Is the Corum Golden Bridge watch worth it?+
For a collector who loves visible mechanics, it's one of the most distinctive things you can buy. The Golden Bridge has four sapphire sides offering a view of its linear movement, which appears to float in mid-air, held only by the gold bridge that gives the watch its name. Offered in 18k gold or platinum, and sometimes set with diamonds, it's a precious-metal showpiece rather than a knockabout daily watch. Buy it as an art-object timepiece you protect, not one for sport or impact.
Is Corum a good watch brand, and what is the quality like?+
Corum is a Swiss watchmaking house founded in 1955, with its manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the heart of Swiss watchmaking. Its pedigree runs deep — founder René Bannwart trained at Patek Philippe and then designed models at Omega before striking out on his own. The brand is known for bold, technically ambitious pieces and limited editions it calls "World Premiers," so it sits firmly in serious Swiss luxury territory rather than mass production.
Is the Corum Admiral's Cup the watch to buy first?+
The Admiral's Cup is Corum's benchmark series, so it's the natural place to start if you want the model the house is best known for. Introduced in 1960 in homage to the Admiral's Cup yacht race, it's evolved into the distinctive twelve-sided (dodecagon) case decorated with brightly coloured nautical pennants on the dial. If you love a maritime, sporty-yet-luxurious look with real brand heritage behind it, this is Corum's signature line.
Is the Corum Bubble a collectible, and what makes it special?+
Very much a cult piece. The Bubble was created by former owner Severin Wunderman and is defined by an unusual, huge domed sapphire crystal that magnifies the dial. It came in mini, midsize and XXL, with collectible XXL limited editions including Lucifer, Baron Samedi, Bats, Joker and Royal Flush. Produced through the 2000s and then reintroduced in 2015 with new materials, it's the line collectors love as a playful conversation-piece watch.
What is the Corum Coin Watch?+
It's one of Corum's most famous signatures. Launched in 1964, the Coin Watch is ultra-thin and bezel-less, with a dial crafted from a real $20 Double Eagle gold coin (versions also use $10 or $5 Liberty coins). Corum has made coin watches for over fifty years, and over the decades they've been worn by numerous political and cultural figures, including several Presidents of the United States. It grew directly from one of the brand's earliest best-sellers, a watch made from a $20 gold coin.
What does the name Corum mean, and what's the logo?+
The name comes from the Latin word quorum — the minimum number of people needed to hold discussions and make decisions in an assembly — which founder René Bannwart simplified to "Corum." The brand's logo is a key pointing toward the sky, symbolising riddles, mystery, innovation and watchmaking precision. It's a fittingly enigmatic identity for a house that built its reputation on unconventional designs.
Who founded Corum and when?+
Corum was founded in 1955 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, by René Bannwart and his uncle Gaston Ries, who had been running a watchmaking workshop there for about thirty years. The first Corum watches were produced a year later, in 1956. Bannwart, who had earlier worked at Patek Philippe and Omega, led the brand for years and lived to the age of 95, passing away in 2010.
Who owns Corum now?+
As of 2025, Corum is once again 100% Swiss-owned. From 2013 the company was owned by the Hong Kong-based Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group alongside Eterna, but in May 2025 — as Corum marked its 70th anniversary — it returned to Swiss hands through a management-led buyout. The buyout was led by Haso Mehmedovic, who joined Corum as a watchmaker in 2011, rose to International Sales Director, and is now CEO and Chairman.
Did Corum really make a watch with Rolls-Royce?+
Yes. During the 1960s and 1970s Corum partnered with Rolls-Royce, becoming one of the first watchmaking houses to collaborate with an automobile manufacturer. The partnership produced a watch whose case was shaped to symbolise the car's iconic grille, with the Rolls-Royce model introduced in 1976. It's a great example of Corum's habit of turning unexpected ideas into actual timepieces.
Has Corum been worn by famous people?+
Plenty, especially between the 1980s and 2000s. Personalities associated with Corum include Elvis Presley, several U.S. presidents, Robert De Niro, Johnny Depp, Naomi Campbell, Jackie Chan, Cristiano Ronaldo and Mike Tyson. The brand was also the maker of the World Series of Poker watches and bracelets, underlining its reach into sport and celebrity culture.
How should I care for and service a Corum watch?+
Treat it as the fine Swiss mechanical instrument it is. Pieces like the Golden Bridge have delicate exposed movements and sapphire cases, so keep them away from knocks, magnets and water beyond their stated resistance, and store them somewhere stable. Have a mechanical Corum serviced periodically by a qualified watchmaker to keep it running accurately. And always buy and service through authorised channels — for a brand this collectible, provenance protects both the watch and its value.
