Corum Anniversary Quarter Minute Repeater White Gold

This is a very rare 18K yellow gold limited edition dodecagon-shaped Model 1 Automaton Quarter Repeating automatic wristwatch, released to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Corum Admirals Cup circa 1995.

There were only 40 Model 1 watches made in total, 10 in yellow gold, 10 in rose gold, and 20 in white gold,. This particular watch is number 1 of the 10 yellow gold. This watch is rarer still in that it is on a matching full 18k gold bracelet. The majority of the 40 watches were seemingly sold on leather straps, with only watch number 1 of each colour receiving the full gold bracelet.

The 41mm dodecagon-shaped 18k gold case has 1/10 engraved on the side, whilst the bezel is engraved with minute divisions.

The solid case-back is secured by six screws. It has a silvered engine-turned dial with applied baton hour-markers.  There are also three shuttered apertures that open when the repeating mechanism is activated through rotation of the bezel. The two small upper apertures at 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock reveal pennant flags that wave in time with the chiming for the hour and quarter hour. The wider aperture at 6 o’clock opens to reveal a rotating scene depicting a polo match. Making all of this happen is the superb Frederick Piquet calibre 71 automatic jewelled movement, paired with a repeater module by renowned Watchmaker Christophe Claret, quarter-repeating with two hammers onto two gongs.

Christophe Claret is a specialist maker of complex watch movements Tourbillons, repetitions, chronographs, split time displays or perpetual calendars. Before he started his own business, he worked for 10 months with Roger Dubuis, another promising young watchmaker. Claret established his own workshop in 1986 and began delivering exclusive movements and watches for high-end watchmakers in the following years. In 1987, Ulysse Nardin became the first major client with an order for 20 minute repeater movements. Other clients include Breguet, Cartier, Chopard, Corum, de Grisogono, Franck Muller, Girard-Perregaux, Harry Winston, and Parmigiani. Many of these had high-end movement workshops of their own but chose Claret for his ability to deliver chiming movements .

This watch is in excellent cosmetic and mechanical condition and comes with a Corum box-set.

So this is a very rare opportunity to acquire number one of an extremely limited watch in precious metal and with a high-end movement incorporating repeater and automaton complications designed and manufactured by Christophe Claret.

This timepiece comes with a 12 month Warranty.