Corum Admirals Cup Vintage

With its brazenly unconventional forms, materials and elements, Corum epitomizes the modern craft of Swiss watchmaking. From its beginning, Corum has made meticulous watches with hand-engraved details and the most exquisite materials, like gold, diamonds and other precious stones. Corum has never shied away from avant-garde designs and techniques, even incorporating bird feathers into its contemporary pieces.

Corum was established in 1955 by watchmaker Gaston Ries and his nephew René Bannwart in the Swiss city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, just a few miles south of France. The company soon adopted an adventurous spirit of exploration, helping to redefine the modern hand-crafted watch. 

The company introduced its first original series in 1958. Its design emulated the pattern of a conical bamboo hat, common across Southeast Asia. From there, Corum released an eye-catching new watch series every few years and continued to produce its classic models in limited releases. 

In 2000, Belgian watchmaker and entrepreneur Severin Wunderman acquired Corum. Wunderman was the exclusive designer and manufacturer of Gucci watches for 25 years and brought supreme skill and aesthetic flair to Corum, leading it into a new era of innovative design.

Wundermann died in 2008. In 2013, China Haidian Holdings Limited Group purchased Corum. The holding company later renamed itself Citychamp Watch & Jewelry Group, but the Corum brand remains, continuing to create timepieces of breathtaking elegance.

On 1stDibs, explore watches, bracelets and more by Corum.

Antique, new and vintage wristwatches have captured the hearts and minds of all manner of watch collectors as well as the watchmakers themselves — it's time you found your own.

Certain vintage watches for men and iconic watch designs for women are sought after not only because of their graceful proportions or innovative materials but also because of the illustrious histories of the houses that created them, histories that they stylishly embody.

Bulgari’s legendary Serpenti watch was on everyone’s list after the collection’s bold bracelet, which technically debuted after the timepiece, graced the wrist of actress Elizabeth Taylor. If anything, elaborately crafted timepieces — the unmistakably boxy silhouette of Cartier Tank watches, the elegant and minimal Calatrava designed by legendary Swiss house Patek Philippe — are even more effective than the shape we associate with traditional wristwatches.

Form watches — the all-encompassing moniker bestowed upon non-round watches — are making headlines and completing contemporary fashionable ensembles the world over. At the same time, both casual fans and careful collectors are drawn to the unbeatable charm of vintage styles, such as the icons designed by Omega that even James Bond can’t resist.

In the early days of watchmaking, watches were fragile enough that they necessitated protection from the elements. Now, wristwatches made of gold and steel can withstand the harshest climates — even 100 meters underwater, in the case of Rolex’s Submariner. Designer Gérald Genta, whose range of clients included Rolex, created for Audemars Piguet the first luxury sports timepiece to be made from stainless steel. First introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was a perfect choice for blending the form and function that are now synonymous with sports watches.

Are you shopping for a wristwatch? It’s good to keep your needs as well as your specific personal style in mind: A smaller, subtle timepiece is a good fit for small wrists. When will you be wearing your new accessory? There’s a versatile model out there for everyday wear, while a rugged, feature-heavy watch is a safe bet if you’re prone to embarking on all-weather activities in the great outdoors.

Find antique, new and vintage wristwatches on 1stDibs.