Corum Admiral’s Cup Tourbillon 48

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Admiral’s Cup Tourbillon 48
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A nautical tourbillon
La Cote des Montres - November 12th, 2008

The power of water: Wind, the power of waves and the genius of men able to harness them. CORUM has been part of the nautical universe since 1960, when the brand first created a collection entirely dedicated to sailing: the Admiral’s Cup. Since then, the catalog has been regularly enriched by new models consistently redesigned to enhance their aesthetic appeal and improve their technical performances. Guided by the imperious desire to pursue quality, CORUM designers and engineers have perpetually integrated the most promising innovations into the new versions.

With its twelve-sided case exuding a definite sense of strength and its sophisticated lines, the Admiral’s Cup collection has asserted itself as an icon among sports watches. Alongside the Romvlvs, Golden Bridge and Watchmaking Specialty collections, it is one of the four pillars on which the brand is grounded.

The advent of sporting chic

In 2008, CORUM has elected to propel this line to the very peak of technical refinement. While fully respecting the sporting spirit of the Admiral’s Cup collection, the brand has taken it into the select circle of Haute Horlogerie thanks to an iconic complication: the tourbillon. With this new model named Admiral’s Cup Tourbillon 48, CORUM provides an eloquent demonstration of its expertise. For the creative talents who conceived it, this newcomer is a symbol embodying the ultimate horological values that the brand upholds.

A nautical tourbillon

The elegant and spectacular tourbillon counter-balances the aura of strength exuded by the characteristic shapes of the Admiral’s Cup. It thus features a subtle blend of technical heritage and contemporary design. Its carriage, held by a horizontal bridge, bears the famous CORUM key symbol. Placed at 6 o’clock, this signature touch echoes the two other openings cut out in the plate at 12 and 3 o’clock respectively, and which partially reveal the inside of the movement. Like the other openings on the back of the caliber, they provide fascinating glimpses of the gleaming gear trains and other parts that are PVD-coated to reinforce the play on contrasts.

The bridges and mainplate are crafted in red-colored 5N 18-carat solid gold. All parts are treated to a high-end hand-crafted finish. Beveled and drawn out with a file, their surfaces are satin-brushed or engraved with a vertical Côtes de Genève motif, before being clad in their black PVD coating.

From whichever angle you look at it, the movement powering the Admiral’s Cup Tourbillon 48 reveals a wealth of refined details.

This exclusive CO-372 CORUM movement boasts all the prime assets of a luxury “engine”. Endowed with a 90-hour power reserve supplied by a single barrel, this caliber beats at a speed of 21,600 vibrations per hour.

Clothed in gold

The understated elegance of the Admiral’s Cup Tourbillon 48 stems from the subtle contrast between luminous pink gold surfaces and the dark zones created by the PVD coating. Symbolizing the collection as a whole, the blackened pink gold flange is engraved with twelve nautical pennants corresponding to numbers 1 to 12 in the maritime International Code of Signals. With its 48 mm diameter and twelve signature facets, the case features alternating polished and vertical satin-brushed surfaces. Two black rubber guards serve to protect the gold crown.

The skill and patience required to craft the Admiral’s Cup Tourbillon 48 suffice to explain why only twenty or so of these watches will be made each year.