Corum Watches

Corum: Wild Dials, Golden Bridges, and Horology with a Wink

Some brands chase heritage.
Some chase precision.
Corum? Corum chases ideas.

This is the brand that put a $20 coin on your wrist, made the dial disappear, and said, “What if we made a skeleton tourbillon shaped like a bridge?”

Corum doesn’t play it safe — and that’s what makes them fascinating. They’re not for everyone. But if you like your watches with a little edge, a little weird, and a lot of personality, Corum might be your spirit animal.

Brand History: Founded on Audacity

Started in 1955 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Corum was built from the jump to stand out. While most Swiss brands were refining the same handful of silhouettes, Corum leaned into bold design, visible mechanics, and horological showmanship.

Their breakout hit? The Coin Watch — launched in 1964, it literally encased a U.S. $20 gold Double Eagle coin around a movement. Subtle? Not even a little. Iconic? Absolutely.

From there, they doubled down on weird and wonderful:

  • Transparent dials

  • Vertical bridges

  • Bubble crystals

  • Racing flags

Every decade brought something different — and while not all of it aged well, the best pieces still turn heads for all the right reasons.

Collector Highlights: The Hits, the Icons, and the Deep Cuts

  • Corum Coin Watch – The original flex for heads of state, CEOs, and anyone who wanted to wear monetary policy on their wrist. Still a conversation starter.

  • Golden Bridge – Vertical, baguette movement suspended between sapphire crystals. More sculpture than timepiece. Still one of the coolest mechanical executions in modern watchmaking.

  • Bubble – Massive domed crystal, wild dials (skulls, dice, eyes, roulette wheels), and unapologetic wrist presence. Pure fun.

  • Admiral’s Cup – Nautical-themed, 12-sided case, and nautical flag hour markers. A cornerstone of the collection for decades — equal parts quirky and sporty.

  • Romvlvs – Roman numerals engraved on the bezel instead of the dial. A subtle design trick that still feels fresh.

Whether you like bling, bizarre architecture, or bravely non-round watches, Corum has done it — and probably did it first.

Why Collectors Should Care

  • Design-first ethos — you buy a Corum because you want something different.

  • Mechanical credibility — especially the Golden Bridge, which remains a technical and aesthetic masterpiece.

  • Pre-owned value — you can score some serious watchmaking for a fraction of retail.

  • Conversation pieces — nobody looks at a Corum and shrugs. These watches get noticed.

  • Horological creativity — this brand has consistently pushed the boundary between art and mechanics.

Is it for everyone? Definitely not. But that’s why it works.

What They’re Making Now: Modern Quirk, Refined Just Enough

Today’s Corum lineup stays true to its roots — bold design, high-end craft, and a touch of absurdity:

  • Golden Bridge Automatic – Adds practicality to the signature vertical movement. Clear case, visible architecture, no fluff.

  • Bubble X & Bubble 47 – Modern spins on the original Bubble, now in bronze, titanium, or ceramic. Still oversized. Still wild.

  • Admiral 42 / 45 – Slimmer, modern takes on the sailing icon. Cleaned up, but still nautical.

  • Heritage Coin Watches – They’re still doing them — including editions with Bitcoin and other crypto coinage (because of course they are).

The aesthetic isn’t for everyone — but that’s kind of the point. Corum isn’t trying to be Patek. They’re trying to be Corum.

Fed’s Take

I’ll be honest: Corum is chaos — in the best way possible.

You’re not buying it for resale. You’re not buying it for understated elegance. You’re buying it because it makes you smile.

I’ve handled some Golden Bridges that were legitimately breathtaking. I’ve also flipped Bubble watches that were ridiculous and fantastic all at once. And the Coin Watch? Still cool. Still a flex. Still a weird piece of Americana-meets-watchmaking history.

Bottom line? If your collection feels too safe, too sober, too “I bought this to impress strangers”… Corum might be exactly what you need to shake things up.

Embrace the Weird

If you want something that sparks joy, starts conversations, and reminds you that watches can still be fun — look no further.

Delray Watch has a rotating selection of pre-owned Corum watches — pieces you won’t find sitting in mall boutiques or flexing on billboards.

To be the first to know when new Corum watches are available subscribe for insider access here