Armin Strom has consistently positioned itself as a manufacturer that prioritizes the visibility of mechanics, and the release of the One Week Skeleton Rose Gold serves as a direct continuation of this transparent philosophy. This specific release marks a shift towards a warmer aesthetic for the One Week collection, utilizing a solid 18K rose gold case to house the brand's reinterpreted in-house movement. While the architecture of the watch remains rooted in the industrial, beam-like construction that defines modern Armin Strom calibres, the introduction of precious metal softens the visual impact, creating a bridge between high-concept independent horology and traditional luxury materials. The watch is not merely a dial color change but a fully skeletonized integration where the case material and the movement finishings are designed to complement one another, creating a cohesive unit that celebrates the brand’s heritage in the art of skeletonization.
The history of the brand is inextricably linked to the practice of skeletonization, a craft that Mr. Armin Strom himself championed long before the current resurgence of openworked dials. This technique, which involves removing as much material as possible from the movement’s plates and bridges without compromising structural integrity, is the foundation of the One Week Skeleton Rose Gold. The watch acts as a tribute to this legacy, yet it executes the concept with modern machining and finishing standards rather than the baroque, floral engravings often associated with traditional skeleton watches. The "Skeleton" designation here refers to a geometric, architectural reduction of mass, revealing the gear train, barrels, and escapement in a way that emphasizes depth and three-dimensionality. It is a contemporary approach where the negative space is just as important as the metal that remains, allowing light to pass through the watch and highlighting the layering of the ARM21-S calibre.
Courtesy of Armin Strom
Visually, the watch presents a striking balance between the deep, rich tones of the 18K rose gold and the stark, mechanical grays of the mainplate and gears. The case measures 41 mm in diameter, a size that offers significant wrist presence without becoming unwieldy, particularly given the reasonable height of 10.60 mm. The case design features the brand's signature "lip" at 6 o'clock, a subtle deviation from a perfect circle that allows for personalization but also serves as a visual anchor. The lugs are relatively short and sharply angled, contributing to a compact lug-to-lug measurement of 44.35 mm. This geometry ensures that despite the bold appearance of the skeletonized dial, the watch sits securely and centrally on the wrist, adhering to ergonomic principles that often get overlooked in larger contemporary timepieces.
The dial is less of a traditional face and more of a window into the engine, yet it maintains a strict symmetry that provides order to the mechanical complexity. A black minute ring encircles the periphery, providing a high-contrast boundary that frames the movement and enhances legibility. Floating above this mechanical landscape are the rose gold-colored hour and minute hands, which are faceted and filled with Super-LumiNova. This inclusion of lume is a practical touch that acknowledges the watch's potential for daily wear, ensuring that time-telling remains functional in low-light conditions. The indices are similarly treated, applied directly onto the minute track, creating a floating effect that draws the eye inward toward the exposed mechanics.
Prominently displayed on the dial side are the two mainspring barrels, held in place by two distinct "finger" bridges. These bridges are coated in a rose gold tone to match the case, creating a visual continuity that flows from the external housing into the heart of the movement. The bridges feature linear brushing on their top surfaces and highly polished bevels on the edges, a finishing technique that catches the light and separates the bridges from the darker, anthracite-toned background components. The layout is horizontally aligned, with the two barrels on the right balancing the regulating organ and the small seconds display on the left. This horizontal symmetry is a hallmark of the One Week architecture, giving the watch a grounded, stable appearance despite the frenetic energy of the visible gears.
The small seconds indicator is located at the 9 o'clock position and features its own skeletonized sub-dial. This element adds a layer of kinetic activity to the left side of the watch, counterbalancing the static mass of the barrels on the right. The sub-dial ring is black with white markers, mirroring the main chapter ring, while the small seconds hand itself is rendered in the same rose gold tone. The entire regulating system, including the flat hairspring and the variable inertia balance wheel, is visible adjacent to this sub-dial. Watching the balance wheel oscillate at 25,200 vibrations per hour (3.5 Hz) provides a constant "heartbeat" that is unencumbered by a solid dial, allowing the owner to observe the breathing of the hairspring and the precise interaction of the escapement pallet fork.
