A complete review of the new Armin Strom One Week First Edition launched in 2023 and featuring a 7-day power reserve. Live pictures, specs, and price
The new Armin Strom One Week First Edition offers precisely this to its wearer, thanks to its remarkable seven-day power reserve.
The Swiss brand, headquartered in Biel/Bienne, first introduced the One Week Collection in 2010 equipping it with their first in-house developed and produced calibre. Interpreting Armin Strom’s watchmaking tradition of skeletonizing in a modern form, this new line raised great consensus.
The Armin Strom One Week presented in 2010
In 2023, Armin Strom debuted the One Week First Edition, a limited series of just 25 pieces. This entirely new model revisits the original calibre with a fresh design and construction, conceived as a foundational model within the brand's lineup.
Following our presentation article published last August, we recently had the opportunity to spend a few days with this eye-catching model, and we are now delighted to share our impressions and pictures.
The Armin Strom One Week First Edition is a versatile timepiece suitable for any occasion: combining a sporty yet sophisticated design, it boasts many captivating details, inviting discerning collectors to embark on a delightful exploration.
In crafting its timepieces, Armin Strom adheres to the timeless principle set forth by its founder: "As an object of fine mechanical art, a hand-finished movement is too good to remain hidden between a watch face and case back." This commitment to showcasing exquisite craftsmanship, termed "transparent horology" by Armin Strom, is evident in the One Week First Edition.
The watch comes in a stainless steel case characterised by a contemporary design with clean lines highlighted by meticulous finishes alternating polished and satin-brushed surfaces.
Measuring 41 mm in diameter, the One Week is only 10.6 mm thick, a notable achievement considering the three-dimensional architecture of the movement. Water resistance is guaranteed up to a pressure of 10 ATM (approximately 100 metres / 330 feet), thanks in part to a screwed-down crown, well protected by two guards that enhance the sporty look.
The integrated stainless steel bracelet features H-shaped links and alternates satin-brushed and polished surfaces. It is secured to the wrist by a triple folding clasp with security push-pieces. Finishes are outstanding.
The One Week First Edition sits nicely and comfortably on the wrist (the one in our pictures is 17.7 cm / 7") thanks to the reduced size of the lugs, whose width is 22 mm.
The dial side showcases several components of the manufacture ARM21 calibre, an entirely redesigned and reengineered hand-wound movement, comprised of 194 individual parts and distinguished - in the 25 pieces of the One Week First Edition - by the cool light blue of the PVD-coloured mainplate and bridges.
It features two mainspring barrels working in series to provide consistent levels of energy to the gear train. Held by two sculpted finger-style bridges, the barrels are symmetrically arranged on the right portion of the completely open dial and are embossed with the text "ARMIN STROM - ONE WEELK- DOUBLE BARREL". The granular-looking plate around these two elements result from grenage finishing.
The process of manual winding creates a captivating spectacle as the coordinated movement of two ratchet wheels simultaneously winds up the two barrels in opposing directions.
Between 10 and 11 o'clock, we can notice the indicator of one of the most distinctive features of the new One Week, the power reserve. This is indicated by a cone system inspired by pocket watches and consisting of a mirror-polished cone, which is driven by a conical gear on the opposite side of the dial.
The faceted hour and minute hands are perfectly positioned in the centre of the dial, which is pretty uncommon for Armin watches, usually featuring offset hour and minute hands, either on a subsidiary dial as small hands or slightly off from the centre as large hands. In this model we still have a sub-dial, at 9 o'clock, but it is used for the small seconds, easily readable against a black background, emblazoned with the brand’s “AS” logo.
The bridge supporting the hour and minute hands features a geometric design that elevates above the mainplate. Keeping legibility optimal, the movement is surrounded by a chapter ring set with baton indices
All the hands and the hour markers are filled with Super-LumiNova, emitting a vibrant green glowin darker environments.
The transparent sapphire crystal case back demonstrates Armin Strom's dedication to Haute Horlogerie showcasing the outstanding level of the hand-made finishes. These include straight and circular grained surfaces, polished and chamfered bevels, Geneva-striped plates, and polished screws and sinks.
Held in place by a finger-style bridge, the balance wheel operates at a frequency 3.5 Hz (25,200 vibrations per hour), increased from the 2.5 Hz frequency of the original One Week. To achieve this higher frequency, which offers a more stable chronometric performance, the entire gear train had to be recalculated and reconfigured.
Instead of the "PROTOTYPE" text that you see in our pictures, the final product features a “1 OUT OF 25” engraving that remarks the exclusivity and limited production of this model.
With its distinctive appearance and exceptional features, the Armin Strom One Week First Edition is a timepiece of great character. Priced at CHF 32,000, it presents an attractive option for those seeking an exclusive Haute Horlogerie creation, given its level of complexity, craftsmanship, and rarity.
The One Week First Edition comes with 10-year warranty, a clear statement of the brand's complete confidence in the timepiece's uncompromised quality. arminstrom.com
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