Corum Admiral’s Cup Minute Repeater Tourbillon 45

The Corum Admiral’s Cup Minute Repeater Tourbillon 45 50th Anniversary edition successfully packs a tourbillon escapement and a minute repeater complications in a 45 mm 18-carat red gold case without making it look like a Big Mac on your wrist.

Okay, at 45 mm in diameter (without the crown and lugs) and, at first glance, more than 15 mm in height, the watch is huge. However, with its hand-wound Corum CO 010 caliber measuring only 32 mm in diameter and 5.35 in height, it seems that one of the most attractive models in Corum’s whole range of men’s watches is actually huge by choice like a professional body builder or a USMC sergeant.

Also, designers of the Swiss watchmaking brand somehow managed to make the watch well-proportioned so that it looks quite home on a normal wrist.

As you can see, the CO 010 movement is extensively skeletonized and is completely visible not only through the transparent case-back cover, but also from the front: the watch sports a third, smoked sapphire crystal that acts as the timekeeper’s dial.

Of course, there is a cut-out in it in order to provide a completely unobstructed view at its nicely executed tourbillon module.

However, what is really interesting about this watch, it is its minute repeater winding mechanism.

In order to protect the movement from occasional damage, Corum’s engineers decided to hide winding crown of the complication module inside the rotating bezel of the watch. In order to wind the mechanism’s spring, you will have to turn the bezel 27 degrees clockwise.

Of course, there is price: the watch’s depth rating is now limited at humble 30 meters, which is not really impressive for a nautical-themed timepiece.

According to the company, the Corum Admiral’s Cup Minute Repeater Tourbillon 45 total production will be limited at only 10 units for the whole year 2010.

Now, try to guess its price.

Photos: Corum

Corum Admiral’s Cup Minute Repeater Tourbillon 45 watch specification

Price range: $360,000
Movement: CO 010, hand-wound, in-house, 319 parts, 29 jewels, 21,600 vph, 32.0 mm in diameter, 5.35 mm thick
Complications: Tourbillon, minute repeater
Power reserve: 72 hours
Case material: Red gold, 18 carat
Case shape: Dodecahedral
Case size: 45 mm
Case height: N/A
Dial: Sapphire crystal with grey PVD coating, tourbillon cage at 5 o’clock
Hands: Red gold
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Black crocodile leather (22/20 mm)
Crystal: Sapphire