Armin Strom presents a compelling new take on one of its foundational creations with the introduction of the One Week Manufacture Edition Blue. This timepiece is a direct expression of the brand's core philosophies, merging mechanical transparency with a strong, contemporary aesthetic. It avoids conventional design by stripping away the unnecessary, placing the intricate workings of its in-house caliber front and center, all set against a striking blue backdrop that gives the watch its distinct character and name. It represents a clear evolution, building upon a proven mechanical concept while injecting a fresh and modern visual identity.
Based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, Armin Strom has carved a niche for itself as an independent watchmaker dedicated to the art of skeletonization and in-house manufacturing. The company's roots trace back to 1967 with its namesake founder, Mr. Armin Strom, who became a legendary figure for his mastery of hand-skeletonizing watch movements. The modern iteration of the brand was established in 2009 when the business was acquired by Serge Michel and master watchmaker Claude Greisler. They transformed it into a fully integrated manufacture, capable of developing, producing, and finishing its calibers entirely under one roof, a commitment that underpins every watch they create.
Courtesy of Armin Strom
The architecture of the One Week Manufacture Edition Blue is housed within a 41 mm stainless steel case that feels both robust and thoughtfully proportioned. With a height of just 10.60 mm and a compact lug-to-lug measurement of 44.35 mm, the watch is engineered for ergonomic comfort, ensuring it sits well-balanced on the wrist. The case design is sculptural and modern, featuring a dynamic interplay of brushed surfaces and polished chamfers that catch the light from different angles. This attention to detail extends to the integration of the bracelet, creating a seamless flow from the case to the wrist.
Further enhancing its practicality, the case is equipped with sapphire crystals on both the front and back, each treated with an anti-reflective coating to ensure maximum clarity and a direct view of the mechanical artistry within. A water resistance rating of 10 ATM (100 meters) adds a significant degree of versatility, making the watch suitable for daily wear and capable of handling unexpected exposure to water without issue. This combination of refined aesthetics and functional resilience is central to the watch's design ethos.
The most defining feature of this timepiece is its complete departure from a traditional dial. Instead, the mechanical components are built directly upon the mainplate, which is coated in a deep, vibrant blue PVD finish. This blue plate serves as the visual canvas for the entire watch, creating a dramatic contrast with the metallic gleam of the bridges, gears, and barrels. This openworked approach is not merely for show; it is a core part of Armin Strom's identity, inviting the owner to observe the intricate choreography of the movement every time they check the time.
Arranged with a focus on symmetry and clarity, the dial-side view is a landscape of horological engineering. Two large barrels are prominently displayed in the upper half of the watch, with their ratchet wheels visibly turning when the watch is wound. To the left, at the 9 o'clock position, a small, black-grained subdial tracks the running seconds. Opposite this, the innovative power reserve indicator provides a three-dimensional display of the movement's remaining energy. A black minute ring around the periphery, marked with applied indexes, frames the entire mechanical spectacle.
Courtesy of Armin Strom
The visual depth is enhanced by the careful layering of components. The rhodium-plated bridges holding the gear train and barrels are skeletonized to reveal as much of the underlying mechanism as possible. The rich blue of the mainplate is punctuated by the bright, synthetic ruby jewels, which serve as low-friction bearings for the moving parts. This composition of color, texture, and dimension makes the watch a constantly engaging object, revealing new details with every glance.
For telling time, the watch uses faceted and polished rhodium-plated hands that stand out clearly against the complex background. Both the hands and the applied hour markers are filled with Super-LumiNova, a high-performance luminescent material that ensures excellent legibility in low-light conditions. This practical consideration demonstrates that despite its artistic and mechanical focus, the watch's primary function as a time-telling instrument has not been compromised.
At the core of the One Week beats the manual-winding Calibre ARM21, a movement entirely designed, developed, and assembled in the Armin Strom manufacture. This caliber is a testament to the brand's independence and technical capabilities. It is composed of 194 individual parts and operates at a frequency of 3.5 Hz, or 25,200 vibrations per hour. This rate was chosen to provide a good balance between chronometric stability and the efficient use of energy from the mainsprings.
