Corum

Who are Corum?

Corum is a Swiss watchmaker based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, founded in 1955 by Gaston Ries and his nephew René Bannwart (Wikipedia). It is known for the Golden Bridge, a watch built around a long, thin movement, for the Admiral nautical watches and for the Coin Watch, whose dial is cut from a gold coin. This page covers its history, collections and ownership, then what to check when buying a second-hand Corum in the UK.

Corum changed owners three times between 2000 and 2025. Since a management buyout in 2025 it has been Swiss-owned again (Europa Star).

The history of Corum

Corum’s history runs from a family business founded in 1955, through a run of distinctive designs in the 1960s to the 1980s, to ownership by the Severin Wunderman Group, a Hong Kong group and, since 2025, its own management.

The founding. Wikipedia says René Bannwart set up the brand in 1955 after leaving Omega, with his uncle Gaston Ries, and that the name comes from the Latin quorum. Sources differ on the first watches: Wikipedia says they followed in 1956, while Europa Star says Corum’s first timepieces debuted in 1955. Watchonista says Corum has made watches continuously since its founding.

Early designs. The Admiral’s Cup watch arrived in 1960, named after the yacht race first held in 1957; the original was square, and later versions have a twelve-sided case (Wikipedia). The Coin Watch followed in 1964, with a dial made from a US $20 Double Eagle gold coin (Watchonista; Wikipedia), and the Romulus in 1966 (Wikipedia). Wikipedia also lists the square Buckingham dress watch of the 1960s, feather-dial watches in 1970 and a Rolls-Royce model in 1976.

The Golden Bridge. Phillips says self-taught watchmaker Vincent Calabrese presented a patented, 45-component linear movement at the 1977 Geneva International Inventors’ Show and won a prize. Bannwart bought the patent, and the watch was unveiled as the Golden Bridge at the 1980 Basel Fair, becoming Corum’s flagship line (Phillips). Watchonista says an articulated Admiral bracelet followed in 1983, and the Golden Book, which opens like a book, in 1996.

Wunderman. In January 2000 the Severin Wunderman Group acquired Corum (Wikipedia). Wikipedia says Wunderman created the Bubble, a watch with a large domed crystal, made from the early 2000s and reintroduced in 2015. After Severin Wunderman died in 2008, Michael Wunderman took over (Wikipedia).

Citychamp. In 2013 Michael Wunderman sold the company to Hong Kong-based China Haidian Holdings, renamed Citychamp Watch & Jewellery a year later (Wikipedia). Europa Star says Citychamp, which is listed in Hong Kong, owned Corum from 2013 and still runs other Swiss brands, including Eterna; Monochrome Watches confirms that Eterna stayed in Citychamp’s portfolio after the Corum sale (Monochrome Watches).

The buyout. In 2025, Corum’s 70th year, a management buyout led by Haso Mehmedovic returned the company to Swiss ownership (Europa Star; Tatler Asia, 30 April 2025; Monochrome Watches). Swisswatches Magazine says the transition with Citychamp covered assets, patents, intellectual property and archives. In 2026 Corum showed at Watches and Wonders Geneva for the first time, with a new Admiral range, new Golden Bridge references and a Heritage line (Watchonista). Another watchmaker with a similar unconventional streak from the same era is Piaget, and for nautical-themed watches at a comparable price point see our page on Ulysse Nardin.

What is Corum known for?

Corum is known for unusual shapes and dials: the linear Golden Bridge movement, the twelve-sided Admiral, the Coin Watch and, in the 2000s, the Bubble.

The Golden Bridge. Its parts are arranged in a line along the length of the watch rather than in a circle, inside a transparent case, so the bridge appears to float (Phillips; Tatler Asia). Watchonista says current versions come in automatic and hand-wound form, the automatic with a linear oscillating weight.

The Admiral. The name comes from the Admiral’s Cup yacht race, and the pennant hour markers match maritime signal flags numbered 1 to 12 (Watchonista). The 2026 range has a new case by Emmanuel Gueit and an automatic calibre developed with Concepto Watch Factory, with a 72-hour power reserve (Watchonista).

