In 2010, Armin Strom introduced their first watch, the One Week, with a movement developed and made in-house. Equipped with a seven-day power reserve and a design focused on the symmetrical harmony of a modern mechanical movement, this statement piece laid the foundations for many future developments from Armin Strom.
Recently, the independent Swiss manufacturer revisited their original caliber. With its reworked design, the One Week First Edition establishes itself as a permanent timepiece in the brand’s collection. The highlight of Armin Strom’s technical and aesthetic approach is the presentation of engine elements on the dial. The first version in a week takes this even further. The completely redesigned and reworked manual-wind movement with a seven-day power reserve resembles a small sculpture. Form, function, aesthetics and ergonomics come to the fore in harmony and are presented on a panel treated with a light blue PVD coating.
The caliber ARM21 has two barrel springs connected in series to provide steady power to the gear train. Held by two finger-shaped bridges, the barrel spring is placed symmetrically on the right half of the fully open dial. The manual winding reveals its mesmerizing dance as the two wheels responsible for winding the barrel spring in diametrically opposite directions are on display.
One of the most striking features of the new One Week is the power reserve indicator. In keeping with the architectural depth of the movement, it is displayed via a conical system inspired by pocket watches. The system consists of a highly polished cone driven by a cone gear on the opposite side of the dial. Another important development of One Week is the regulator’s oscillation frequency, increased from 2.5 Hz to 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph). To achieve this higher frequency, which provides more stable timing performance, it was necessary to recalculate and reconfigure the entire gear system.
What is unusual for Armin Strom is the arrangement of the hour and minute hands. Typically, their watches have hour and minute hands that are offset, either in the form of small hands on the sub-dial or slightly off-center like large hands. In the One Week, Superluminova-filled hour and minute hands are placed in the center of the dial.
Like all Armin Strom creations, One Week showcases meticulously handcrafted finishes. Straight and rounded surfaces, chamfered edges, panels with perlage, polished screws and countersinks have been meticulously finished and decorated. The stainless steel case, water-resistant to 100 meters, is 41 mm wide and just 10.6 mm tall – surprisingly compact for a movement of such complexity. Combined with an integrated stainless steel bracelet that includes satin-finished and polished “H” shaped links, the result is a well-designed, functional ensemble..
The first one-week edition, launched at Geneva Watch Days 2023, is limited to 25 pieces and comes with a 10-year extended warranty, doubling the usual five-year warranty offered by Armin Strom. Price is marked at $34,000.