08/28/2017

Admiral AC-One 45 Chronograph Bronze – Corum weighs anchor

It’s definitely been a case of ‘all hands on deck’ this summer at Corum. The firm has been busy preparing a very special item for the autumn – one that’s unique not only in its own collections, but also in watchmaking as a whole: the Admiral AC-One 45 Chronograph Bronze, in patinated bronze.

Unlike other timepieces made with raw bronze, that will age or even deteriorate with time, Corum has pushed the envelope to the limit by developing a fully pre-patinated bronze case. Exclusive to the brand, this treatment gives the piece a more pronounced maritime look, and above all results in a more finely-crafted aspect than raw bronze designs. Each Admiral AC-One 45 Chronograph Bronze is unique in its own way, too: no two patinas give the alloy exactly the same colouration.

“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,” explains Corum CEO Jérôme Biard. “By using this approach, we allow unique colours to emerge in a process akin to pure artistic creation, with each hand-finished watch displaying unique character. The result verges on being a work of Contemporary Art – and that’s right in keeping with the Corum spirit.”

Sea-burnished bronze

Resplendent in the hues revealed in this way, Corum’s Admiral AC-One 45 Chronograph Bronze has been finished in different shades of brown, ranging from chestnut to chocolate. The dial of the piece has been specially designed in matching teak, featuring a vertical cut resembling that of a historic tall ship’s authentic teak deck – a nod to the seafaring pedigree of the Admirals.

Twelve pennants, the traditional hour markers for this collection, are arranged around the dial. Broad, skeletonised hands glide over them, powered by an automatic chronograph caliber boasting a 42-hour power reserve. The watch sits on a leather strap, carefully chosen to match the shades of the 45- millimetre patinated bronze case.

Existing interpretations of bronze are mostly much of a muchness, so we felt it was well worth developing an approach that was more distinctive, more artistic, and more in line with the maritime theme – making it look as though the timepiece had just been recovered after many years on the sea bed. This new composition is the result, exuding singularly imposing character and style, concludes Jérôme Biard.