ReviewExplore The World Of Radical Watchmaking With The Armin Strom One Week Limited-Edition Watches

Known for their futuristic designs that are largely dominated by intricate skeletonised displays, young independent watchmaker Armin Strom have managed to unleash quite the storm with their fine watchmaking prowess. Ultra-modern in their outlook, their watches stand out for open-worked displays that occupy pride of place on the dials and are complex yet beautiful. Just like their One Week First Edition timepiece—a completely revamped version of the original One Week model launched in 2010, equipped with an in-house movement with a seven-day power reserve. The new model comes in a limited-edition of 25 pieces only and builds up on the groundbreaking achievements of its predecessor. For this the brand have revisited their first manufacture movement and have worked on its architecture, giving it an all-new design and construction.

“When we decided to revisit the One Week, we knew from the beginning that we wanted it to be an all-occasions watch: sporty yet sophisticated, intricate yet legible, and filled with immersive little details that even the most demanding collector can appreciate. It was also important for us that the new One Week be instantly recognisable as an Armin Strom by integrating and further refining many of the design elements that have become characteristic of our more recent creations,” says founder Serge Michel in an official statement. Here are more details on the new launch.

Armin Strom One Week: Radical Watchmaking Fuelled By Cutting-Edge Technology

For those who have been following the brand closely would be aware that Armin Strom watches are crafted in a style that’s come to be known as ‘Transparent Mechanics’, or simply put—the art of manufacturing complex open-worked watches where the mechanics and engineering shine through and through. The brand always ensures to feature kinetic mechanical elements on the dial and for the new One Week First Edition, they have taken it up a notch. Armin Strom have completely re-engineered and redesigned the manual-winding movement to ensure that structurally it is advanced, more powerful, and highly functional, or as the brand puts it, ‘form, function, aesthetics, and ergonomics are all harmoniously brought into the foreground, resulting in a piece of otherwise traditional horology executed in a dynamic, radical way’.

The watch comes in a 41mm stainless-steel case, executed in a contemporary style and measures only 10.6mm in height—largely compact proportions for a complex calibre with such intense depth

It features refined finishings such as straight and circular grained surfaces, chamfered and polished bevels, Geneva-striped plates, and polished screws and sinks—all applied by hand

“The One Week from 2010 holds a special place for the Armin Strom manufacture as it was the first movement we completely developed and built in-house. We went far beyond simply giving it a facelift, as it is in fact an entirely redesigned and re-engineered movement. From the two barrels working in series for better isochronism to the 3D power-reserve display, and the increased beat rate, the new One Week is definitely a milestone achievement for our team in Biel,” states Claude Greisler, master watchmaker and co-founder, Armin Strom.

The watch comes in a 41mm stainless-steel case, executed in a contemporary style and measures only 10.6mm in height—largely compact proportions for a complex calibre with such intense depth. And like all Armin Strom creations, this one too, features refined finishings such as straight and circular grained surfaces, chamfered and polished bevels, Geneva-striped plates, and polished screws and sinks—all applied by hand. The inner workings of the mechanism are on full display and stand out against the ice blue PVD-coloured main plate and bridges, which form a fully open-worked dial. In fact, compared to the previous generation of the One Week, which had a partially open dial, the new model has a more three-dimensional appearance. There is also a chapter ring set with baton indices filled with Super-LumiNova and the small seconds are displayed at nine o’clock, on a small black sub-dial.

The inner workings of the mechanism are on full display and stand out against the ice blue PVD-coloured main plate and bridges, which form a fully open-worked dial. In fact, compared to the previous generation of the One Week, which had a partially open dial, the new model has a more three-dimensional appearance. There is also a chapter ring set with baton indices filled with Super-LumiNova and the small seconds are displayed at nine o’clock, on a small black sub-dial

And following the success of  the One Week First Edition, which debuted in 2023, Armin Strom have launched a new version of the One Week—a rightful heir, exhibiting a dark grey colour scheme—now known as the Manufacture Edition. It carries the same design DNA such as the architectural openworked movement, housed in a sleek and sporty 41mm steel case with an integrated bracelet. Limited to 100 pieces, the One Week Manufacture Edition celebrates the brand’s independence in the watchmaking world since they decided to establish their manufacture, 15 years ago.

Armin Strom have launched a new version of the One Week—a rightful heir, exhibiting a dark grey colour scheme—now known as the Manufacture Edition

Limited to 100 pieces, the One Week Manufacture Edition celebrates the brand’s independence as a watchmaker since they decided to establish their manufacture, 15 years ago

“The craftsmanship truly shines when observed through a magnifying glass, highlighting the watch’s artisanal excellence. At Armin Strom, we make a point of ensuring that every movement conveys our passion and attention to detail with traditional hand-finishing techniques, from the purest and simplest to the most complex. Because it’s so three-dimensional, the One Week Manufacture Edition is an incredible piece with which to demonstrate this,” elaborates Greisler.

The In-House Powerhouse—A Peek Inside The Calibre ARM21

The driving force of the new One Week is the manufacture Calibre ARM21—a manual-winding mechanism with an impressive seven-day power reserve, however, it’s not the same as the movement which powered the original One Week. The new calibre composed of 194 components, features two mainspring barrels, working in tandem to supply consistent levels of energy to the gear train. Held by two ‘finger-style’ bridges, the barrels are arranged on the right side of the dial in a manner that doesn’t disturb the overall symmetry of the watch, and when the winding takes place as the ratchet wheels are set in motion, one can view this dance through the dial.

The driving force of the new One Week is the manufacture Calibre ARM21—a manual-winding mechanism with an impressive seven-day power reserve. Composed of 194 components, it features two mainspring barrels, working in tandem to supply consistent levels of energy to the gear train. Held by two ‘finger-style’ bridges, the barrels are arranged on the right side of the dial in a manner that doesn’t disturb the overall symmetry of the watch, and when the winding takes place as the ratchet wheels are set in motion, one can view this dance through the dial

Also, one of the most prominent features here is the power reserve indicator, positioned at three o’clock, which is in sync with the architectural depth of the movement. It is indicated by a cone system—inspired by pocket watches of yore—driven by a conical gear on the opposite side of the dial. Even the hands are placed in the centre, unlike most Armin Strom watches where these are generally found on an off-centre sub-dial. Another new feature here is the oscillating frequency since it is designed as an all-occasions watch that can withstand activities, so it has been increased to 25,200vph—a higher rate, which offers more controlled chronometric performance.

Water-resistant to 100m, the watch is presented on an integrated steel bracelet consisting of ‘H’-shaped satin-brushed and polished links, which offers optimum comfort on the wrist.