Bubble Casino Chip
Following the Bubble from casinos to great complications
Corum comes up with a round case for the Golden Bridge and increases its legacy with new versions of the iconic Bubble. The brand from La Chaux-de-Fonds has also used this opportunity to remind us of its mastery when it comes to complications.
By Marco Cattaneo
Journalist
The most beautiful plants grow in the most fertile lands, where they can take deep root. The same happens in watchmaking – brands draw inspiration from their past, a blend of history and DNA, to define the codes of their new creations. And these reinterpretations are often even more successful than the original ones, for the added history and DNA are most legitimate and very inspirational. In that sense, then, Corum will be nothing but successful, proof of that is its record and the fact that the brand will once again occupy its usual stand in the prestigious Hall 1 at Baselworld.
Corum does not lack in powerful elements that fuel its horological creativity. That is firstly in terms of design, as the domed sapphire of its iconic Bubble attests to. Secondly, of great complications, as seen with its mastering of minute repeaters and tourbillons. Thirdly, watch assembly – with its famous Golden Bridge movement whose smartly aligned components draw a straight line across the sapphire of the watch it is encased in.
A playful Bubble
The Bubble was created in 2000. It was designed by the late Severin Wunderman, an expert in American art who founded the Jean Cocteau museum in Menton (California) and who owned Corum for a brief period of time. The brand brought back its legendary Bubble last year and since it received such a warm welcome, it has decided to introduce it in a resolutely playful way this year. The Bubble Gaming range has been created in five versions and invites enthusiasts to gather round casino tables. Since Corum takes luck very seriously, each version is available in limited editions of 88 pieces, a lucky number in Asia. What's more, each version's 88th piece is unique and can be recognized thanks to its red-gold bezel.
All the dials in this range allude to gambling. The Bubble 8 Ball has a 3D dial on which a Magic 8 Ball appears in relief at 8 o'clock. The Bubble Roulette features pockets along the dial's perimeter that are crossed by the white ball-tipped seconds hand. Cards are also present through the Bubble Joker, which displays the somewhat unsettling face of a joker of uncertain origin, for we can’t be sure whether it represents a poker game or whether it springs from a superhero movie. Furthermore, the Bubble Dice promises success to its owner with its two dice showing a double six. Last but not least, the Bubble Casino Chip features a million-dollar chip.
From photography to fine jewelry
The Bubble also touches other fields such as arts and fine jewelry. An eponymous model was dedicated to Dani Olivier, a French photographer famous for his abstract and psychedelic nude photographs. Two of them have been accurately reproduced on the dials of two 88-piece limited editions thanks to a high-resolution printing technique. The spectacular Bubble High Jewellery Skeleton is an ode to fine jewelry. The three unique pieces of the trio house a completely skeletonized dial decorated with set jewels – 131 diamonds and 12 precious stones including rubies and blue or black sapphires. Their bezels are set with another 42 diamonds. The slightly off-centered axis of the hands confers the pieces very particular dynamics. The Bubble also houses great complications including GMT and chronograph tourbillons.
Great complications are an intrinsic element of the purest watchmaking tradition. Corum has surprised more than one by giving them a new life in none other than a Bubble case. As well, it has proven its legitimacy and know-how with the more traditional Heritage Minute Repeater, whose four hammers strike the gong, two at a time. The mechanical movement COI02 can be seen from all angles thanks to the sapphire back of the 41-mm pink gold case. Yet, the most impressive is undoubtedly the version with a tourbillon at five o'clock, which is enhanced by a diamond-set bezel.
A new presentation-case for the Golden Bridge
Corum has also designed a new version of the fascinating Golden Bridge, the baguette movement, which is, for the first time ever, housed in a 43-mm case. Created over 35 years ago, the Golden Bridge drew its inspiration literally from San Francisco's Golden Gate. Whilst the latter may well be the world's most famous bridge, the former was designed to act as a 'bridge' between architecture and Haute Horlogerie. The amazing caliber can be watched to your heart’s content through the sapphire back and the crystalline ring (also in sapphire) on the case's perimeter.
