Its name is at least as complex as its design: Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple. The new Armin Strom watch is a feat in many ways. Produced at 25 pieces per year, it revolutionizes the world of transparent mechanisms in its own way.
As its name more or less clearly indicates, it is the first automatic watch equipped with a patented equal force transmission integrated into the spring barrel… but not only that!
The science of movement according to Armin Strom
Since its creation in 1967, Armin Strom has made its mark on the watchmaking world with its art of skeletonization, mastered by its eponymous founder. Over time, the brand based in Biel has maintained its independence and artisan approach, focusing on a low volume of production, but exceptional timepieces.
This expertise has transcended generations, but has not allowed Armin Strom to achieve great notoriety… until the arrival of Serge Michel and Claude Greisler in 2006. They did everything in their power to preserve the founder’s legacy while revitalizing the brand. A desire that was realized in 2009 with the opening of a completely integrated factory.
From there, all watches are designed, developed, machined, assembled, and hand-finished in-house. This transition not only strengthens Armin Strom’s capacity for innovation but also creates new exclusive calibres: no less than 17 in about fifteen years, not to mention several world firsts that contribute to make the brand a major player in independent watchmaking today.
Among the most notable watches, we must “obviously” mention the Mirrored Force Resonance, launched in 2016, which perfectly illustrates this quest for extreme precision. The Gravity Equal Force, on the other hand, was born in 2019 and totally redefines automatic movement. It is this watch that reinvents itself again with this Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple edition, limited to 25 pieces per year.
Transparent and violet, this watch is a work of art
Not just a simple tool, but a work of art. There are many watchmaking brands that boast about creating objects that are not “just watches”. But it is clear that the promise is fulfilled with the new Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple by Armin Strom.
Aesthetically, first of all. At the heart of the 41 mm steel case, a small off-center dial made from sapphire glass gives transparency and relief to the watch. But it’s especially its guilloche plate that catches the eye, made by the renowned watchmaker-artist Kari Voutilainen and featuring a barley grain pattern that captures and plays with light. This exceptional piece is enhanced with a vibrant purple color, obtained thanks to a sophisticated 3D PVD process, thus accentuating its elegant and modern allure. This shade is also found on the stitches and loops of the light gray nubuck strap.
Technically, then, since this Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple is presented as “the first automatic watch to integrate an equal force transmission directly into the spring barrel”, as well as a power reserve indicator and a micro-rotor. In detail, the heart of the watch beats to the rhythm of the ASB19 caliber, specifically designed for this series and featuring a Maltese cross stopwork. This limits the power reserve to a maximum of 72 hours, thus optimizing the precision of the movement beyond the usual.
Armin Strom’s artisanal approach is clearly felt through the finishes of this calibre, reflecting a near obsessive attention to detail: dark gray ruthenium bridges with polished bevelling, polished black screws and an assortment of decorations such as perlage and Geneva stripes, which are not only functional but truly artistic. Each visible component of the movement is handcrafted to achieve aesthetic perfection.
Limited to 25 pieces per year, this watch is intended for a discerning audience who will recognize in it the quintessence of Swiss watchmaking art. It will therefore cost 31,900 euros to become the proud owner of a Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Purple. At this price, it can be said: this watch is not a simple tool, but a work of art.