The Coin Watch. The original of 1964 used a US $20 Double Eagle gold coin as its dial; the 2026 version is based on a US $50 gold coin (Watchonista).

Movements. Corum uses both its own designs, such as the Golden Bridge, and movements developed with outside specialists, such as the 2026 Admiral calibre (Watchonista). Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains the difference.

Which Corum collections are there?

Since its 2026 relaunch, Corum’s range is grouped into Admiral, Golden Bridge and Heritage (Watchonista).

The collections table on this page gives a line on each. A few points help when you read listings:

• Old and new Admiral. The 2026 Admiral references replaced the whole previous Admiral collection (Watchonista). Earlier Admiral’s Cup and Admiral watches use different cases and movements, so read the reference, not just the name.
• Golden Bridge versions. Golden Bridge watches have been made since 1980, in gold, platinum, titanium and sapphire cases (Wikipedia; Watchonista). Ask whether the movement is automatic or hand-wound.
• Discontinued lines. Many second-hand Corums come from lines that are not in the current range, such as the Bubble, Romulus and Buckingham (Wikipedia).

Who owns Corum?

Corum has been Swiss-owned since a management buyout in 2025, led by Haso Mehmedovic with “a small group of experienced Swiss investors from the luxury and finance sectors” (Europa Star). Mehmedovic joined Corum as a watchmaker in 2011, became international sales director, and is now chief executive and chairman (Europa Star). The investors are not named.

Before the buyout, Corum belonged to the Hong Kong-listed Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group from 2013, and before that to the Severin Wunderman Group from 2000 (Europa Star; Wikipedia).

Buying a Corum watch second-hand in the UK: what to check

Check which generation and movement the watch is, the papers, servicing and the warranty, then run a stolen-watch check.

1. Papers and the full set. Ask for the warranty card and box and check the serial number against the case. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves.

2. Which generation. With so many owners and ranges, the same name can cover very different watches. Check the reference, case and movement against the seller’s description, especially for an Admiral made before 2026.

3. Golden Bridge and Coin Watch. A Golden Bridge movement is visible from every side, so look for marks on the bridge and plates. On a Coin Watch, check the coin dial for scratches and polishing, which cannot be undone. Our guide to condition grades explains how sellers describe wear.

4. Servicing. Ask when the watch was last serviced, by whom, and for the paperwork. A linear movement needs a watchmaker who has worked on one. Our guide on how to care for a mechanical watch covers what a service involves.

5. Warranty. Corum’s website refused automated access when we checked. See watch warranties explained.

6. Authenticity and theft. Buy from a seller who will put authenticity in writing and accept returns. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers what a watchmaker looks at, and our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers to search before you pay.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch.

Frequently asked questions

Who owns Corum?

Corum has been Swiss-owned since a 2025 management buyout led by its chief executive, Haso Mehmedovic, with Swiss investors (Europa Star).

Is Corum still owned by Citychamp?

No. Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group owned Corum from 2013 until the 2025 buyout (Europa Star).

When was Corum founded?

In 1955, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, by Gaston Ries and René Bannwart (Wikipedia).

Where does the name Corum come from?

From the Latin quorum, which René Bannwart simplified to Corum (Wikipedia).

What is the Corum Golden Bridge?

A watch built around a linear baguette movement, invented by Vincent Calabrese and unveiled by Corum at the 1980 Basel Fair (Phillips).

What is the Corum Coin Watch?

A watch whose dial is made from a gold coin. The 1964 original used a US $20 Double Eagle (Watchonista).

Why does the Corum Admiral have flags on the dial?

The Admiral is named after the Admiral’s Cup yacht race, and its hour markers are maritime signal flags numbered 1 to 12 (Watchonista).

Does Corum still make the Bubble?

The Bubble is not part of the 2026 range of Admiral, Golden Bridge and Heritage (Watchonista). Wikipedia says it was made from the early 2000s and reintroduced in 2015.

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Corum.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.