Corum Rolls-Royce Grill Vintage Watch
In 1976 after much persuasion and a lot of factory visits (on both sides I'm sure), Corum finally convinced Rolls-Royce to provide them with a license to make a Rolls-Royce themed watch. The result was one of the best automotive styled watches ever. The problem with most car themed watches is that the watch often does not look anything like the car it is modeled after, or any car for that matter. Think of the Breitling Bentley watches. If you didn't know that Breitling was producing them as an homage to Bentley, would you ever guess at the automotive theme of the watch? When I look at the Corum Rolls-Royce I think car, and I think Rolls-Royce. The Corum Rolls-Royce received an unprecedented demand, but never enjoyed wide scale production, though examples still loom in the collector's world. The 18k white or yellow gold case was modeled after the trademark Roman temple styled Rolls-Royce automobile radiator grill, complete with the flying lady hood ornament. The watch face itself was placed inside the grill visible though the vertical column bars. Powering the watch was a skeletonized mechanical movement. With Corum making a market comeback, I wouldn't be surprised if they struck up a new deal with Rolls-Royce for licensed watches as no one else has been seemingly been able to do so yet.
Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eric of AZ Jan 4th 2009 1:05PM
That's one ugly watch.
jdawg3k Jan 4th 2009 10:56PM
Good lord, that is one f-ugly watch
Jason Jan 4th 2009 4:36PM
PASS
willzville Jan 4th 2009 11:26PM
Well if your an ugly guy this is definitely the watch for you - it'll make you look handsome (by comparison)!
just me Jan 5th 2009 11:44AM
tacky. and ugly.