Born in 1955 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, a mecca of Swiss watchmaking, the watch brand Corum is the fruit of the joint vision of Gaston Ries and his nephew Rene Bannwart, both driven by the desire to create an independent, innovative house free from traditional codes.
The name “Corum” is directly inspired by the Latin word quorum, designating the minimum number of members required to validate a decision — a reference to the requirement for quality and meaning that the brand intended to embody from its foundation.
From its earliest years, Corum distinguished itself with a bold creative approach, combining Swiss technical expertise and avant-garde design. In 1956, just one year after its creation, the brand already created a landmark piece: a watch made from a real gold coin - a precursor to the future Coin Watch, which would become one of the house's icons. This taste for the unusual was fully expressed over the decades through unique collections such as:
- La Golden Bridge (1980), a masterpiece of transparency with a linear baguette movement housed in the heart of a sapphire case, today considered a major technical and aesthetic feat.
- La Admiral (created in 1960), a marine watch immediately recognizable by its nautical pennants, which has become emblematic of the link between Corum and the maritime world.
- La Bubble (2000), famous for its imposing ultra-domed sapphire crystal which distorts the dial in a striking magnifying glass effect — a radical, counter-current piece, hailed for its audacity.
CORUM: A return to the roots to write the future of Swiss Haute Horlogerie
Today, on the eve of its 70th anniversary, CORUM is entering a new era under the banner of Swiss sovereignty. A symbol of renewed independence, the iconic watchmaking company is returning to the Swiss flag through a Management Buyout (MBO) led by Haso Mehmedovic, International Sales Director, along with a select group of Swiss investors from the worlds of luxury and finance.
A figure of internal advancement, Haso Mehmedovic, who joined Corum as a watchmaker in 2011, embodies the transmission of knowledge and commitment inherent in watchmaking tradition. Fifteen years after his debut at the bench, he now leads the company as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, driven by a clear vision: to reaffirm CORUM's unique character in the Haute Horlogerie landscape.
This strategic acquisition was carried out in good understanding with the Hong Kong group Citychamp Watch & Jewelery Group Limited, owner of the brand since 2013, who has supported the transition with kindness. While retaining its other Swiss brands, the group is now handing over Corum to a team driven by a sincere desire for rebirth.
Reinventing Corum while respecting its foundations
The transaction is accompanied by a complete reorganization of the company's industrial and commercial activities, including patents, intellectual property, and brand archives. The objective is to reconnect with the creative spirit that made CORUM famous, while ensuring this relaunch is part of a sustainable dynamic.
Since its founding in 1955, Corum has distinguished itself through a resolutely avant-garde approach, tirelessly exploring new aesthetic and technical avenues. Iconic creations such as the Golden Bridge and its transparent baguette movement, the Bubble and its spectacular domed sapphire crystal, the Coin Watch carved from an authentic American gold coin or the legendary Admiral, designed for sailors, have forged the house's bold identity. These iconic models will be at the heart of the product strategy in the coming months.
In the same spirit, the distribution network – currently comprising around 300 retailers worldwide – will be streamlined and strengthened around selected partnerships and impeccable after-sales service.
Vision 2026: continuity, consolidation and conquest
The year 2025 will be dedicated to consolidating the brand's historic pillars. Starting in 2026, an international relaunch is planned, focused on Corum's DNA: innovation, creative freedom, and artisanal excellence.
« Today, we have a tremendous opportunity: to restore Corum to its former glory and legitimacy within the Swiss watchmaking industry. I know this brand from the inside out, down to the smallest details, its strengths, and its untapped potential. Corum is the first brand I applied to, with my degree in hand, in 2011—and I've never left. I grew up with it, learned from it, and navigated the ups and downs with the teams.
Today, we will put bold creation and innovation back at the heart of the project, capitalizing on Corum's unique DNA. We will strengthen our distribution, consolidate our key markets, open up new perspectives, and above all, we will make Corum shine again among collectors and enthusiasts around the world. I am surrounded by a close-knit team and motivated, competent, anchored in the values of Swiss watchmaking, with whom I share the same long-term ambition.
We have reached a constructive agreement with Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group Limited, which, while ensuring the preservation of its interests, has been extremely cooperative and sincerely eager to see us restore Corum to the position it deserves—a position it should never have left.»
Haso Mehmedovic, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Corum 1955
The Corum watch brand has thus succeeded in building a heritage that is both rich and atypical, cultivating a rare creative freedom in a sector often guided by tradition. Through its original complications, bold shapes and assertive aesthetic choices, the house perpetuates an avant-garde spirit faithful to its origins. Each Corum watch is the expression of a authentic Swiss watchmaking know-how, combined with a constant quest for innovation, in a spirit of freedom deeply rooted in the brand's DNA.
Patrick Koune
