CORUM
An Eight Ball
Bubble
S
everin Wundermann was, a different sort of a guy to say
the least. From the foundation story of Gucci Watches,
to his brief foray into coffee, to his triumphant return
with his takeover of Corum at the turn of the century.
Mr. Wundermann was a man who grabbed onto life with both hands.
At the time that he took over, Corum had a decent number of iconic
watches already in the stable with their golden coin and Admiral’s
Cup, but in truth they had lost a great deal of their relevance not to
mention market share. That was all about to change.
ENTER THE BUBBLE
The first bubble was inspired by a rather unique Rolex diving watch, with an oversized, some might say exaggerated crystal.
Audacious at 45 mm, it was a bit bigger than what was en vogue in
2000, but as was often the case, Severin Wundermann clearly had a
private view into the future. But the Bubble transcended mere size
conventions, it would go on to became a canvas for Severin Wundermann’s creative juices. Bright colors, chronographs, and personal
iconography exploring many themes, including death itself.
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WRISTWATCH | 2016
The Bubble, perhaps more than any other part of the Corum
collection, brought the brand back with a roar, and just as suddenly
as it appeared in 2000, it was gone from the collection. Until 2015.
THE BUBBLE IS BACK
Twenty-fifteen marked the 15th anniversary of the original
Bubble, and it was BaselWorld 2015 that saw its triumphant return.
Three versions made their debut, and they were indeed well-received. But the question on everyone’s lips was – what’s next?
Over the past year, Corum has gone back to the fun and
whimsy with some new versions of the Bubble, including some
artistic interpretations such as the Bubble Sphere2, a nod to the
original with the dial-free Squelette, and even a partnership with
cymbal manufacturer Paiste.