubber bracelet with a Titanium (grade 5) triple folding clasp featuring a black DLC treatment.
Watch Ya Gonna Do About It?
In terms of sizing, the watch is a daily wearable watch size coming in at 43×8.80mm. However, how often are we actually likely to see these in the wild? Chances are, not that often. That said, if someone is daring enough, these will fit comfortably under the cuff and could be a daily watch.
Given that the watches are limited edition, they are something that Corum fans, or people who love Art Deco style pieces or even simply admire the architecture of bridges, should check out sooner rather than later and see if this is the right option for them.
I am personally impressed by the legibility and the fluidity of this watch.
The baton shaped faceted hands surprisingly provide for a fair deal of legibility. The contrasting colours of these hands — 5N golden or rhodium-coated — works well against the mesh of brass cables and give the watch face the unique floating in mid air look.
The boldness of these watches is visible in their pictorial power that makes the best of the aesthetic of the vertical baguette movement combining it with the intersecting cables.
The new Golden Bridge Round 43 Art Deco is truly a work of art.
For more information on this watch and other Corum watches, head to their website here.
