After celebrating the milestone of its 30th anniversary, the Golden Bridge is entering the next decade in fine style. Having gone down in legend right from the time of its launch in 1980, the mechanical Golden Bridge has continued to exercise a powerful fascination ever since. And the story is far from over. In 2011, Corum’s iconic movement enters a new era by appearing for the first time in a self-winding version equipped with a linear oscillating weight.
Over four years of development and numerous laboratory tests were required in order to check the materials, the friction forces and the winding coefficients involved in developing the Corum CO313 movement powering the new Golden Bridge Automatic. Equipped with a linear oscillating weight made in platinum and a slipping spring mechanism, this movement beats at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and is endowed with a 40-hour power reserve. It is also fitted with a variable-inertia balance – guaranteeing long-term precision – as well as a barrel that is miniaturized so as not to break the smooth vertical lines of the mechanism. The mainplate and bridges are made from 18-carat gold (matching the gold of each of the cases) and adorned with a new vertical guilloché motif matching the linear design of the oscillating weight and accentuating the powerful character of this straight-line movement. The main challenge in developing this self-winding caliber lay in resolving the inertia issues linked to the linear oscillating weight – hence the use of a precious and dense metal, in this instance platinum, for this winding system.
To accommodate this exceptional movement, Corum is introducing a tonneau-shaped case in red or white gold featuring an elegance to match the technical accomplishment involved. It is larger than its predecessors and slightly curved to ensure optimal comfort on the wrist. Curious observers will enjoy being able to admire the secrets of the Golden Bridge Automatic mechanism through the sapphire crystal case-back and the openings on either side of the case middle – a distinctly exclusive privilege, since this watch is issued in limited numbers in 2011 : 130 for the red gold version and 70 for the white gold interpretation.
The iconic Corum Bridges collection reaches a new pinnacle of achievement with a model highlighting its ultra-innovative nature. The Ti-Bridge Power Reserve incorporates a first-ever feature in this collection, since the traditional hour and minute displays are now complemented by a three-day power-reserve indication. This beautifully structured watch naturally called for a linear display of such a function. To achieve this, Caliber CO107 is fitted with a satellite gear train that is visible when observing the watch from the side along the 9-3 o’clock axis, but invisible when viewing the model from the front. Another special characteristic developed for this caliber is the mounting of the power-reserve indicator on a toothed sliding part made from phosphate nickel. The choice of this material, combined with a LIGA manufacturing process (a German acronym for Lithographie, Galvaniformung, Abformung – Lithography, Electroplating and Molding) similar to electroforming, results in parts with far more precise tolerances than those achieved by classic mechanical machining. It thereby guarantees the extreme precision of the power-reserve display – a token of reliability which, combined with a technical appearance conferred by its grade 5 titanium case, makes the Ti-Bridge Power Reserve a truly rare object issued in a limited numbered series of 500.
With ladies in mind, the collection is being enriched with an extremely refined interpretation of the Miss Golden Bridge. Launched in 2010 to mark the collection’s 30th birthday, it represents first and foremost the feminine expression of a design that has made its mark on the watch
industry. Available in a 350-piece red gold or 200-piece white gold limited edition, this unusual version is adorned with a cuff-watch style gold bracelet. The result is a superbly elegant model harmoniously marrying the appearance of a piece of jewelry with the technical sophistication of a mechanical watch.

 

 

Corum has achieved an authentic tour de force this year by successfully combining a resolutely sporting design with the most accomplished horological complications. The legendary Admiral’s Cup which has reigned supreme over the nautical universe for the past half century now introduces an association between a tourbillon and minute repeater within a 15-piece limited edition. The Admiral’s Cup 45 Minute Repeater Tourbillon called for two full years of development that enlisted the talents of around ten of Corum’s finest watchmaking craftsmen who conceived and developed each of the components with a view to ensuring the extreme precision of the watch and the beauty of its chime. The fruit of these years of work is a hand-wound micromechanical masterpiece with a 100-hour power reserve. In order to highlight the extreme complexity of the minute repeater and tourbillon mechanisms, Corum has chosen to replace the watch dial with a PVD-treated smoked sapphire crystal. Its grey color makes a perfect match with the titanium of the 45 mm case which is immediately recognizable thanks to its famous 12-sided polished bezel conferring an elegantly understated appearance.
Another noteworthy newcomer to the world of horological grand complications is the Admiral’s Cup Seafender 47 Tourbillon GMT which has succeeded in combining the maritime spirit with a tourbillon and a dual time-zone display. With its tourbillon at 10.30 and the dual time-zone display at 6 o’clock, this eminently sporting model is entirely in harmony with the finest high-end watchmaking traditions. Powered by an ultra-precise movement beating at the frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour), this sporty tourbillon is the first automatic tourbillon in the Admiral’s Cup collection. The generously sized 47 mm-diameter case topped by the famous 12-sided bezel is issued in two versions. The first is the epitome of originality and lightness, with its case, bezel and crown guard in 7075 aluminum featuring an electro-plasma treatment that makes this material harder by endowing it with a light yet ultra-sturdy character. The 18K gold version features hands and hour-markers in the same material and also superluminova treated.

 

Admiral’s Cup 45 Minute Repeater Tourbillon
Movement : mechanical hand-wound, 100h power reserve Case : titanium Diameter : 45mm Functions : hours, minutes, minute repeater, tourbillon Caseback : sapphire crystal Strap : black crocodile leather Water resistance : 30m Limited edition : 15

 

Admiral’s Cup Seafender 47 Tourbillon GMT
Movement : mechanical self-winding, 50h power reserve Case : red gold or 7075 aluminum Diameter : 47mm Functions : hours, minutes, date, dual time zone, day/night indication, tourbillon Caseback : sapphire crystal Strap : black crocodile leather Water resistance : 50m Limited Production : of 75 in aluminum  version, and 50 in red gold version.