Back To The Future

The latest Heritage Corum Lab 01 watches offer Nicolette Wong a peek into the Swiss watchmaker’s plans in the years to come.

- Nicolette Wong

IT’S NOT OFTEN THAT THE WORDS “heritage” and “lab” are paired together. After all, the former suggests a deep connection to the past, while laboratory evokes the image of experimentation and innovation. However, the juxtaposition of these two words neatly encapsulates the intentions behind the latest Heritage Corum Lab 01 watch.

At first glance, the Lab 01 is nothing like any of Corum’s watches in its stable. The vast majority, if not all, of Corum’s watches, tend to be either traditional-looking and ornate, like the Golden Bridge, or fun and casual, like the Bubble. The Lab 01, on the other hand, looks almost aggressively futuristic—the result of its asymmetric open-worked dial, visible mechanics, barrel-shaped case and sporty rubber detailing.