The Corum Admiral’s Cup Challenger 44 Chrono Rubber (yes, the name is as informative as it is boring) looks like a daring attempt to steal the loyal customer base from the legendary Casio G-Shock series.
My First Reaction:
The Challenger 44 Chrono Rubber looks like the Swiss-based watchmaker wanted to target those affluent kids. You know, those who always wanted themselves a G-Shock, but thought that even the most limited versions weren’t expensive enough to brag about at school. Now, they have a choice of whole five models to choose from (or they can buy them all.)
Well, here I am, ready for another bunch of hate mail. This time, the droplets of organic waste will possibly fly from Corum’s die-hard fans.
There are many watchmakers producing sporty timekeepers packed in rubberized bodies. Ulysse Nardin with its gorgeous Marine Diver Black Sea is one of them, for instance. However, it was Corum that went all the way forward to present a whole collection of rubber watches that put the whole idea to the limit.
The idea behind the Challenger 44 is simple. When you buy an expensive sporty timekeeper, you want to protect it from occasional bumps and scratches. You also want it to look great with your Polo shirt.
For a watchmaker, there are two ways to do it.
The first way is to make it from some high-tech, scratch-resistant material (preferably from forged carbon fiber, but even more ceramic will also do if you are careful enough.)
The other way is to make it from the usual stainless steel or titanium but to cover it with some material that will protect the metal parts from abuse.
The 44mm Case
While DLC treatment looks expensive and cool, it doesn’t ensure one hundred percent protection. So, the obvious choice is to rubberize the body and the bezel. Corum did exactly that.
They took the standard Admiral’s Cup body in titanium, took it apart and subjected the case and the bezel it to whatever industrial process needed to coat it in a thick layer of rubber. All the other parts, like the crown, crown guards, and the chronograph push-pieces were left in the same gunmetal-colored titanium for the versions on red, blue, and black straps.
The Corum Admiral’s Cup Challengers on white wristbands are slightly more interesting because Corum really went to town swapping black and white parts.
Those Colors Though…
However, when you choose the material, it is always important to choose the right colors for the coating. Like, for example, black.
While the Challenger 44 looks like an absolute winner on the distributed set of promotional photos, in real life it doesn’t look that impressive.
Maybe it is the red model that spoils the impression for the whole collection since the models in blue and black still look good, almost classy. The problem here is that there is just too much rubber, too much color: it is on the bezel, on the body, on the strap. Even the oscillating weight of its ETA Valjoux 7753-based CO 753 modified automatic movement is color-keyed to the resin-covered parts!
Together with dull black titanium parts (they look PVD treated), the watch looks not sporty and elegant, but sporty and cheap, like a quartz-powered G-Shock. Also, the use of PVD-treated parts destroys the whole idea of rubberizing the other parts of the watch: it is the titanium crown and the titanium screw-down back that will soon show the first signs of wear.
The ETA 7753-Based Caliber CO 753
The Caliber CO 753 is the same movement that the brand uses in several of their other chronographs, like this 2009 Corum Admiral’s Cup Challenge 44 Black for example.
The main differences between the ETA 7753 and Corum’s versions are purely cosmetic. The mechanism in this model features Corum’s signature finish and has the original oscillating weight replaced with a Corum-branded one. It was also treated with virtually the same shade of gray as the exterior parts.
The base ETA caliber has a reputation of a reliable movement that will probably serve for decades is taken care of properly. That’s why Corum has been using its COSC-certified versions for years.
The Dials and Legibility
The dials are standard for the whole Corum Admiral’s Cup Challenger collection, but their legibility varies quite a bit depending on the chosen color scheme.
The versions in black and blue are predictably the best. The dials are so dark that even the titanium hands and hour markers (they are all treated with Superluminova, by the way) look readable in most lighting scenarios.
The ones in white and red are probably the worst: the contrast is just not enough even in broad daylight. The version in red delivers a double impact here with the date in the tiny calendar aperture being painted red over a black background. Good luck reading that if you are already in your 40s.
Oh, I forgot: it’s a kid’s watch, so no problem here I guess.
WWR Verdict
Originality 4/5
Build Quality: 5/5
Usability: 4.5/5
Overall Legibility: 3/5
Nighttime Legibility: 4/5
Value for Money: 2/5
Overall Rating: 3/5
Photos: Corum
Corum Admiral’s Cup Challenger 44 Chrono Rubber specification
Price: $8150 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber CO753, based on ETA Valjoux 7753 ebauche, 28,800 vph, 27 jewels, COSC-certified chronometer, Swiss Made
Movement decoration: Exclusive Corum finish, colored oscillating weight (matching case)
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
Power reserve: 48 hours
Case and Bezel: Steel, rubberized
Crown: Titanium
Shape: Dodecagonal (twelve-sided)
Size: 44.00 mm
Lug width: 22.00 mm
Case height: 16.00 mm
Dial: Matching case and / or straps
Hour markers: Corum chevrons, luminous
Hands: Faceted, luminous
Water resistance: 30 meters (model with white dial and white body) / 100 meters (all others)
Strap: Black, red, blue or white vulcanized rubber; Triple folding clasp with opening and fastening system using two pushers, steel cover with Corum logo
Crystal: Sapphire, dodecagonal, cambered, antireflective
Back: Screw-down display back in titanium, sapphire crystal