Why I Bought It: The Corum Bubble Vintage
by Ian Skellern
While I have quite selective personal tastes in wristwatches, I do not consider myself a “watch snob” because I appreciate a wide variety of watches from a wide variety of brands for a wide variety of reasons.
That said, though, when it comes to watches for myself − i.e., watches that I would actually consider spending my hard-earned cash on rather than simply pontificating about on a purely intellectual basis − I have a fairly narrow frame of reference: independents, in-house movements, superlative hand-finishing.
So, basically my personal preferences tend toward watches that I generally cannot afford.
And I’m fine with that. Liking high-end watches and living near Geneva is as much of a hardship as liking art and living beside the Louvre in Paris.
But if my criteria for a watch for myself is something with an in-house movement and superlative hand-finishing from an independent watchmaker, why on earth am I sitting here typing about this watch from a big (for me) brand that is outfitted with an ETA 2892 movement with an industrial finish?
The 2015 Corum Bubble collection (left to right): Bubble Vintage, Bubble All Black, and Bubble (open dial)
Why on earth did I buy a new Corum Bubble?
The background was a meeting my Quill & Pad partner Elizabeth Doerr and I had with Corum at Baselworld 2015. It was a meeting like seemingly hundreds of others where the brand presents the latest collection, and we try and get as much information and as many photos as possible. I’m usually so focused on taking photos as quickly as I can that I often don’t even notice what I’m shooting.
But in this particular meeting I found my gaze attracted by the watch on the wrist of our host, Corum’s then-acting CEO, Jacques-Alain Vuille. I tried to concentrate on my work, but couldn’t stop glancing at his wrist and thinking how good the watch looked.
Then I heard the size: 47 mm! I thought that was great news because it meant that it would certainly be too big to sit comfortably on matchstick wrists like mine.
Unfortunately, I then tried it on. And the strap fell nicely down from the lugs, and the Bubble sat very securely and comfortably on my wrist.
Corum Bubble Vintage
By this time I was looking for reasons not to buy and was having trouble understanding why that was so difficult.
Then I had a brainwave: water resistance. If (and that still appeared to be a crazy if) I did buy a Bubble, then it would be a fun holiday watch . . . so it would have to be water resistant.
Ideally, for that purpose I would want a water resistance of 100 meters and thought that the Bubble was unlikely to have more 50 meters. So I asked and was told that the water resistance was 50 meters. And thought great, now to move on from this fleeting obsession and get back to work.
Corum Bubble Vintage
But then I looked carefully at the back of the Bubble and saw “Water resistance 100M.” And learned that was, in fact, correct.
And then I surprised myself by saying: I want to buy one. And I did.
In early September I went up to Corum in La Chaux-de-Fonds to pick my new Bubble Vintage up.
Corum Bubble Vintage
Why I bought it
So why did I buy a Corum Bubble in general and this specific model, Vintage (bronze color), in particular?
- It really struck me visually how good the Bubble looked on somebody else’s wrist. And while how a watch looks on somebody else’s wrist is likely to be as informative as choosing a dress that looks good on a supermodel, it’s a powerful image.
- For a large watch, and at 47 mm in diameter by 19 mm high the Bubble is a very large watch, it sits very comfortably and securely on the wrist. My wrists are so small I needed the short strap and it still fits nicely. I put that down to the lugs bending down to wrap around the wrist.
- It’s funky. I had no idea that I was a fan of 1970s funk, but I am with this Bubble. And it’s not just the shape of the case and that enormous bubble crystal that scream FUNK. The shape of the hands and numerals are just perfect for the setting.
- I liked the brown Vintage Bubble from the get-go as I thought the color perfectly suited the funky ’70s vibe. The black version looked a bit too contemporary for me and the skeleton dial didn’t pop (because there is no dial).
- The Bubble is practical. And by that I don’t mean versatile and ready for work or play (I can’t see it fitting under many cuffs), but that automatic winding, 100-meter water resistance, and a screw-in crown make for a watch that you can wear and forget (although you can only really “forget” if you look the other way).
Corum Bubble Vintage
Is it for you?
- A Bubble might be for you if you feel the same instant attraction for the look. I suspect that it is quite a polarizing watch that you either love or think, “That’s plain crazy!”
- How often do you need to read the time? With those big Super-LumiNova-filled hands and numerals that are further magnified by an integrated lens in the crystal, the Bubble is a very legible watch. But it’s only legible when you are looking perpendicular, meaning straight down, at the dial. From any other angle the dial is completely invisible and the time unreadable as it is too distorted by the Bubble’s bubble.