Courtesy of Armin Strom
One of the most technically interesting features of this timepiece is the conical power reserve system. Inspired by the mechanisms found in historical pocket watches, Armin Strom has adapted a cone-driven indicator to display the state of wind. This 3-dimensional power reserve indicator is not just a flat hand painting an arc on a dial; it is a mechanical sculpture in its own right. As the watch is wound, the mechanism interacts with the cone, providing a highly legible and mechanically fascinating readout of the remaining energy. It sits opposite the small seconds, maintaining the dial’s equilibrium. The complexity of manufacturing such a small, conical gear system speaks to the brand’s machining capabilities and their desire to elevate standard complications into visual spectacles.
The motive power for this timepiece comes from the manual-winding Calibre ARM21-S. This movement is a significant evolution of the brand’s earlier ARM09, re-engineered for better performance and aesthetic integration. The "S" in the calibre designation denotes the skeletonization, which required a redesign of the plates and bridges to ensure stability despite the removal of material. The movement utilizes a double going barrel system, where the two barrels operate in series. This configuration is critical for achieving the impressive 7-day power reserve. By linking the barrels in series, the movement achieves a more consistent torque release over the lengthy discharge period, resulting in better isochronism and timekeeping accuracy throughout the week compared to a single massive barrel which might suffer from high torque variance.
The winding experience itself is a key point of interaction for a manual wind watch with such a long power reserve. Winding a watch to store a full week of energy can sometimes be tedious, but the tactile feedback of the ratchet wheels—visible on the dial side—adds a level of engagement to the process. These two large ratchet wheels rotate as the crown is turned, allowing the user to literally see the energy being stored into the barrels. This animation on the dial side transforms the daily (or weekly) ritual of winding into a visual event. It reinforces the connection between the user and the machine, a quality that is often lost in automatic movements where the rotor hides the winding works and performs the task unnoticed.
Turning the watch over reveals the case back, which is fitted with a sapphire crystal that has received anti-reflective treatment. The view from the back is cleaner and more plate-focused than the front, yet still heavily skeletonized. The large bridges are finished with circular graining and hand-polished bevels, while the screw sinks are meticulously polished to a mirror finish. The engraving "1 OUT OF 50" is prominent, reminding the owner of the limited nature of this production run. The jewels, totaling 35 in the movement, stand out as vibrant red pivot points against the monochrome rhodium and rose gold tones. The expansive sapphire back also allows for a clear view of the gear train transmission, tracing the path of power from the barrels down to the escapement.
Courtesy of Armin Strom
The case construction utilizes 18K rose gold not just for luxury signaling but for its specific hue, which adds a necessary warmth to the otherwise cold industrial design. The gold surfaces are finished with a mix of brushing and polishing. The top surfaces of the lugs and bezel usually feature a vertical brushing that diffuses light, while the chamfers and flanks are polished to highlight the architectural lines of the case. This alternating finish is crucial for defining the shape of the watch; a fully polished case would look amorphous, while a fully brushed one would look flat. The sharp transitions between brushed and polished surfaces demonstrate the quality of the case making, ensuring that the soft gold retains crisp, defined edges.
Durability and daily usability have clearly been considered in the design of the One Week Skeleton Rose Gold. With a water resistance rating of 10 ATM (approximately 100 meters), this is not a fragile dress watch that must be shielded from a splash of rain. It is robust enough for varied daily activities, which is a rare attribute for a skeletonized precious metal watch. This robust specification aligns with the "One Week" concept—it is designed to be strapped on and worn for the full seven days without worry. The anti-reflective coating on both the front and rear crystals ensures that the intricate details of the skeletonization are not obscured by glare, maintaining high visibility under direct light.
The choice of strap further emphasizes the modern positioning of this timepiece. Rather than fitting it with a traditional alligator leather strap, which would push the aesthetic towards a classic dress watch, Armin Strom has opted for a black textile strap. This material choice adds a utilitarian, sporty texture that contrasts sharply with the precious metal case. It dresses the watch down slightly, making it more versatile and appropriate for casual wear. The strap is secured to the wrist with an 18K rose gold pin buckle, which echoes the design language of the case and ensures a secure, comfortable fit. The texture of the fabric strap interacts with the light differently than leather, offering a matte counterpoint to the gleam of the gold.
