I didn’t know what to make of this intriguing Corum Admiral Cup Seafender watch when they showed it to me recently. Part of their higher, higher-end collection of high complication watches, this piece had a number of elements that are thought provoking. At 47mm wide, this watch comes in a few varieties, seen here in aluminum. There will also be a 18k red gold version. Unlike naked aluminum that is prone to degradation overtime, this one is done in an “electroplasma treatment,” that I believe protects it and gives it that matte black finish.
Aluminum watches aren’t as strong as titanium, but are often lighter. F.P. Journe recently auctioned off the first of his new sport collection in aluminum, and the piece went for almost half a million dollars. At 47mm wide, the watch is large but very light and sits comfortably on the wrist. The shiny black alligator strap looks particularly nice and glossy against the matte finish of the case.
The movement is also quite interesting, and sometimes I think that the back of the watch is more impressive that the front of it. The movement is done in a series of black tones with a pleasant modern design. The large sized Corum caliber CO397 automatic movement is made to full most of the case and looks impressive through the sapphire caseback display. I particularly like the black perlage polish around the periphery of it next to all the matte surfaces. The movement has a large tourbillon (with Corum’s signature key style cage) that is visible through the dial of the watch and goes right through the entire case.
In addition to the tourbillon, the other major feature of the movement is the second time zone function. An easy to press pusher at 4 o’clock adjusts the second time zone that is show on subsidiary dial in a 12 hour format. As such, there is also a day/night (AM/PM) indicator for the second time zone near it on the dial.
The Corum Admiral’s Cup Seafender 47 Tourbillon GMT really looks like it has a lot of dial real estate, this is due to all the space between the asymmetrically arranged dials and information on the main dial. The face itself is textured to give it a more high-end feel. The face also has a date dial.
It is big and it goes down pretty deep. It is also the first real diver’s watch from Corum that I can think of (aside from a few dive style Corum Bubble watches). This is the new for 2010 Admiral’s Cup Deep Hull 48 watch from Corum, and it is rather interesting, though I have some thoughts on it overall. The Admiral’s Cup line has been very good to the brand, and over the last few years Corum has been refining it a lot. More models, lots of variety, and a furtherance of making them look more manly as opposed to colorful (which was the classic look with all the colored flags). Today’s Admiral’s Cup watches share very little in common with the originals. Here, the flags are barely still there in monochromatic glory. The real standout features of an Admiral’s Cup watch is its 12 sided case and bezel.
The Corum admiral cup Deep Hull 48 is in a 48mm wide titanium case, and is actually weighty for titanium. It is after all, a large watch. The case comes in either brushed titanium or in PVD black coated titanium. Both are limited editions, and I think there is a reason for that. In fact, Corum releases very few Admiral’s Cup watches that aren’t limited editions. I think it is because many of them are highly niche targeted or experiments. I would suggest that the Deep Hull is an experiment. Corum is testing the design, and I think they want to make a serious case for a Corum dive watch.
Functionally the Deep Hull is a very serious diver. 1000 meters of water resistance. Automatic helium escape valve. Lots of lume, rotating diver’s bezel, rubber strap… and of course… cool name. Design wise I like the case, but I feel as though it is missing something. As though after I look it over I am left wondering, “is that it?” As though I want it to have just one more trick up its sleeve.
Maybe my problem is with the dial. It just feels too much like other subsidiary second day/date Corum Admiral’s Cup watches. Just with a bit more lume. Could Corum has done a bit more? Perhaps. Maybe something more original and dive watch in style. Look at the Chanel J12 Marine, that watch feels oceany and marine in theme. This just feels like “big Tony’s big Corum watch with sharp angles.” I want to like the Deep Hull more than I do, I love the concept, I love dive watches, but I think Corum needs to spend more time on the dial. Inside the watch is a Swiss automatic COSC Chronometer certified movement, with a subsidiary seconds hand, and a day/date complication. I have a feeling that the movement started it’s like as a modified Valjoux 7750. Corum calls the movement their calibre CO947
Again, the case, caseback, crown, strap, buckle, and other external features of the watch are great. Even the super thick 12-sided sapphire crystal over the dial is cool. Then again, the dial itself isn’t bad or anything, I just feel a desire for a bit more, and I know that Corum can give it to me. The Deep Hull 48 isn’t a bad watch, or a bad buy, but I feel that given Corum’s new found effort on design and polish, they can do a bit better. Any I have no doubt that they will. With just 500 pieces in titanium, and 255 pieces in black titanium, this limited edition set will set the stage for better and more beautiful Corum dive watches to come in the near future.
