Posts Tagged ‘2010’
The Corum Admiral’s Cup Deep Hull 48 – Bold Is Beautiful
As an industry observer it is always enjoyable to see a once strong brand surge back on the scene after a period of relative inactivity. Corum is such a brand, seeming almost dormant for a while and then out of nowhere surprising us (quite pleasantly we might say) in 2009, demanding our attention with the launch of their second in-house movement and a number of novelties, including variations of the very unique Ti-Bridge series.
In 2010 the brand has continued to build on this momentum introducing two new Golden Bridge pieces as well as a special edition deep sea diving watch, the Admiral’s Cup Deep Hull 48, which we have to say is absolutely superb.
Still, those familiar with the brand know to expect nothing less.
A Brief History
For those of you not so well acquainted with Corum, it’s important to know a little of their history to truly appreciate the brand’s most admired characteristics. Founded in 1955 in the spiritual home of watch-making, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Corum was created by a young and talented watch-maker by the name of Rene Bannwart. After having worked for several other prestigious brands he decided it was time for him to establish his own identity as a watch-maker. To do this he enlisted the help of his uncle, Gaston Ries and together the two set about building a brand that was unlike any other.
The goal was simple, Corum wanted to be positioned at the forefront of Swiss watch-making, pioneering new concepts in design and expression. Perhaps the burning ambition the two men shared is best illustrated by the brand’s emblem, a key pointing skywards. Not only is this indicative of the brand’s pioneering and innovative spirit, but also their desire to conquer new territories and quite simply put, become the masters of time.
Yet, it wasn’t until 1966 when Jean-Rene Bannwart, Rene’s son, joined the company that the brand’s identity as we know it today was truly established. He is credited with creating the models which were to become Corum’s trademark, especially the topic of today’s post and arguably Corum’s most recognised series, the Admiral Cup.
Many years later highly successful entrepreneur and philanthropist Severin Wunderman purchased the Corum brand and when questioned about his plans for the future, he replied;
“Making watches that meet the criteria of savoir faire and aesthetics with the daring approach that has always characterized Corum.”
And certainly it would seem that he has achieved that goal. Today Corum has grown from small private label watch factory into an internationally acclaimed brand, infamous for its unique sense of style.
Which brings us to the focus of this article.
The Admiral’s Cup Deep Hull 48
2010 marks the 50th anniversary of the birth of Corum’s yacht-inspired Admiral’s Cup series and so to celebrate this special occasion the brand unveiled a special limited edition model designed for the requirements of deep-sea diving. Aptly named the Deep Hull 48, this new piece will be produced in a limited series of two versions – one in titanium, and the other in black PVD titanium.
Without a doubt the new Deep Hull is a striking watch, not least of all thanks to its imposing 48mm diameter. Yet its bold style is also one of its most attractive qualities. This is distinctly a Corum timepiece, the trademark masculinity of the Admiral Cup design is unmistakable and it somehow manages the neat feat of being unique without appearing too unusual or over the top.
From a practical point of the view the Deep Hull embodies everything one expects from a top quality dive watch. Functionality takes centre stage and has not been compromised in any way for the sake of aesthetics. The clean, uncluttered dial is easy to read and has received more than ample luminescent treatment ensuring it remains highly visible under water.
And trust us you’re going to need all the luminosity you can get where you’re going.
The Deep Hull is rated to an impressive 1,000m of water resistance (we’re told it gets pretty dark down there) and as you would expect is equipped with a fully functioning automatic helium escape valve (what is this?) and unidirectional rotating elapsed time bezel.
Powering this mighty beast is a self-winding mechanical movement, the Corum CO947, which has obtained COSC certification and is therefore officially a chronometer. (Not sure what that means? Read all about it here.) The mechanism allows rapid adjustments to the day and date indications via the crown, and it also features a hacking seconds function to enable exact setting with a time signal. Power reserve of the barrel is 42 hours.
Available in a limited production of 500 pieces in titanium and just 155 examples in black PVD-finished titanium, all models are fitted with a 24mm rubber strap bearing the Corum signature and a wide titanium prong buckle.
The Final Word
We absolutely love this piece for what it is; bold, unforgiving and resolutely masculine. The Deep Hull 48 represents all the exceptional qualities Corum has come to be so well known for and we can say with confidence that this is truly a timepiece that has been designed to be worn, not just admired. Instantly recognizable thanks to its unique style and trademark design the Deep Hull 48 is a not so subtle reminder of what this great brand is truly capable of.
We’ve certainly been converted!
