Celebrating 21st Bubble anniversary, new Bubble 47 X Ray, with black PVD coated steel case (47 mm), black dial with sapphire discs and luminescent skull pattern, automatic movement CO 082, black synthetic and rubber lining strap with fluorescent green stitching. Limited to 88 pieces.
It was during the famed Basel watch exhibition in the year 2000 that Corum first unveiled its now-legendary Bubble watch. With an oversized case and huge domed crystal, the Bubble was the brainchild of the equally legendary Severin Wunderman, then owner of the brand. That first Bubble wowed the world, and the timepiece quickly developed a cult-like following. Now, 21 years after its unveiling, Corum is launching the new Bubble with the new X Ray watch, inspired by early designs.
Among the first Bubble watches to make their debut in 2000, was a watch with a stylized skull on the dial. Wunderman, who had just bought the brand, was also obsessed with life, death and the concept of Dia de Muertos, a celebration where friends and family gather to honor the dead in a festive manner. A self-made success who had been hidden in a school for the blind during the Nazi occupation of Poland, and then at the age of 10 immigrated to Los Angeles in the United States, Wunderman savored the unusual and unconventional. His goal with the Bubble was to disrupt the watch world and make a new statement. Corum was the perfect brand for him to do that with, as it had been a leader in creating extraordinary collections ever since its founding in 1955.
While the aesthetics of The Longines Heritage Classic are faithful to the watches of the 1930s, of which it is a worthy heir, its technical features are resolutely modern. Indeed, this piece houses a latest-generation movement, the L893, a calibre developed exclusively for Longines heritage watches. Equipped with a silicon balance-spring that makes it resistant to the usual magnetic fields, it offers a 5-year guarantee. Another distinguishing feature is the position of its small seconds, shifted downwards in relation to the central axis, in order to come even closer to the design of the historical piece. Or when watchmaking expertise contributes to aesthetics.
When the 44mm Bubble was released, Wunderman said he was inspired by an experimental diving watch from the 1960’s that had an enormous, curved glass. He paired that domed look, which also had some distorting effects, with creative themed dials, and the rest, as they say, is history. Purposely designed to be different, to make a real individualistic statement, the Bubble fast became a new millennium icon, with a variety of intriguing renditions released over the years. They included playful, sometimes mischievous themes that ranged from the Bubble Jolly Roger to Bubble Lucifer, Bats, Nightflyer and more. Intermittently, throughout the past six years, Corum also entered collaborations with various renowned artists for Bubble watches.
Now, to honor both the coming of age of this iconic timepiece, and the dynamic man behind it, Corum releases a limited-edition watch with the same signature elements that made the Bubble famous, but with a contemporary and creative touch. The Bubble X Ray pays tribute to the line’s roots with a highly stylized yet realistic looking skull taking center stage on the dial. While the huge domed sapphire crystal slightly distorts the image, it is fully visible in the dark because it is totally luminescent: disruptive in day and at night. In fact, when the lights go out, the skull glows green for an eerie yet provocative appeal. Bringing the luminescence full circle, Corum adds fluorescent green stitching to the synthetic alligator-like strap that is lined with rubber.
The watch is powered by an automatic movement (CO 082) that beats at 4Hz and offers 42 hours of power reserve. It is crafted in stainless steel with a black PVD treatment over it and boasts a sapphire case back for viewing of the movement. Both the domed front crystal and the back crystal are coated with an anti-reflective treatment. Water resistant to 100 meters, the 47mmm case offers hours, minutes and seconds and is being created in a limited edition of just 88 pieces. Crafted with the same attention to detail and top-notch watchmaking, the Bubble X Ray perfectly embraces the original concept of the Bubble: daring, different, and designed for those who enjoy making their own distinctive statement. The X Ray is the first of several soon-to-come new Bubble watches.
