ART IN A BUBBLE
SWISS WATCHMAKER CORUM AND FRENCH STREET ARTIST AIIROH PRESENT AN INTRIGUING COLLABORATIVE TIMEPIECE ACCOMPANIED BY A UNIQUE PIECE OF ARTWORK
Corum, the creative and daring watchmaker based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, is known for—among other things—its collaborative horological creations with a wide range of artists, from those that are classically-trained to those whose canvas is the city streets. Recently, the brand teamed up with French street artist Aiiroh to create a larger-than-life take on the iconic Bubble watch, which is then accompanied by a one-ofa-kind certificate of authenticity in the form of a fabulous piece of wall art.
Aiiroh has plied his trade as a street artist for more than 20 years and these days he’s best known for his love of pop art and the myriad ways it can be reinterpreted. His works has been exhibited in more than 50 galleries around the world and has also found its way into the collections of international celebrities—as well as the NFT market. At the moment, Aiiroh seems to be focusing on reinterpreting iconic pop-art figures using posters found on the streets of major cities across France.
And now, Aiiroh’s unique aesthetic joins Corum’s watchmaking expertise in the new Bubble X Aiiroh watch, which features a recreation of Aiiroh’s famous “Black Série Rose.” This particular work of art famously uses street posters and headlines in a decoupage-like collage to form the petals of the colorful rose. Another stylized black rose spiral motif is then superimposed on top.
To recreate the “Black Série Rose” allure, Corum uses two different dial appliques that add dramatic depth and dimension. The bold rose petal collage—set against a stark black background—appears almost fluorescent in shades of turquoise, orange, lavender, purple, blue, red, yellow and green. A second black dial swirl made of aluminum that forms a stylized rose is then overlaid on top of the first layer.The overall effect is that of a rose opening, which looks even more amazing thanks to the Bubble
watch’s iconic half-globe domed sapphire crystal that creates a slight distortion of the dial.
On a more technical note, the Bubble X Aiiroh is presented in a 47mm stainless-steel case with a black PVD coating. Inside the case and beneath the aforementioned dial lies the beating heart of the watch: the mechanical automatic caliber CO 082 that offers 42 hours of power reserve, whose delicate workings can be appreciated through the transparent sapphire crystal with an antireflective treatment. The watch is even water resistant up to 100 meters.
Being an exclusive collaborative timepiece, the Bubble X Aiiroh is limited to just 88 pieces. But more than just the watch, this special creation is also presented in a unique manner. Namely, each watch will be accompanied by a special artwork by Aiiroh and Japanese modern artist Namisen, which is transformed into a sculptured piece of wall art in resin by French visual artist Soyz Bank. The design of this piece is inspired by Corum’s watch certificate, complete with the instantly-recognizable key logo.
For years, the Bubble watch has provided the perfect canvas for a wide range of creative minds—from multifaceted Canadian artist Elisabetta Fantone to French rapper Booba aka Élie Yaffa and even Swiss musical instrument company Paiste. Following in this tradition of inventive team-ups, Corum’s Bubble X Aiiroh watch presents a unique and contemporary statement of “wearable art on the wrist” that will surely appeal to watch connoisseurs and art enthusiasts alike.
“Aiiroh’s unique aesthetic joins Corum’s watchmaking expertise in the Bubble X Aiiroh watch, which features a recreation of Aiiroh’s famous ‘ Black Série Rose’”