Courtesy of Armin Strom
The Calibre ARM21-S is composed of 194 individual parts, a relatively high count for a time-only movement, which is indicative of the complexity of the double barrel and power reserve systems. Each of these components is finished by hand, reflecting the "High Horology" standards the brand aspires to. The fact that every watch is assembled twice is a significant detail in the production process. The movement is first assembled to check functionality, then disassembled, cleaned, and decorated before being assembled a final time. This rigorous process minimizes the risk of scratches or debris affecting the final product and ensures that the lubrication and regulation are optimized for long-term performance.
The frequency of the balance, at 25,200 vph, is an interesting compromise between the standard 28,800 vph and the slower 18,000 vph of vintage pocket watches. This 3.5 Hz rate offers distinct stability benefits while allowing for a slightly larger balance wheel than a higher beat movement might accommodate. A larger balance wheel typically possesses a higher moment of inertia, which helps maintain stable timekeeping against shocks and position changes. Visually, the slightly slower beat rate allows the eye to track the oscillation more easily than in a high-beat movement, adding to the visual appeal of the open escapement.
The skeletonization process itself requires a mastery of tension and release within the metal. Removing material from a mainplate changes its stress properties; if done incorrectly, the plate can warp, misaligning the jewel holes and causing the gear train to bind. Armin Strom’s expertise allows them to cut deep into the metal, leaving thin, elegant struts that look delicate but are structurally rigid. This is the "Deeper Cut" alluded to in the marketing of the watch—a willingness to push the limits of how much metal can be removed while retaining a shock-resistant, 10 ATM-rated durability.
Legibility is often the Achilles' heel of skeleton watches, where hands get lost against the busy background of gears and bridges. Armin Strom addresses this with the solid rose gold coating on the hands and the substantial application of Super-LumiNova. By ensuring the hands are thick and faceted, they catch the light and stand out against the grey mechanics. The black minute ring is the other critical component for legibility, providing a solid reference point for the eye. Without this ring, reading the exact minute would be a guess; with it, precision is maintained.
Courtesy of Armin Strom
This timepiece represents a specific niche in the market: the robust, precious metal skeleton. It competes with other high-end independents but distinguishes itself through the specific "One Week" architecture and the conical power reserve. It does not try to be a super-thin ultra-classic dress watch, nor does it try to be a rugged oversized sports watch. It occupies a middle ground of "sport-chic" where the mechanics are the primary decoration. The rose gold elevates it to a status symbol, but the textile strap and 100m water resistance ground it in reality, making it a watch that is meant to be used rather than stored in a safe.
Availability of the Armin Strom One Week Skeleton Rose Gold is strictly controlled, with the total production limited to just 50 pieces worldwide. This limitation ensures exclusivity and protects the collectability of the reference. The price is set at $62,000, a figure that reflects the material cost of the solid 18K gold case and buckle, the labor-intensive hand-finishing of the 194 movement parts, and the proprietary nature of the double-barrel engineering. For collectors who value the intersection of traditional mechanics, modern industrial design, and precious materials, this release offers a compelling package that remains true to the brand's core identity of transparency and mechanical excellence.
Case: 18K Rose gold construction, 41.00 mm diameter, 10.60 mm height, 44.35 mm lug-to-lug. Sapphire crystal and case back with anti-reflective treatment. Water resistant to 10 ATM.
Movement: In-house Calibre ARM21-S Rose Gold manual-wind movement. Double going barrel system providing 7 days of power reserve. Frequency 25,200 vph, 35 jewels, 194 components. Skeletonised plate and bridges with rose-gold finishing.
Dial: Openworked display with black minute ring and skeletonised small-second dial. Rose gold coloured coated indexes and hands with Super-LumiNova filling.
Strap: Black textile strap with 18K Rose gold pin buckle.
Price: $62,000
Reference Number: RG25-OW.65
Notes: Limited edition of 50 pieces worldwide. Features a distinctive conical power reserve mechanism inspired by historical pocket watches.