In November 2018, Corum introduced LAB, the fifth flagship collection from the La Chaux-de-Fonds based luxury Swiss watch brand after Admiral, Golden Bridge, Heritage and Bubble. This year, Corum takes the concept of daring innovation to all new heights with the Corum LAB 02 timepiece.
Defying all watchmaking convention, the technically advanced watch boasts a new movement that was two years in the research and development stages. Revolutionary in its design, the new caliber is equipped with a flying gear train, and a host of other firsts for the brand.
The LAB 02 is a perfect example of Corum’s aesthetic perfection and extraordinary craftsmanship. The highly complicated manual movement stretches the imagination as well as the physical constraints of watch making. Its caliber CO 300 consists of an impressive 416 individual components, each meticulously skeletonized and finely finished. Each piece is hand assembled in a unique format with a flying tourbillon at 6:00, with flying wheels that track the hours, minutes and seconds, and with the bridge set directly onto the mainplate.
Additionally, building a movement that is not sandwiched between the mainplate and bridge was a technical challenge that had to be overcome. The LAB02 required a much longer axis for the gear train, and, without having a top bridge, needed ball bearings instead of rubies on the mainplate to add strength and stability.
The single mainplate has also been highly skeletonized. The entire movement is then placed on a fully transparent sapphire plate that allows for magnificent visibility and gives the appearance that the elements are all floating in space.
LAB 02 is further equipped with a grand date function at 4:00 and its power reserve indicator (55 hours) is unusually placed so that it is visible via a sapphire glass on the side of the case at 8:00. Because of the extremely complicated nature of this 45mm watch, just 10 pieces will be made, each identified by a specific plate number on the barrel.
Each LAB 02 can be customized, as well, enabling personal selection of the color of gold, the choice of diamond cuts and settings, or even of colored gemstones. The starting price of the watch, in gold, without diamonds, is CHF 180,000.
Technical details
Model: CORUM LAB 02
Movement
Movement number: CO 300
Winding system: Manual
Power reserve: 55 hours
Frequency: 3 Hz, 21’600 vph
Dimension: 16 1/2”’
Rubies: 33
Functions
Hour & Minute
Date
Flying tourbillon
Power reserve
Dial
Material: No dial
Hands
Hour and minute: Baton, rhodium-coated and faceted
Case
Shape: Round
Case, crown and horns made from 5N 18kt rose gold or 18kt white gold case
Gem-set versions feature diamond set bezel, crown and horns
Dimension: 45 mm
Thickness: 13.40 mm
Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
Back type: Open screw back, sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
Water-resistance: 30 meters / 3 ATM
Strap
Material: Alligator leather
Colours: Brown for rose gold versions and black for white gold version
Interhorn/Buckle: 22/18 mm
Buckle type: Triple folding clasp
Buckle material: 5N 18kt rose gold or 18kt white gold
Total diamonds (applicable for diamond set versions)
Crown: 1 Round diamond • ~ 0.03 ct
Horns: 47 Round diamonds • ~ 0.92 ct
Bezel: 60 Round diamonds • ~ 1.77 ct
Versions
Z300/03999 – 300.100.55/0F02 0010: 5N 18kt rose gold case, crown, bezel, horns and buckle
Z300/04076 – 300.100.59/0F01 0020: 18kt white gold case, crown, bezel, horns and buckle
Z300/04111 – 300.100.85/0F02 0010: 5N 18kt rose gold case, crown, bezel, horns and buckle (crown, bezel and horns are set with diamonds)
Z300/04112 – 300.100.69/0F01 0020: 18kt white gold case, crown, bezel, horns and buckle (crown, bezel and horns are set with diamonds)
Edition
Each version is limited to 10 pieces
