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Brand history & owner guide

Corum

Corum began in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1955 with René Bannwart and Gaston Ries. 1

A guide to the brand's origins, distinctive watches and changed ownership—not a current shareholder register or a universal movement specification.

At a glance

Origins
La Chaux-de-Fonds; 1955 1
Founders
René Bannwart and Gaston Ries 1
Golden Bridge
Introduced in 1980 4
Ownership milestone
Swiss management buyout, 2025 213

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Selected reference records

56 documented configurations from 47 model names. These records are a selection, not the full Corum catalogue.

Browse 56 recorded Corum configurations →

The name and the manufacture

Corum's own history names René Bannwart and his uncle Gaston Ries as its founders in 1955, in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It explains the name as a simplified spelling of 'quorum.' These details identify the brand's origin; they do not extend Corum's history backwards to either founder's earlier career.

That distinction is useful when an older advertisement refers to experience or tradition predating a company's formation. The watchmaker's biography, workshop history and date of a new commercial brand are separate pieces of evidence. 1

The Citychamp chapter ended with a buyout

Citychamp's milestones record its Corum acquisition in 2013. Corum's own 2025 announcement then describes a management buyout led by Haso Mehmedovic with Swiss investors. An account that still describes the 2013 purchase as the latest ownership event is therefore incomplete.

The announcement and later company narrative are not identical in their day-level dating. This guide uses the securely supported year, 2025, rather than presenting May 1 as an unquestioned completion date. It also does not infer that the transaction included every other watch brand held by Citychamp. 213

Golden Bridge: the movement becomes the visual centre

Corum dates Golden Bridge to 1980. Its long, narrow movement and transparent presentation make the mechanism central to the appearance of the watch, rather than hiding it behind a conventional full dial.

The current collection distinguishes Classic, Automatic and Miss versions. Those labels matter: the presence of a shared Golden Bridge name does not make winding systems, dimensions or case materials interchangeable. Start with the exact reference, especially when comparing a historical example with a contemporary reinterpretation. 4

A concrete example of reference-level research

For Golden Bridge reference B113.01042, Corum's product page specifies calibre CO113 and a 40-hour power reserve. That is a useful, bounded statement about one reference. It should not become a claim that all Corum watches—or even every Golden Bridge—use that calibre.

Keep the reference with the specification whenever you take notes. If a seller cites a figure without naming the model, ask which technical sheet supports it. The same habit helps with case dimensions, materials and winding instructions. 5

Read old collection names alongside the current range

Corum's present materials put Admiral, Golden Bridge and Heritage at the centre of the range. Earlier watches may belong to other chapters of the catalogue. An absent model in current navigation is not, by itself, evidence that an older watch is incorrectly described.

Use contemporary product information for a new reference and period material for a vintage one. The current press room already contains 2026 releases, so it would be misleading to repeat a 2025 plan for new collections as if no later product material existed. 34

Service after an ownership change

A corporate buyout does not tell an owner which repairs can be performed, which parts remain available or which warranty applies to a particular purchase. Preserve the original terms and any later service documents, then ask the current support team about the specific reference.

For a vintage watch, request a written description of proposed replacement or restoration work. A successful repair and an all-original object are different outcomes. The ownership history explains a business transition; it does not authenticate a watch or settle its condition. 3

Key dates

  1. 1955

    Foundation

    Bannwart and Ries establish Corum. 1

  2. 1980

    Golden Bridge

    The brand dates the collection's origin to this year. 4

  3. 2013

    Group acquisition

    Citychamp's milestones record the acquisition. 213

  4. 2025

    Management buyout

    Corum announces the Swiss-investor transaction. 213

Ownership and continuity

Corum's 1955 foundation, later group acquisition and 2025 buyout are separate chapters in the brand's history. 1

Identification and service

For an individual watch, record the complete reference, serial, dial, case, and movement markings and compare them with dated primary documentation.

A brand history cannot authenticate, appraise, or establish the provenance of a particular watch.

Evidence and limits

How the claims are supported
  1. source stated claim

    Corum dates its foundation to Bannwart and Ries in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1955.

  2. source stated claim

    Citychamp records acquisition in 2013; Corum documents a Swiss management buyout in 2025.

  3. source stated claim

    Corum dates Golden Bridge to 1980 and distinguishes Classic, Automatic and Miss versions.

  4. source stated claim

    The official B113.01042 product page specifies CO113 and a 40-hour reserve.

  5. source stated claim

    The current official site and press room present Admiral, Golden Bridge and Heritage alongside 2026 releases.

  6. source stated claim

    The buyout announcement is a corporate-history source, not a model-specific service guarantee.

Known limits

  • No exact current share register or independently verified buyout completion day is supplied.
  • The 2026 range is evidenced by current product materials; no unverified trade-show attendance claim is made.
  • Movement examples apply only to their named reference.

Direct sources

  1. The BrandCorum · official corporate history · accessed September 11, 2026

    Locator: Founders, La Chaux-de-Fonds and 2025 management buyout. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.

  2. Citychamp milestonesCitychamp Watch & Jewellery Group · official corporate history · accessed September 11, 2026

    Locator: 2013 Corum acquisition. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.

  3. Corum press roomCorum · official press release · accessed September 11, 2026

    Locator: April 30, 2025 buyout announcement and April 2026 collection materials. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.

  4. Golden Bridge collectionCorum · official current website · accessed September 11, 2026

    Locator: 1980 origins; Classic, Automatic and Miss. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.

  5. Golden Bridge B113.01042Corum · official current website · accessed September 11, 2026

    Locator: Reference-specific CO113 and 40-hour reserve. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.

Corrections

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