The history of the ARMIN STROM manufacture began with that of its founder. Armin Strom was born in the picturesque Emmental hills in 1938. He left his father's bakery to learn the trade of watchmaker. During his youth, this profession enabled him to sell his watches in well-known resorts such as St. Moritz, where his services were appreciated by a highly demanding clientele. However, in 1967 an undreamed-of opportunity was to change his destiny: he was able to buy a store in the medieval town of Berthoud. This shop, with a large workshop, was the ideal place for setting up a business where he could devote himself to what had become an increasingly all-consuming passion for the master watchmaker – working on watches to enhance them and add more functions.
At first carried out during his spare time, the results of this line of work were soon on display in the window, attracting customers. Armin Strom then began to become established as a name that was synonymous with attention to detail. It was a signature that gave full meaning to the expression “the patience of a goldsmith”. This was followed by major recognition – assemblers from all over the world and the biggest brands placed orders with the man who by now was known as the “skeletisation master”.
This personal success provided Armin Strom with the opportunity to rise to a new challenge: sharing and passing on his art in order to keep it alive. To do so he established a partnership with Willy Michel, an industrialist and watch-lover, founding the company ARMIN STRONG AG in 2006. Heading up this new entity was Willy's son, Serge Michel, along with manufacturer Claude Greisler. Their modern vision of watchmaking, combined with the unshakable values of the brand's founder, led to fresh development thanks to which ARMIN STROM AG now offers a completely new take on skeletisation.
Some twenty or so people work in the hi-tech manufacture's premises, which opened in Bienne in 2009. Production focuses exclusively on limited editions, gathered together into collections presented annually at Baselworld and sold worldwide. Armin Strom retired in 2011, at the age of 74. He has successfully passed on his passion, determination and integrity to the next generation – and these qualities are to be found in the design of each and every ARMIN STROM watch.
