Corum is on the bubble for 2016

By Mr. E

January 2016

Corum is on the bubble for 2016

By Mr. E

January 2016

Just in time to welcome the New Year, Corum has revived its famous Bubble wristwatch with a three piece limited edition. The new Bubble High Jewellery Skeleton is certainly exclusive and luxurious, but the brand has also managed to keep the watch fun.

Swiss watchmaker Corum proudly announced the next stage of the revival of its iconic Bubble watch, just in time to mark the beginning of 2016. The new Bubble High Jewellery Skeleton consists of only three unique pieces, which have once again reminded us of the Bubble series with a burst of three dazzling colours.

I say remind because the Bubble series was actually reintroduced in 2015, which consisted of a wider release of two models - the Bubble Vintage and Bubble All Black. The release last year was after a long 15 year absence for the series - first introduced 2000 – which actually became emblematic for the brand, as its fun and quirky timepiece.

This very limited revival for 2016 includes only the three one-off editions, each paved with precious stones and set on a white gold canvas. Each watch is set with 131 brilliant-cut diamonds on the dial, and a further 42 on the bezel. In total, they produce 5.7 carats. Adding even more exceptionalism to the watch are the 12 baguette-cut gems that form the hour markers - either rubies, blue sapphires or black sapphires, depending on the watch.

While it’s hard to look past the dazzle of the dial, underneath we have the CO 055 calibre, which is showcased under a unique sapphire crystal which give the series its name. The crystals on Corum’s Bubble watches look exactly like a bubble from the side, inspired by diving watches which relied on similar crystals to defy the depths of the sea. Not only do they make their watches unique, but the glass also serves as a loupe; in this case to magnify the delicate details of the movement.

In keeping with the quirky spirit of the Bubble watch, the movement has been positioned slightly off-center. In this series, it has also been skeletonized by hand and reduced to its bare essentials. What’s left of the movement has been decorated with a floral motif through hand engraving which differs between movements, making each watch even more unique.

Although the watch is relatively large – which is not helped by the raised glass on the dial – it actually wears more comfortably that it first might appear. That is thanks to a comfortable lug position and a lush alligator hide strap, which is fitted to each Bubble High Jewellery Skeleton watch to perfectly complement the gemstone hour markers.

It’s almost ironic that Corum would chose to skeletonize, and therefore reduce the size and weight of the movement, on a watch that comes in quite a large case. Never mind the fact that the Bubble watch has a thickness of nearly 2cm, thanks to that special sapphire on the dial. But that sapphire allows the wearer to appreciate the dial in greater detail, while also helping keep the watch more playful at the same time.