The Admiral's Cup race was first held in 1957 and the Corum Admiral's Cup watch was introduced just three years later in 1960. ( June 2017) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message) Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links, and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view. This article contains content that is written like an advertisement. In April 2013, Corum announced that it had been purchased by the China Haidian Holdings Limited group, today called Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group. In January 2010, on the eve of the jubilee year for Corum, its founder René Bannwart, died aged 95. On 25 June 2008, Severin Wunderman died at the age of 69. In January 2000, the arrival of a new owner and President, Severin Wunderman, gave new impetus to Corum. Each year, it has produced a limited number of limited edition pieces. Corum is also known for its "World Premiers". One year later the first Corum watches were being produced.Ĭorum's claim to fame came early on when the company introduced a watch made out of a $20 gold coin, which was an instant best-seller. They also introduced new timepieces like the Bubble Watch and Artisan collection.Corum was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland by Gaston Ries and his nephew, René Bannwart in 1955.
They expanded their Admiral's Cup line and revived the Romvlvs model, which has Roman numerals around the bezel. The innovative spirit of Corum did not fade as the company entered the 2000s. They even made a model using genuine meteorite to decorate the face in 1986. They followed up in the mid-1970s with Rolls-Royce watches and then with Golden Bridge watches in 1980. In 1970 watches were introduced with genuine bird feathers decorating the face. This innovative ultra-thin watch did not have a back cover so that the coin could be viewed from either side. The Coin Watch, its movement set into a $20 Double Eagle gold coin, was developed in 1964. The line has become a cornerstone of the brand. Since then, several versions of the Admiral’s Cup have been introduced. In some cases, only the Corum key-shaped logo is present.Ĭorum introduced the first iteration of the Admiral's Cup watch in 1960 with a square water-resistant case. Some models, however, are marked elsewhere when the face is mainly decorative. Calce continued to run the business, which included forming industry partnerships, encouraging further innovation, and expanding to open new stores in various markets worldwide.Ĭorum watches are most often identified by the company name on the face. Rene Bannwart died in 2010 at the age of 95. He brought on Antonio Calce in 2005 to assist him in his efforts, and in 2007 Calce was made CEO. He was already widely recognized in the watch industry even before taking on reinvigorating Corum’s brand with further innovation. That same year, a new owner and president named Severin Wunderman took over. Rene Bannwart was honored by the International Museum of Horology in 2000 for Corum timepieces' craftsmanship and design.
Corum's Artisan collection has yielded some remarkable watches decorated with miniature paintings, gemstones, engraving, and enamels. These include the signature Admiral's Cup, Golden Bridge, and Romvlvs models. Corum made many other eye-catching timepieces in the following decades. Accolades soon followed for the creativity of the Golden Tube and Golden Hat models introduced in 19.
The company introduced its first watches in 1956. Bannwart’s son Jean-Rene joined the firm in the 1960s. The company was started in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, and is still doing business there today. Corum was founded in 1955 by Rene Bannwart, who had previously worked for Patek Philippe and Omega, in partnership with his uncle Gaston Ries.