Aunique talent, an art for combining classic and modern to reinvent tradition. A youthful, refreshing, impertinent, offbeat style. An apt description of Joachim Horsley – or could it be Corum? Probably both, and that’s what brought these two figures together. Millions of people know Joachim Horsley without ever seeing or recognizing him. He has composed film scores for Dreamworks productions, arranged songs for Michael Buble and John Legend, performed on stage with Ben Folds, and even has a YouTube channel for his own arrangements, which have been played a record-breaking number of times with 10 million views in six months – a feat unmatched by any other solo pianist.
Working to a frenzied pace, Joachim Horsley and Corum came together to create a unique watchmaking composition, which was unveiled at an exceptional show at the Folies Bergère in Paris on 15 February. This major international event lifted the veil on the Golden Bridge made to measure by Corum in his honor.
Part of a strictly limited edition, this piece marks the beginning of an enduring partnership between the brand and Joachim Horsley. It is also the first time that Corum’s Golden Bridge has embarked on a long-term musical partnership, which over the coming years is set to extend beyond the realm of pure watchmaking.
“To reinterpret Beethoven’s 7th Symphony with a Cuban-inspired arrangement and rack up 10 million views in 6 months is no mean feat. It goes to show that one can break boundaries with a classical background while taking an audience to new, previously unexpected horizons,” explains Jérôme Biard, CEO of Corum. “At Corum, we are taking this same path in watchmaking. It was a natural partnership. It is an ode to creativity, to non-conformism, and to celebrating new possibilities.”
The Golden Bridge Joachim Horsley will be the first Corum watch to feature a metallic decoration on its sapphire case back. It depicts an extract from the original score of Beethoven’s 7th Symphony. The piece will be available in white gold and pink gold.
Corum also teamed up with Reuge to mark this partnership and to give the “Golden Bridge Joachim Horsley” a unique presentation case. Specially designed for the artist, this music box will play three of the melodies personally arranged by Joachim Horsley: compositions by Bach, Mahler and Beethoven reinterpreted as rumbas or with Cuban-inspired beats.
In addition to this co-creation, Corum will also now be giving its clients – music lovers or not – the chance to create their own Golden Bridge based on the same model. Their metallic sapphire case back decoration can feature a different score, or they can even choose a motif, letters, or a coat of arms. This is yet another step taken by Corum to enhance the potential for personalization. Following on from a number of very limited editions and one-off collaborations with artists, the La Chaux-de-Fonds brand is taking another step forward by offering collectors the possibility to create their own unique piece.
The Corum Bridges Golden Bridge Rectangle is a limited edition featuring an in-house CO 113 manual movement with hours, minutes and 40 hours power reserve. The bridges and plate are made from 18kt gold. The rectangular case measures 29.50 mm x 42.20 mm and is 9.30 mm thick and made from 18kt white gold with a crown made from the same material.
A sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment covers the watch and a screwed in open back cover in 18kt white gold with glare proof sapphire crystal is fitted at the back which is finished with the 7th symphony of Beethoven metallized under the glass. The watch is water resistant to 30 meters and is fitted with a black leather strap.
