Skip to main content

The Manual Wind: The New Corum Bubble

Watches, just as any other collectable, can have a cult following.  The more out-there the design, the greater the obsession can grow.  One particular cult classic could be spotted on a wrist from across the room.  The unique design and shape of this piece helped put Corum on the map.

Corum-Bubble-Watch-2015-7
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Bubble won the hearts of most watch collectors in the 2000s, seriously infecting some.  No watch in recent memory, aside from maybe the Hublot Big Bang, has had many themed limited editions.  Collectors scurried to accumulate such pieces like “The Royal Flush” and the “Dive Bomber” with their ornate dials and over-the-top packaging.  When the hysteria died down, so did production.  After a number of years discontinued, a battered Corum brand has made the decision to reinvent its cult icon, the Corum Bubble.

Recommended Videos

The Bubble’s wrist presence is what makes it so unique.  A watch standing almost as tall (nearly 20mm) as is it is wide, this 47mm giant bears a bubble crystal.  This large dome crystal makes this piece the most recognizable piece in the more recent history of watch production.  Keeping things simple for their rerelease, Courm has introduced three variations.  Two of these pieces, the All Black PVD Bubble and the Vintage Bubble in bronze color PVD, are limited to only 350 pieces.  The third introduction is the Skeleton Bubble.  Always my favorite of the Corum Bubbles, this piece is great for displaying a movement through the distortion of the large bubble crystal.

Corum watches
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Considering Corum has been going through some tough times in recent years, the rerelease of the Bubble is a great idea.  There are still many collectors out there that appreciate this unique design and will certainly continue to with the introduction of new models.  With the Skeleton Bubble priced at $8,300, this is certainly for the watch enthusiast looking for a cool new weekender.  The two limited editions are priced more modestly at $3,425.  With their cult following and newly updated design, rest assured Courm feels as if they have already sold all 700 limited edition Bubbles.

Ian Schwam
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Contributing writer and watch enthusiast Ian Schwam dons an expert knowledge of all things watches. Having spent a decade in…
Nomos adds color to Metro line for Ace Jewelers’ 50th
Two new Nomos watches with striking dial colors
Ace x Nomos Glashuette

Dating back to the early ‘90s, German watch brand Nomos Glashutte has dominated the industry with stylish timepieces. It is now collaborating with Ace Jewelers to mark a special milestone in the boutique's journey—its 50th anniversary. The latest additions, the Metro Neomatik and Metro Neomatik 39, are based on the Metro line and are cleverly designed to breathe some life into the collection. Think of it as a splash of color that makes everything look more interesting.

To make the collection more lively, the brand opted for contemporary color shades—orange and yellow. Each model features a subdial above 6 o’clock that’s highlighted by a different shade, which complements the dial. While the orange version has a yellow subdial, the yellow variant comes with an orange sundial, two warm colors that blend perfectly. The Metro line consists of three watch models with white and blue dials—the new orange dials add a touch of spice to the collection.

Read more
Sergio Tacchini taps into its tennis roots for SS25
Channeling the tennis beginnings and the polo origin
Sergio Tacchini Tennis

Athletes who make a mark on their sport almost always go on to create something off the court as well. After they leave a lasting legacy within their respective athletic venture, they look to have the same effect on culture. The most popular example is Michael Jordan and his Air Jordan shoe line. While he is the greatest basketball player of all time (no disrespect to Kobe or LeBron), his shoes have changed the world in so many ways that it's hard to quantify. But before MJ, you had Sergio Tacchini. While he was a legendary tennis star, he made a lasting impact on culture when he launched his self-titled brand. It started on the court and was worn by dozens of tennis legends from the 1970s to the 1990s, but it was also adopted by the British subculture "The Casuals" and hip-hop artists like LL Cool J and Nas. Since then, it went through some hard times before being acquired in 2019 and relaunched. The Sergio Tacchini SS25 drop heads back to its tennis roots, reminding everyone where it came from.

Tennis and the polo

Read more
Zenith unveils chronomaster original triple calendar in rose gold and black
The art of contrast: Rose gold and black redefine zenith's calendar chronograph
Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar white abckground

Zenith introduced a new Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar chronograph model. It has an 18-carat rose gold case and a black dial. This addition comes after the steel model came out earlier in 2024. The new materials and color difference change the appearance of the design.

At 38mm the watch showcases a configuration from El Primero's past. Not many people realize the high-frequency chronograph movement from Zenith had a triple calendar, besides the moon phase. In 1970, the company made 25 prototypes using the A386 case design.

Read more