Courtesy of Armin Strom
As the name "One Week" implies, the watch boasts an impressive seven-day power reserve. This is achieved through the use of two mainspring barrels mounted in series. This double-barrel system provides a more consistent and stable delivery of energy to the regulating organ over its entire running time, which in turn contributes to better timekeeping accuracy from a full wind down to the last day. The convenience of only needing to wind the watch once a week is a significant practical advantage for the owner.
A signature element of the ARM21 caliber is its unique power reserve indicator. Instead of a simple flat hand, it utilizes a three-dimensional conical gear system inspired by the mechanisms found in historic pocket watches. A polished cone, marked with a descending scale, rotates to show the remaining energy, driven by the unwinding of the mainsprings. This kinetic feature adds another layer of mechanical animation to the dial side and is a clever nod to horological tradition.
The movement's architecture is deliberately symmetrical, creating a sense of visual harmony and order. The two barrels, the exposed gear train, and the balance wheel are all arranged to be aesthetically pleasing. This design allows the wearer to witness the life of the movement in real time—the slow, steady unwinding of the barrels, the constant pulse of the balance wheel, and the transfer of energy through the gear train. It is a dynamic display of the science of movement.
Courtesy of Armin Strom
In keeping with the standards of haute horlogerie, every component of the Calibre ARM21 is meticulously hand-decorated. Armin Strom employs a wide range of traditional finishing techniques to elevate the aesthetic quality of the movement. These include straight and circular-grained surfaces, which create a soft, matte texture, and precisely executed Geneva stripes, visible through the case back, which create a beautiful wave-like pattern across the bridges.
The level of detail is exceptional, with every edge of the bridges and plates being chamfered and polished by hand, a process known as anglage. This creates a brilliant, reflective bevel that outlines the shape of each component and catches the light beautifully. Even the screw heads are polished to a mirror finish, and their surrounding sinks are polished as well, demonstrating a commitment to excellence that extends to the smallest details.
A critical step in the brand's quality control process is the practice of assembling each movement twice. The caliber is first fully assembled and tested to ensure its performance and functionality are perfect. It is then completely disassembled, and each individual part is cleaned and meticulously decorated. Finally, it is carefully reassembled by a single watchmaker, who ensures that every component meets the highest aesthetic and performance standards. This painstaking process is a hallmark of true high-end watchmaking.
The One Week Manufacture Edition Blue is paired with a matching stainless steel bracelet that is integrated directly into the case. The design features a three-link construction with brushed outer links and a polished center section that complements the finishing of the case. The bracelet is secured with a double-folding clasp, providing a secure and comfortable fit on the wrist.
Courtesy of Armin Strom
The cohesive design of the case and bracelet gives the watch a unified, sculptural presence. The thoughtful engineering ensures that the bracelet drapes comfortably, following the contour of the wrist. The combination of its manageable size and integrated bracelet makes it a watch that is both visually striking and exceptionally wearable for a variety of occasions.
The Armin Strom One Week Manufacture Edition Blue, reference ST25-OW.05, is a compelling synthesis of mechanical innovation and modern design. It showcases the brand's ability to create complex, in-house calibers and present them in a way that is both visually engaging and true to the traditions of Swiss watchmaking. This edition is strictly limited to just 100 pieces worldwide, underscoring its exclusivity. The price for this piece of mechanical art is set at CHF 39,000.
Case: Stainless steel, 41.00 mm diameter, 10.60 mm height, 44.35 mm lug-to-lug. Sapphire crystal and case back with anti-reflective treatment. Water resistance of 10 ATM.
Movement: Manual-winding Armin Strom Manufacture Calibre ARM21. 7-day power reserve from two barrels. 35 jewels, 194 components, 25,200 vph (3.5 Hz) frequency.
Dial: Openworked with a blue PVD coated mainplate. Black minute ring and small-second subdial. Rhodium, facetted hands and indexes with Super-LumiNova® filling.
Strap: Integrated stainless steel bracelet with a double-folding clasp.
Price: CHF 39,000
Reference Number: ST25-OW.05
Notes: Limited to 100 pieces. Features a unique conical power reserve mechanism. The entire movement is assembled twice to meet the highest quality and finishing standards.