What do you think? Leave a comment. | Filed under New This Week, Watch Reviews
Weird Watch Wednesday: Franc Vila FVa35 SuperSonico 5 Minutes Repeater
If you’re looking for something truly distinctive you’d be hard pressed to go past some of the absolutely stunning creations by Spanish watch maker Franc Vila. Characterized by unconventional designs and alternative materials, Franc Vila’s watches are bold and adventurous and to be honest, probably quite unlike anything you have seen or worn before. One particular model that really caught our eye at this year’s Basel World was the brand’s new concept watch; the FVa35 SuperSonico 5 Minutes Repeater.
SuperLigero Concept Collection
Back in 2008 the company celebrated the inauguration of a new line known as the SuperLigero Concept collection with the presentation of the first model from this collection, the FVa Nº 6, a skeleton tourbillion with a 5 day power reserve. Essentially the concept revolves around the development of different masterpieces that all share the characteristic of being very light whilst at the same time extremely robust thus providing lovers of Haute Horlogerie a collection of contemporary and complicated watches that able to withstand even the most demanding of sport activities.
Each of the timepieces introduced under the SuperLigero concept share a common element; the use of Lightnium, an aluminum-lithium based alloy used in state of the art aeronautical engineering. Its main characteristics are lightness combined with high-tensile strength, allowing structural weight reduction and an increase in the elastic modulus performance. These characteristics allow for the development of very robust movements like the FV Nº 6 skeleton tourbillon or the FV Nº Cuatro SuperLigero chronograph tourbillon.
Superior Performance
The all new FVa35 SuperSonico also belongs to this category and as the name suggests this new piece features an exceptionally sophisticated complication, a 5 Minutes Repeater. What’s really impressive though is that the company has found a way to use Lightnium to enhance the quality of the sound produced. Without wanting to go into the technical specifications in too much detail essentially the rigidity of Lightnium, coupled with its low density and elastic modulus are optimal to ensure the best possible sonority.
Therefore to maximize the benefits of using this material and to ensure the best sound possible the inner part of the watchcase are constructed from Lightnium, which is in charge of transmitting the sound with the lowest possible loss of energy to the outer part of the watchcase, made in high-grade titanium. This combination of titanium and Lightnium ensures optimal sound qualities for the repetition complication.
Given the complexity of the movement it is very exciting to see that Mr Vila has decided to forgo a traditional dial in favor of a very basic skeleton approach, thus affording the wearer an uninterrupted view of the sonnerie complication complete with gongs and hammers. The movement itself is a self-winding hand finished Caliber FV35 complete with the exclusive Franc Vila Gold Concept Rotor and features a power reserve of 42 hours.
The piece will be presented in a limited edition of 88 pieces and I imagine will be phenomenally expensive.
The Final Word
This somewhat extreme timepiece will certainly not suit all tastes but I commend Mr Vila for creating his own, original style and having the courage to stick to it. Too often we see brands simply regurgitating ideas taken from other brands with minor changes but no real sense of unique identity. Hate them or love them Franc Vila’s watches are distinctive and all but guarantee that their owners will be too.
Reflecting On The Show That Was: Looking Back At Basel World 2010
Now that all the excitement has died down and a bit of time has passed, it’s time for a look back on the 2010 Baselworld Fair. I didn’t get a chance to see everything I wanted, neither did I get the time to write everything down, but before this year’s event passes into the annuls of history there are a few points to bring up.
The AHCI booth was a great place to visit and Thomas Prescher looks like he is really beginning to make headway, perhaps he will be the next member to break-out onto his own stand and area, the models look good and remain affordable. Saskia maaike Bouvier is a nominee for membership and will be the first female individual member; she makes very exciting watches for ladies, I hope to visit her soon so more to come on her.
The general mood seemed to be very positive around the show, though some areas did seem to be a little less visited than others. I think that to survive in this difficult but improving marketplace it is more important than ever to have the right marketing, the right products and the right pricing, the middle-ground remains a difficult place to be.
We don’t really cover the major brands here on The Watch Lounge, but the new Patek Phillippe models look good. There seems to be some price speculation going on and purchases made in the hope that they will yield a good return at some point in the future. I have always had some concerns about this behavior, a watch should be worn on your wrist not stuck in a safety deposit box, but historically Pateks have retained their value so who can say what will happen.
It is a little disappointing that there are still “fashion” brands mixed in with manufacturers. Booths are allocated by length of time at the show, so unless a company goes bankrupt your place remains your place forever. There will be some changes to the Halls for next year’s show as a new hall is to be built and Hall 1 is upgraded so there could be some jockeying for position coming up over the next few years.
If you have never been to Baselworld or haven’t been for many years, I would recommend a visit, it is the one thing every watch fan should do at least once in their life no matter how far away they live. But whatever you do don’t try to see everything in one day, you can’t. Attempting the impossible will only give you sore feet and a frayed temper, take your time, get a hotel room for a couple of nights (if you can) and avoid the weekend.
Can’t wait for next year!!
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