NO TRUSSES, JUST CABLES

Corum’s Golden Bridge Round is now plugged into cables, writes Justin Ng

Corum’s Golden Bridge Round is now plugged into cables

CORUM HAS SOUGHT TO REPLICATE THESE ELEMENTS THAT HAVE MADE THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE A DARLING OF AMERICAN CINEMA ON A WATCH

Watch brands may have hundreds of references and multitudes of models in their portfolios, but there is always one model that serves as a leitmotif, invoking a myriad of guises based on that singular model and spawning an entire collection. When one talks about Corum, the recurring theme is none other than the Golden Bridge.

First created in 1980, the Golden Bridge was inspired by its namesake the Golden Gate Bridge – a historical landmark as well as a cultural icon of San Francisco that spans engineering and design. The suspension bridge has come to symbolise Art Deco, having been erected during the dizzying height of the Art Deco movement in the mid-1930s. When it was completed in 1937, it was the world’s longest and tallest suspension bridge. It was also an engineering marvel providing residents of the San Francisco Bay area a steady and seamless commute across the Golden Gate Strait, which is prone to devastating earthquakes and howling winds.

As stunning as its picturesque locale, the beauty of the Golden Gate Bridge has withstood the passage of time. Chevron-, ribbed- and bevelled-shaped design elements were incorporated into the angular twin bridge towers to accentuate their imposing verticality. Truss arches and causeways provided for the signature clean, geometric lines Art Deco is synonymous with.

In more ways than one, Corum has sought to replicate these elements that have made the Golden Gate Bridge a darling of American cinema on a watch. The baguette movement is evocative of the main span of the bridge, connecting both ends of the case.

Up until 2016, when all Golden Bridge models were only encased in either rectangular or tonneau-shaped cases, Corum showed us that Art Deco could be circular too. The creation of the Golden Bridge Round 43 gave a sportier and more youthful personality to the Golden Bridge collection, which otherwise wouldn’t have been possible with the dressier and more formal rectangular and tonneau shapes.

Unlike the previous Golden Bridge Round 43 that paired the baguette movement with steel trusses, this year’s Golden Bridge

Round 43 Art Deco complements the baguette movement with 16 slender cables, eight on each side bisected by the movement. These symmetrical cables criss-cross each other, highlighting the intricacies and nuances of the inner workings of the watch while playing with the transparency afforded by its construction. Like all Golden Bridge models, the Golden Bridge Round 43 Art Deco is a two-hand watch.

The new watch is encased in a black Dlc-treated 43mm titanium grade 5 case.

Differences exist between the two models within the sub-collection with one featuring a rhodiumplated movement, while the other an 18k gold movement. The CO 113 movement stays true to its roots with its manual-winding mechanism that boasts 40 hours of power reserve. To ensure easier access to the winding of the movement, the lugs where the crown is set are elongated. Each model is limited to 188 pieces. It is paired with a black tapered, vulcanised rubber strap with a titanium grade 5 triple-folding clasp.