Key Takeaways
1. Armin Strom, founded in 1967, became a true manufacture under Serge Michel and Claude Greisler in 2009, focusing on in-house calibres like the Equal Force barrel.
2. The new Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Blue features an open-dial design, a 41 mm stainless-steel case, and is water-resistant up to 3 ATM.
3. Each watch is hand-finished in Biel, with a glacial blue PVD-coated mainplate, guilloché engraving by Kari Voutilainen, and rhodium-plated hands filled with Super-LumiNova for visibility.
4. The watch is powered by the in-house automatic calibre ASB19, featuring a micro-rotor and patented Equal Force barrel, ensuring consistent torque over a 72-hour power reserve.
5. Limited to 25 pieces per year, the Ultimate Sapphire Blue is priced at CHF 27,500 (approximately $34,413).
Founded in 1967 by the skilled skeletonizer Armin Strom, this independent brand based in Biel has dedicated many years to making its watch movements the star of the show. After Serge Michel and Claude Greisler took over management in 2009, the company transformed into a true manufacture. They began creating in-house calibres, like the Equal Force barrel that characterizes its System 78 line. This history sets the stage for the latest offering, especially for those who are just discovering Armin Strom.
New Design Features
The latest model, the Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Blue, adds a refreshing, icy twist to the System 78 collection with its open-dial design. It features a 41 mm stainless-steel case that encases a clear sapphire dial plate, showcasing three horizontal finger bridges along with the underlying gear train. The watch measures 12.65 mm in height, has a lug-to-lug length of 48.09 mm, and is water-resistant up to 3 ATM.
Handcrafted Excellence
Every part of this timepiece is hand-finished right in Biel. The mainplate is coated with PVD in a glacial blue shade and is guilloché-engraved by the talented independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. For better visibility, the hands are rhodium-plated and filled with Super-LumiNova. The watch is secured with a blue nubuck leather strap adorned with ice-blue stitching, fastened by a stainless-steel folding clasp.
Innovative Mechanism
Powering this beautiful watch is the in-house automatic calibre ASB19. It features a micro-rotor that winds a patented Equal Force barrel, which employs stop-work declutching. This clever mechanism enhances the consistency of torque from the mainspring to the movement, ensuring that the torque remains steady throughout its 72-hour power reserve. Operating at 25,200 vibrations per hour, the 202-part movement, which has 28 jewels, goes through two assembly processes—one for functionality and another for decoration—to uphold the brand’s high finishing standards.
Limited to just 25 pieces each year, the Ultimate Sapphire Blue is currently available from Armin Strom as well as authorized retailers for a list price of CHF 27,500, which is about $34,413.
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