Our Take

Last year for Geneva Watch Days, Armin Strom revisited the brand’s first-ever release – the One Week First Edition. Limited to only 25 timepieces, that timepiece was well received by collectors for its significant updates and aesthetic evolution. We knew that it was only a matter of time before Armin Strom gave the watch community a wider release. That day has come – this is the all-new Armin Strom One Week Manufacture Edition in a sleek anthracite colorway.

When we covered the increasing momentum of Armin Strom, Claude Greisler, the master watchmaker driving the Biel-based brand, mentioned that they were a little “shy” with their earliest timepieces. This was very much the proof-of-concept phase for Armin Strom. This One Week Manufacture Edition is a return to the origins of Armin Strom with a much bigger swing, adjusted for the significantly greater capabilities of the brand today.

True to its name and just like its predecessor, the One Week delivers an impressive seven-day power reserve. But that’s where the similarities end. The new manual-winding ARM21 caliber features two mainspring barrels, working in series to provide consistent levels of energy to the gear train. As a core part of Armin Strom’s identity, the kinetic mechanical elements are open-worked and visible on the dial side. One of the most distinctive features of the new One Week is its power reserve indicator. Keeping with the architectural depth of the movement, the power reserve is indicated by a cone system inspired by pocket watches. This consists of a mirror-polished cone, which is driven by a conical gear on the opposite side of the dial. With its choice of foregoing colors on this edition, the construction of the manual-wind movement is laid bare for all to see.

Like all Armin Strom creations, from time-only to complicated, the One Week is a masterclass in haute horlogerie hand-finishing. Straight and circular-grained surfaces, chamfered and polished bevels, Geneva-striped plates, and polished screws and sinks are clearly applied by expert hands. The One Week First Edition stands out in particular with its anthracite PVD-coloured mainplate and bridges. With modest dimensions for a sporty timepiece, the stainless steel case measures 41mm in diameter and a sleek 10.6mm in height.

The Details

Movement: Armin Strom manufacture Calibre ARM21

Indications: Hours, minutes, small seconds

Winding mechanism: Manual winding

Regulating system: Flat hairspring with a variable inertia balance wheel

Power reserve: 7 days

Dimensions: 36.60 mm × 6.00 mm

Frequency: 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph)

Jewels: 35

Number of components: 194

Case: Stainless steel Sapphire crystal and case back with anti-reflective treatment

Diameter: 41.00 mm

Height: 10.60 mm

Lug-to-Lug: 44.35 mm

Water resistance: 10 ATM

Dial: Black minute ring and small-second dial, numbers and indexes with Super-LumiNova® filling

Hands: Faceted polished hands and Super-LumiNova® filling

Bracelet: Stainless steel with a double folding clasp Limited to 100 pieces