PLAYGROUND OF IDEAS
In 1957, Corum launched its Golden Tube model. Its gold case was shaped in a tube and the movement was inserted within. The success of this timepiece motivated Corum to experiment with another shape which resulted in the Chinese Hat watch the following year. Its name alludes to the design of its bezel evoking the pyramid-shaped head covering worn by the people of China. But it was not until the year 1960 that the brand eventually started laying the foundation blocks of a timepiece that would become synonymous with Corum. The introduction of its inaugural Admiral’s Cup model—named after the international yachting regatta launched in 1957—marked the start of a collection that defined the brand’s reputation in the future. This vintage edition had a square case and features a hand engraving of a sailboat together with the name ‘Admiral Cup’. Wanting to up the ante, the team at Corum worked on realising a creative concept of creating a watch from a gold coin. Thus, the Coin Watch was born. An ultra-thin movement was set inside an authentic $20 Double Eagle Coin supplied from the United States. The Coin Watch was highly popular among the elite; numerous US presidents and Nobel Prize laureates were all proud wearers of this history-making timepiece. Other experimentations Corum embarked on include creating its first large-sized watch (The Buckingham) and engraving the hour numerals on its bezel instead of the dial (the Romvlvs, pronounced as Romulus). Corum also introduced exquisite artisanship into
Bannwart was fascinated by the word ‘quorum’, which refers to the minimum number of people required to make valid decisions
its pieces, such as the use of genuine bird feathers on a watch dial with its Feather Watch. In 1976, Corum released its first ever timepiece model in partnership with the prestigious automobile Rolls-royce, depicting the luxury car brand’s iconic grille as the dial.