Swimming upstream

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Swimming upstream - Corum
2 minutes read
“Stream” is one of Corum’s new flagship releases. And the brand continues to swim against the current with its irresistible Bubble. And why not, when the results are so creative?

No one would think of comparing Corum with Cartier. They have no shared heritage, completely different histories, dissimilar ranges, and very little in common stylistically. And yet both companies share an astonishing ability to create form within form, to design cases whose geometry is fluid but mastered to perfection.

Alternating current

The new Golden Bridge plays from the same song sheet. Behind its stylistic approach is a state of mind: Corum likes nothing better than to head off in an unexpected direction. Its creative spirit is governed by audacity. So, where the Golden Bridge found initial success by disrobing to leave the naked baguette movement front and centre of the watch, Corum is now seeking to fill those empty spaces once again. The new GB Stream features an “Eiffelian” tracery of arches and curves on either side of its vertically orientated movement. “Architectural” would be a good word for it. “Sculptural” would be another.

Swimming upstream

The effect is guaranteed because, far from overwhelming the movement, it gives the movement a new field of expression in the streamlined profiles that, in the early 20th century, inspired futuristic objects and buildings whose bold curves and dynamic lines of tension continue to fascinate today. “The Golden Bridge Stream encapsulates all our signature features: boldness, balance, history and technique,” notes CEO Davide Traxler. “This piece shows the versatility of our Bridge movement. It comfortably merges a trend born almost a century ago with contemporary concerns to create a strong, peerless timepiece.”

In the eye of the hurricane

At the same time, Corum is stepping up its Bubble-related partnerships. Now, it’s the turn of young Italian DJ Matteo Ceccarini to design his own model. The new watch is unlikely to go unnoticed, but that’s the Bubble for you!
In the centre of this rather striking creation is an eye, which appears almost life-size in the 52 mm case. The watch has no hands, instead using the device of peripheral pointers. Its piercing gaze is amplified by a 3D technique and by the Bubble’s characteristic sapphire dome. This limited edition of 88 is called “Anima”, a reference to the ancient observation that eyes are the windows to the soul.

Swimming upstream

But this series is just the first of many that will trickle out over the course of 2017. Corum has already announced collaborations with rapper Booba (three different pieces) and photographers Juliette Jourdain (Sequin Bubble) and Matt Barnes (Magical Voodoo). There will be many more.

Swimming upstream

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