- Do you need a date? Can you live with the date? The biggest, and perhaps only, faux pas I can think of in the design of the Bubble is keeping that date. It’s proof positive that just because you can use something doesn’t mean you should. The minuscule date hidden deep in the numeral 6 is completely unreadable unless with a loupe, and just looks like a flaw in the dial.
- The unlimited skeleton Bubble is considerably cheaper than the All Black and Vintage (brown), but the open dial reduces legibility. However, as you can only read the time if deliberately looking straight down at the dial, then that may not be an issue.
Corum Bubble Vintage
I’ve been wearing my Bubble for a few weeks now − including while on holiday − and am still smiling. It’s a large watch and it did take a few days before I was comfortable with the size and weight, but that soon passed.
Corum Bubble Vintage
The Bubble collection in 2015 consists of two limited editions of 350 pieces each, the Bubble Vintage and Bubble All Black, as well as an unlimited model with open dial.
If you missed it, please check out The Corum Bubble Is Back!
For more information, please visit www.corum.ch.
Quick Facts Corum Bubble
Case: PVD-coated bronze-colored stainless steel (Bubble Vintage), PVD-coated black stainless steel (Bubble All Black), stainless steel, 47 x 18.8 mm, high domed sapphire crystal 8 mm in height
Movement: automatic Caliber CO 0082 (ETA 2892), which is machine-skeletonized in the collection edition
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; date
Limitation: 350 pieces each in PVD-coated bronze-colored stainless steel and PVD-coated black stainless steel, unlimited in the skeletonized non-treated steel edition
Price: $3,425 for the limited edition Vintage and All Black models; $8,300 for the steel open dial model
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
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[…] versucht… In diesem Blogartikel stellt sich Ian Skellern von Quill and Pad folgende Frage: Why on earth did I buy a new Corum Bubble? Ich musste bei diesem Artikel mehrfach […]
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[…] You might also enjoy: My Unique Corum Bubble From The “Customize Your Bubble Competition” Delivered Why I Bought It: The Corum Bubble Vintage […]
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[…] The Bubble was introduced to the world of watches in the year 2000 by Corum’s then-owner and chief designer Severin Wunderman. It eventually came in three different sizes – small, medium and large – successfully running until the end of the decade. After a five-year sabbatical, the Bubble was reintroduced in 2015 (see The Corum Bubble Is Back! and Why I Bought It: The Corum Bubble Vintage). […]
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It’s a crazy watch, but it’s not for me, but I like it, no I hate it, wait I love it, aaaargh!
That’s something like the mental gymnastics I went through Ryan. Not only was i not sure if I liked the Bubble, but I also didn’t understand why I liked it.
That is a really really ugly watch. I wouldn’t have one if they were giving them away for free.
It certainly isn’t a “traditional” watch, Charles. I suspect your tastes, like that of most people, run to the more conservative end of the design spectrum.
I have a Corum Bubble & I love it. It is the perfect size for my wrist & is very comfortable. It attracts a lot of attention & you can get a good deal on a used one. I’ve never understood why people want to spend a bunch of money on a watch that looks like everyone else’s. However, not everyone has Corum & Romain Jerome taste.
At a time I hadn’t heard of Panerai many years ago, I picked up the buzz from others around that made me curious to check out these watches. They didn’t look that special to me in print or online but a little time later I tried one on my wrist… I couldn’t stop thinking about these watches afterwards. The comfort was incredible and the design features really popped. Today I have several but it goes to show that some timepieces must be experienced on the wrist before you can really judge whether you like them or not. I like this Bubble but have yet to experience it… One day I’ll remember this comment when I see one and try it on. Congrats with your purchase!
I bought one too and love it!
Hey I am considering buying this watch.However, I have not witnessed it in person and am a little concerned whether it would fit me or not. I have thin wrist that measure 6.5 inches. Would you be kind enough to tell me how this fit your wrist and how it would do on a 6.5 inch wrist. Thanks in advance.
I have a corum bubble skeleton but that analogue adjuster is coming out and that analogue is not moving clockwise for adjustment but it’s moving back
And the watch is not working
I bought a used one for $550. I love it.
Ugly watches, they are like a rich’s Invicta, suitable for hip-hop stars and etcetera. Worst, now Chinese owned and loved by them, so zero class!…
I am totally bemuse by this ignorance. In the past when those Chinese were eating their meals in proper with a porcelain bowls in style, at the same period of time those medieval folks on the other side of the globe were licking off their food on a makeshift “bowl” called Trencher which is actually a stale bread.