by Boris Pjanic
In March 2016, Corum started an online worldwide competition to find the best customized Bubble designs. The Bubble is, of course, one of Corum’s collection pillars. Its most significant feature is its strongly domed crystal, which magnifies the dial in an original way.
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).
The Customize Your Bubble competition (and you can play without competing) runs until April 6. 2016. The website allows participants to upload any kind of image into the dial space to design a personal Bubble watch.
I like the Bubble because it reminds me in some ways of the early Rolex dive watch called Deep Sea Special, which descended 10,916 meters into the Mariana trench in 1960 with Jacques Piccard.
The original Rolex Deep Sea Special
The crystal on this Rolex was just as domed. Who knows if it served as inspiration for the Bubble – maybe it did?
My Bubble dial inspired by my own art
Once I saw the Customize Your Bubble competition, I uploaded my own Bubble dial design, which came from a painting I had painted a few weeks earlier.
I have painted since I was a small child, but I have never pursued it as a profession. Even though it is just a hobby for me, I have painted a lot and sold quite a few of my paintings along the way. I outfitted an entire hotel in my hometown with my paintings, sold one to a German astronaut, and have just completed a six-month exhibition at a branch of the Deutsche Bank.
Boris Pjanic’s original acrylic painting, which served as the basis for his customized Corum Bubble
The last painting I created is what inspired my Corum Bubble’s dial, which I entered into this competition. With enough votes (you can vote here), my Corum Bubble could become the winner and a production reality.
While working on this last painting, I took photos during the creation process. I photographed small areas of it where the wet acrylic paint colors flowed into each other. However, the final painting does not have the exact same look as the areas I photographed since dried paint (as opposed to wet paint) will ensure it looks different.
Boris Pjanic’s customized Corum Bubble mockup derived from his original acrylic painting
As you can see, the colors are bright and strong, flowing like rivers across the dial. Yes, this is unusual, and for a watch dial maybe a bit crazy, but it is unique, and it is original – and that was what I wanted for this competition. This is my design, my idea, my creativity, and my expression thereof.
You can design your own Bubble at www.customizeyourbubble.com.
Boris Pjanic is an expert in pre-loved timepieces, especially Rolex. You can find more of his watch musings at www.watchesandart.com.
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Hi Boris,
You are right, the Rolex Deep Sea is actually the inspiration for the dome-shaped sapphire crystal of the Bubble. Severin mentioned it in an interview back in 2001.
Nice paintings, by the way!
Antoine
That is super interesting to know, Antoine! Thank you for that information!
Hi Boris,
Congratulations, your paintings look so beautiful!
Nadine
Thank you for all your comments, and that is great to know that the Rolex Deep Sea actually served as inspiration. I am a bit Rolex crazy and have a thing for superdomed crystals as they were used on many vintage Rolex timepieces. Obviously, they were not that strongly domed, however, still they distort the dial in a fascinating manner, which I truly love about these old pieces. I was not aware of the Wunderman interview.
Boris,
I must admit that I am glad to see that the Bubble’s crystals aren’t as superdomed as the Rolex example. Just an opinion. That being said, I can say that if your customization makes its way to production, I will own one. You are obviously an accomplished painter. Thanks for sharing your work.
Dear John,
thank you for your compliment. As far as I was able to follow the end of the voting, I made it to spot number 3, and according to Corum, the top three watches will be produced. If they will be produced as serial timepieces remains unknown. At this point, i am simply waiting to hear from Corum.
I am very happy about being in the top three and view this as confirmation that a piece of original art can find its place in watchmaking as well.
Congratulations, Boris! I love your painting and am very happy to hear of this fantastic outcome!
Well done, Boris. Fingers crossed that we may see your design on a real Bubble.
I made it to spot number 2. 😉
Rather insightful… look frontward to coming back
So the story continues. I received my Bubble and wrote the story about it which will be published here soon. Thank you, Corum.