Our Take

Based out of Biel, Switzerland, Armin Strom, by way of their manufacture, established its own unique aesthetic through their popular Gravity Equal Force and Tribute 1 collections. Dedicated to openworked movements and often unusual complications, we’re privileged to offer the Armin Strom Orbit.

The Armin Strom Orbit reimagines the date function. As the naked eye notices quickly, the date is indicated on the ceramic bezel. What may first appear to be a tried-and-true retrograde is more complicated with the novelty of an on-off monopusher at 9 o’clock. By pressing the monopusher, the owner of this timepiece can watch the date indicator jump from the “off” 12 o’clock position to the current date. This interactivity is facilitated by what the brand calls the “column-wheel date” complication. Typically found on chronograph movements, the introduction of a date function powered by an invisible column wheel helps drive and stabilize the date indicator as it jumps around the dial.

From the perspective of creativity, it’s rare to see date mechanisms in any other form than their usual date-windows or on the periphery of the dial. As co-founder and master watchmaker, Claude Geisler mentioned, “we wanted to create a new type of date display and function that looks good and reimagines a popular complication. No one had ever created a watch displaying the date with an on/off function of this kind on the bezel. I love it because it’s a fun, exciting way to play with the date indication.”

With short lugs, this 43 mm timepiece wears comfortably on smaller wrists. Factoring in the steel bracelet with polished and brushed links, the Orbit is an exceptional take on a sports watch from Armin Strom.

The Details

Brand: Armin Strom

Model: Orbit

Indications: Hours, minutes, seconds, power reserve indicator, date

Movement: Armin Strom manufacture Caliber ASS20 Automatic winding with micro rotor, Geneva-drive equal force barrel, offset display with subdial seconds, Column-Wheel Date

Regulating system: Balance wheel with 4 regulating screws

Power reserve: Geneva stop-work limited to 72 hours

Dimensions: 35.52 mm x 8.42 mm

Frequency: 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph)

Finishing: Hand-finishing to the highest quality level

Jewels: 30

Number of components: 273

Case: Stainless steel, ceramic fixed bezel Sapphire crystal and caseback with anti-reflective treatment

Diameter: 43.4 mm

Height: 12.6 mm

Water resistance: 5 ATM

Dial: Offset, black gold, numbers and indexes with Super-LumiNova® filling

Hands: Manufactured by Armin Strom, steel with hand finishing and Super-LumiNova® filling

Bracelet: Stainless-steel with a double folding clasp

First edition limited to 25 pieces