In honour of its golden jubilee in 2022, Cortina Watch will launch a series of limited-edition commemorative watches in collaboration with some of the industry’s most esteemed watchmakers. This October, Corum presents the Admiral 45 Tourbillon, a 45mm timepiece specially created for Cortina Watch’s 50th Anniversary.

Limited to 10-pieces globally, no two pieces of the emblematic dodecagonal-shaped Admiral case in this collection are the same due to the random results of combining fluctuating layers of carbon composite with 18K gold inclusions. Each watch is therefore unique, and the use of cutting-edge material further enhances the already striking gold elements, the purity of the stark black sunray-finished dial, and the impressive tourbillon.

An innovator that constantly pushes boundaries in terms of technical knowledge, design and the use of new materials, Corum has been revered as a vanguard in the world of watchmaking since 1955. From the well-known Chinese Hat watch in 1958, the Coin Watch in 1964 that featured an ultra-thin movement set in an actual American Double Eagle coin, the iconic Golden Bridge watch in 1980 and the Bubble watch in 2000, Corum has always put creativity and nonconformity at the heart of its designs.

The partnership between Cortina Watch and Corum began in the 1980s, when the independent Swiss watchmaker’s creations were being retailed at the Cortina Watch boutique at Lucky Plaza. Jeremy Lim, CEO of Cortina Watch, says, “In 1992, Cortina Watch and Corum first got together to launch a special edition timepiece to celebrate our 20th anniversary, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be able to collaborate again for our golden jubilee. This extraordinary creation is a wonderful testament to our treasured relationship, which has withstood the test of time.”

“The design of the Admiral 45 Tourbillon came about from Corum’s strive towards being true to its company motto, which is being an avant-gardist brand, while remaining true to its roots. There’s an interesting contrast between the rather timeless dial and the very modern case design, and overall, the watch and its elements are significative of what Corum and Cortina Watch are – leaders who have both established themselves as being at the pinnacles of the watch industry,” says Soon Boon Chong, Vice President of Corum.

Admiral 45 Tourbillon Cortina Watch 50th Anniversary Special Edition

The dark carbon case infused with 18K gold inclusions evokes the wonder and mystery of the starry sky over the horizon – a magical sight to behold while sailing at night. Creating a watch case like this one is a testament to Corum’s commitment to innovation and constantly stepping up their game. To ensure that the gold inclusions are evenly dispersed throughout the carbon composite, the brand had to develop and construct a unique tool specifically for the case’s construction. Carbon is incredibly light yet durable, therefore the choice of material for the big casing increases wearers’ degree of comfort. This revolutionary fusion material is proprietary to Corum, making it currently the only watch brand to use it in its creations.

The watch also features a sunray-finished anthracite dial with an aperture at 6 o’clock for the tourbillon. Not commonly seen on Corum watches, the sunray-finished dial has a subtle iridescence that radiates a magnetic aura. This Admiral 45 Tourbillon Cortina Watch 50th Anniversary Special Edition is especially noteworthy due to its closed dial, which is unusual for Corum as their tourbillon watches often have openworked dials. The unmistakable ‘upright key’ emblem of Corum, which alludes to the tenacity and grit needed for the mastery of horology and watchmaking, has been hand-applied to add dimension and finesse to the overall look.