With its high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion-resistant properties, titanium has long been a popular metal for watches, though it’s generally used for cases and bracelets. Corum breaks new ground with the lightweight metal by machining it for the bridges and plates of the Caliber CO 007, its new in-house movement, which debuted in this year’s Ti-Bridge ($12,900). The design, which is derived from Corum’s distinctive Golden Bridge, showcases its titanium linear movement through a large convex sapphire crystal that spans the 42.5mm-by-41.5mm grade 5 titanium tonneau-shaped case. The watch’s most striking and unmistakable visual signature is a pair of titanium cross bars that are screwed into the flange, which is integrated within the case, to secure the movement and solidify its construction. The first of what will become a family of Caliber CO 007 timepieces, the Ti-Bridge is available exclusively at Tourneau until January 2010, after which distribution will be expanded. (www.corum.ch)
