While we generally stick close to our mission of coverable affordable watches and men’s gear, we do, of course, diverge now and again outside of that well-travelled path. Today is one such of those days, with the announcement of the Corum La Grande Vie.
When it comes to Corum, we tend to think more of their Bubble line, or perhaps the Coin. And those are certainly iconic – but there’s more to the brand than those watches. With the Corum La Grande Vie, they’re expanding their Heritage collection with a classically-styled watch.
When I first saw the photos of the Corum La Grande Vie, I immediately drew a parallel with another classic (and colorful) watch, those from Moser. So, I asked the brand via our excellent PR friend, and this is the response she got for us from the brand:
Given that we have a watch with all the classic codes, it is inevitable that La Grand Vie will be compared to Moser, but also to Piaget, Glashutte… Moreover, we are in a very different Metiers d’Art, and very different price positioning with this new timepiece.
And, sure, I’ll give them that. The dials here are sunray (and not fume), even though they’re just as colorful (and sharp-looking) as the ones I originally thought of. So, yes, I rather like the looks of the Corum La Grande Vie. Add in the SW300 movement and the fact that the 42mm case is made of titanium, there’s a lot to like here.
Another thing to like is how the brand has managed to “brand” the Corum La Grande Vie. You’ll notice there’s not much text on the dial at all. To keep things uncluttered, they’ve “ghosted” in the Corum Key in place of the 12 o’clock indicator, giving a simultaneously bold and subtle stamp of who made the watch. The Corum La Grande Vie is available now, in the three colors shown here (blue, green, and red), with pricing coming in at $3,500. corum-watches.com
Watch Overview
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Brand & Model: Corum La Grande Vie
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Price: $3,500
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Who we think it might be for: You want a classic watch (in terms of styling elements) but still find yourself wanting a burst of color
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Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen? This one is a bit outside the budget for me
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If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: If you’re going to do something in the center of the dauphine hands, why not a small bit of white lume?
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What spoke to me the most about this watch: The dials, along with the coordinated straps
