Founded by Armin Strom, an independent watchmaker specialising in the ancestral art of skeleton-working or openworking, the brand bearing his name is pursuing this vocation by producing watches revealing deliberately modern openworked and decorated movements. Since 2009, the movements are produced in-house through a development process incorporating right from the start the openworking that specialised artisans then perform with stunning dexterity.
The four elements are a major source of inspiration governing the styles interpreted in most of the collections: “Air” decorated movements in titanium cases, “Water” decorated movements in steel cases; “Earth” decorated movements in black PVD-treated steel cases and “Fire” decorated movements in red gold cases. This theme is reprised in the new Tourbillon Gravity and Gravity collections. On the technical side, the former associates the tourbillon with the brand’s innovative automatic winding system and the exclusive micro-rotor mechanism is visible on the dial side. Meanwhile, the latter also displays the automatic winding as well as a date specially designed to maintain maximum movement visibility. It is easily read off on an off-centred pointer-type subdial fitted inside the small seconds display and accompanied by a day/night indication.
Sporty skeleton models
Early this year, Armin Strom announced the extension of its partnership with the Russian-British Formula 1 Marussia racing team, and unveiled two new Racing models at Baselworld 2014. The movements powering this collection feature bridges inspired by F1 engine components, designed in cooperation with the Marussia team and its driver Max Chilton. The new models come in two-tone titanium and black PVD-treated steel cases, framing black dials bearing applied numerals. One is driven by a hand-wound calibre, and the other is an automatic Gravity model that naturally shows off its exclusive winding system.
Exceptional openworking
The year’s star launch is an entirely openworked watch representing a bridge between modern design and the art of openworking cultivated as never before by Armin Strom. It is the first model of this kind to emerge from the Bienne-based Manufacture. The baseplate, gear-wheel bridges and barrel bridges are finely hand-cut and engraved; the barrel springs are visible through the winding wheels; and the escapement components – lever and pallets – are made of solid gold which is cold-worked on its functional surfaces. The One Week Skeleton displays the hours, minutes, small seconds and a large 7-day power reserve on a slightly offset sapphire crystal dial in accordance with the brand’s signature design. Available in yellow, pink or white gold versions, it will delight unconditional fans of the style imparted by the founding artisan.
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