Quick TakeForget your average boardroom blinker; this Corum Admiral 42 is a slice of the cosmos wrapped in a seafaring legend's uniform. That grey dial? Yeah, it’s actual meteorite – talk about an icebreaker that’s literally out of this world! Each one has its own unique Widmanstätten pattern, so your wrist gets a personal piece of galactic history. Then you've got those iconic nautical pennants instead of boring old numbers, a cool nod to Corum's maritime roots that just screams adventure. It's not all show, though. The CO 395 automatic movement purrs away inside, keeping things ticking reliably with a 42-hour power reserve, while the 42mm stainless steel case and 100m water resistance mean it’s ready for whatever your day – or impromptu yacht race – throws at it. It’s the kind of watch that tells a story without saying a word, a perfect mate for someone who appreciates craftsmanship with a bold, adventurous spirit and a touch of the extraordinary.
DescriptionThe timepiece designated A395/04480 - 395.110.20/V720 MT10 represents a sophisticated integration of horological engineering, centered around the CO 395 automatic calibre. This self-winding mechanical movement is meticulously engineered to deliver sustained precision and operational reliability under a variety of conditions. It operates at a calibrated frequency of 4 Hertz, which translates to 28,800 vibrations per hour (vph). Such a frequency is a modern standard for quality timepieces, offering a good balance between isochronal stability for accuracy and reduced wear on escapement components over extended periods. The movement's physical architecture, conforming to an 11 ligne diameter standard, is a testament to compact yet robust design. Within this framework, the calibre incorporates a variable count of synthetic ruby jewel bearings, ranging from 27 to 31, depending on the specific execution and any additional complications or refinements present in a particular batch or series. These strategically placed rubies serve as low-friction contact points for the gear train's rotating arbors and pivots, critically minimizing frictional drag and wear, which in turn contributes significantly to the movement's long-term accuracy, efficiency, and service interval requirements. The automatic winding system inherent to the CO 395 calibre is a complex assembly of gears, reversers, and an oscillating weight (rotor) that responds to the natural movements of the wearer's arm. This captured kinetic energy is efficiently transferred to wind the mainspring, thus ensuring a consistent and optimal power supply to the escapement. Upon reaching its fully wound state, the mainspring stores sufficient energy to provide a power reserve of approximately 42 hours. This duration allows the timepiece to continue functioning accurately even when not worn for nearly two days. The fundamental timekeeping functions displayed are hours and minutes, indicated by centrally mounted hands, supplemented by a distinct small seconds sub-dial which offers a continuous visual indication of the watch's operation. Furthermore, a date complication is seamlessly integrated, presenting the current date, typically through a precisely cut aperture on the dial surface, ensuring functional legibility.
Protecting the intricate CO 395 movement is an external housing, or case, meticulously machined from a solid block of high-grade stainless steel. This material is specifically chosen for its superior tensile strength, inherent resistance to various forms of corrosion (including pitting and crevice corrosion common with saltwater exposure), and its ability to maintain a high-quality surface finish over years of use. The case exhibits a precisely engineered diameter of 42 millimeters, a dimension that offers a substantial yet comfortable wrist presence for a wide range of users, while its overall thickness is maintained at a refined 10.30 millimeters, allowing it to sit elegantly under a cuff. Critical to its utility, the case construction is certified for water resistance up to a depth of 100 meters, equivalent to a pressure of 10 atmospheres (ATM). This level of integrity is achieved through precision-fitted case components, including potentially a screw-down crown and case-back (though not explicitly detailed, these are standard for such ratings), along with high-performance gaskets, making it suitable for activities such as swimming and snorkeling. Arguably the most captivating feature of this specific Admiral 42 model is its dial, fabricated from a genuine section of meteorite. Each dial thus possesses a unique crystalline Widmanstätten pattern, formed over millions of years of slow cooling within asteroids, ensuring no two watches are visually identical. This grey-toned meteorite surface serves as an exceptional and textured canvas. Legibility is ensured by Dauphine-style hands, chosen for their classic elegance and functional shape; these are coated with rhodium, a precious metal of the platinum group, prized for its brilliant white luster and exceptional resistance to tarnishing. The hands are further distinguished by faceting, creating multiple surfaces that interact with light to improve visibility from various angles, and incorporate a skeletonized design aspect that adds to the watch's contemporary aesthetic. For unambiguous time-reading in diminished ambient light, these hands are precisely inlaid with Black SuperLumiNova, a phosphorescent material offering sustained luminescence. Marking the hours are distinctive rhodium-plated applied indexes, which take the form of the 12 nautical pennants, a signature of the Admiral collection, directly referencing the International Code of Signals used in maritime communication. Completing the ensemble, a robust stainless steel bracelet is seamlessly integrated with the case, featuring an interhorn width of 21 millimeters that tapers to 18 millimeters at the clasp for enhanced comfort. This bracelet utilizes a sophisticated triple-blade folding clasp, also fashioned from stainless steel, providing a secure and reliable closure mechanism that prevents accidental opening.