ReviewAn In-Depth Review Of The Corum Admiral’s Cup Bronze—The ‘Wooden’ Watch

There is something special about bronze as an alloy and it’s lovely when watchmakers use it in watches. Not many can make watches with bronze though, as bronze is not an easy material to work with. Bronze watches are like works of art—individualistic—as the alloy lends itself to natural discolouration, allowing the wearer to enjoy an almost exclusive piece.

Brands That Bronze It Up

There are great brands such as Panerai, Zenith, Tudor, and others, who have been enthralling watch collectors over the years with their exclusive timepieces crafted in bronze. Such is the demand among collectors that sometimes these watches are sold at a premium. The latest to join the party is Corum with its newly launched Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Chronograph Bronze—a unique, vintage-styled timepiece in pre-patinated bronze.

The Flagship Admiral’s Cup

Located at the centre of Swiss fine watchmaking, in the sleepy town of La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Jura mountains, a few kilometres from the French border, Corum in its short but cherished history, since 1955, has given the watch industry path-breaking models such as the Golden Bridge and Bubble, but the mainstay of the brand, since 1960, has been the Admiral’s Cup line, with its many strong and identifiable characters. Launched initially in a square case, Admiral’s Cup has beautifully evolved as a bestseller in a dodecagonal or 12-sided case. Continuing its series of watches in natural teak wood dials, the new AC-One 45 adds the element of a case in bronze.

Bronze For The Ages

The bronze used in this watch, however, is a bit different when compared with other brands. Instead of using raw bronze, which ages and develops a unique patina over time, Corum has developed a fully pre-patinated bronze case using an exclusive treatment resulting in a more aged, yet assertive look.

Corum has developed a fully pre-patinated bronze case using an exclusive treatment resulting in a more aged, yet assertive look

Jérôme Biard, the CEO of Corum, explains, “A natural patina builds up over time. Our idea was to apply the same principle, halting the process before the alloy actually begins to corrode.” He adds, “By using this approach, we allow unique colours to emerge in a process akin to pure artistic creation, with each hand-finished watch displaying a unique character in keeping with the Corum spirit.”

On-Board The Corum Bronze

If you have a strong liking for brown, you are bound to fall in love with the Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Chronograph Bronze. The bronze casing sets off the burnished brown of the teak wood dial quite explicitly, while the colours of the sailing pennants mark the indexes. A pair of broad skeletonised hands make the watch stand out with its ‘high seas’ look—perfect for the man for the seas. The surface of the dial reveals a vertical cut reminiscent of a classic ship’s authentic teak deck—extremely symbolic of the Admiral’s Cup collection.

An absolute stunner in brown and bronze, the Admiral AC-One 45 Chronograph from Corum not only looks different from the rest, but also proudly flies the nautical character of the brand in its inimitable style

₹13,23,000

Check Our Selling Price

The AC-One 45 Chronograph, when strapped to your wrist, looks unlike anything else in the market

₹13,23,000

Check Our Selling Price

The Corum AC-One 45 Bronze has a high-frequency chronograph movement with a marine soul, and an antique look that is bound to attract eyeballs

₹13,23,000

Check Our Selling Price

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Deconstructing The Dial

An absolute stunner in brown and bronze, the Admiral AC-One 45 Chronograph from Corum not only looks different from the rest, but also proudly flies the nautical character of the brand in its inimitable style. Powered by the CO-116 automatic movement, this watch is water resistant to 300m and the dial is set off by the Dauphine open-worked, rhodium-plated hands with SuperLuminova for visibility in low-light conditions.

The watch comes in a typical Admiral’s Cup size of 45mm. The double antireflective sapphire crystal glass and sapphire crystal caseback add to the aesthetics as well as unhindered visibility in bright light. The thickness of the case stands at 14.3mm.

The exotic look and feel of the timepiece is completed by the brown calfskin Mad Max strap

The CO-116 calibre is a high-frequency Corum movement beating at 28,800vph. The watch sports a chronograph and a offers a power reserve of 42 hours. The 39 jewels that the watch uses just add to the efficiency of the watch, promising a long, repair-free existence. The exotic look and feel of the timepiece is completed by the brown calfskin Mad Max strap that is fitted with a triple-blade folding clasp.

The exhibition sapphire caseback lets the enthusiast to enjoy the intricate workings of the CO-116 calibre

To conclude, the Corum AC-One 45 Bronze has a high-frequency chronograph movement with a marine soul, and an antique look that is bound to stand out. And if you enjoy a rich look, with wooden hues, then look no further. This aged bronze watch with its teak wood dial is exactly what you need.

The Corum Admiral’s Cup AC-One 45 Bronze is available exclusively at Ethos Watch Boutiques.