Armin Strom One Week Manufacture Edition
Following the inaugural redesigned One Week First Edition that made its debut in 2023, Armin Strom unveils a new version of the successor to its first-ever manufacture movement with the One Week Manufacture Edition. The highly architectural openworked movement, housed in a sleek and sporty steel case with an integrated bracelet, is now presented in a range of grey and anthracite hues. Limited to 100 pieces, the One Week Manufacture Edition foregoes colour to bring out the beauty of its uniquely constructed manual calibre.
15 years ago, independent watchmaking brand Armin Strom took a major leap that would forever change its trajectory. Realising that the path to true independence lies in mastering every step of the process, it established its very own manufacture in Biel. A year later, the first timepiece produced by its vertically integrated manufacture was unveiled: the One Week. Entirely developed and manufactured in-house and designed with symmetrical harmony in mind, it stood out thanks to its unique movement architecture featuring two barrels that together provide a seven-day power reserve. This milestone marked the beginning of many new calibres and innovations by the Armin Strom manufacture, showcasing their dedication to the science of movement and garnering the admiration and respect of even the most discerning and seasoned collectors.
The new One Week Manufacture Edition completely reimagines this milestone calibre in line with the brand’s recent bolder, more three-dimensional approach to calibre design, all in a sleek and serene execution that further highlights its ingenuity and uniqueness. The mainplate, bridges and parts, visible on the dial thanks to the openworked movement design, are anthracite PVD coated for a striking look.
As Armin Strom founder Serge Michel notes: “Collectors who missed the opportunity to get a first edition of the redesigned One Week will now have another chance. The Manufacture Edition of the new One Week will be limited to 100 pieces.”
Sporty yet classy, this model exudes calmness and serenity with its anthracite tones and the symmetrical harmony of its in-house movement.
Mechanical artistry in motion
The One Week is all about highlighting the openworked design and showcasing many of the movement’s kinetic elements on the dial side – something that has become an instantly recognisable feature of Armin Strom timepieces. While similar in name and function to its predecessor, the new generation of the One Week has been completely reengineered and redesigned, resulting in a manual-winding movement that boasts stunning architectural depth. Form, function, aesthetics and ergonomics are all harmoniously brought into the foreground, resulting in a piece of otherwise traditional horology executed in a dynamic and radical way.
The science of movement
True to its name and just like its predecessor, the One Week delivers an impressive seven-day power reserve. The new manual-winding ARM21 calibre features two mainspring barrels, which work in series to provide consistent levels of energy to the gear train. Held by two finger-style bridges, the barrels are symmetrically arranged on the right portion of the completely open dial. The manual winding ritual performs a hypnotic choreography as the motion of two ratchet wheels winding both barrels in opposite directions is clearly visible from the dial side.
One of the most distinctive features of the new One Week is its power reserve indicator. In keeping with the architectural depth of the movement, the power reserve is indicated by a cone system that takes its inspiration from pocket watches, with a mirror-polished cone driven by a conical gear on the opposite side of the dial.
For a watch with a sporty edge, performance also means withstanding rapid movements and shocks. The major chronometric evolution of the new One Week is thus the oscillating frequency of the regulating organ. The rate has been increased from 2.5 Hz to 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph) versus the first One Week generation from 2010, which offers a more stable chronometric performance. This required Armin Strom’s engineers to recalculate and reconfigure the entire gear train.
Layers of depth
Armin Strom watches usually feature offset hour and minute hands. In the One Week, however, the faceted hour and minute hands filled with Super-LumiNova are perfectly positioned in the centre of the open front of the watch, further enhancing its aesthetic balance.
In fact, compared to the previous generation of the One Week, which featured a partially open dial to expose the movement, the new version was conceived to be much more three-dimensional. It totally foregoes a traditional dial, instead adopting a contemporary architecture with various movement elements positioned in such a way that they can be explored from many angles. The bridge holding the hands has been designed with a geometric form to rise above the mainplate. Maintaining optimal legibility, the movement is surrounded by a chapter ring set with baton indices filled with Super-LumiNova. The small seconds at 9 o’clock are displayed on a small black dial, emblazoned with the brand’s “AS” logo.
Craftsmanship in every detail
Like all Armin Strom creations, from the purest to the most complex, the One Week is a masterclass in haute horlogerie hand-finishing. Straight- and circular-grained surfaces, chamfered and polished bevels, Geneva-striped plates, and polished screws and sinks have clearly been applied by expert hands. The One Week Manufacture Edition stands out with its anthracite PVD-coated mainplate and bridges, offering a monochromatic look that blends perfectly with its steel exterior.
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”, remarks Claude Greisler, master watchmaker and co-founder of Armin Strom.
An emphasis on ergonomics
The One Week’s micromechanical sculpture of a movement is housed in a suitably contemporary case. Crafted in stainless steel, it measures 41 mm in width and only 10.6 mm in height – surprisingly compact proportions for a calibre of such intense depth. Paired with an integrated steel bracelet consisting of H-shaped satin-brushed and polished links, the overall design is holistic with an emphasis on ergonomics to make for a perfect everyday-wear piece full of mechanical intrigue.
The One Week Manufacture Edition is limited to 100 pieces. It is available directly from Armin Strom and its network of authorized retailers around the world.
Technical specifications
Armin Strom One Week Manufacture Edition
Reference: ST23-OW.ME
Limited edition of 100 pieces
Case
- Material: Stainless steel
- Sapphire crystal and case back with anti-reflective treatment
- Diameter: 41.00 mm
- Height: 10.60 mm
- Lug-to-Lug: 44.35 mm
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
Dial and hands
- Dial: Black minute ring and small-second dial, numbers and indexes with Super-LumiNova® filling
- Hands: Faceted polished hands and Super-LumiNova® filling
Movement
- Armin Strom manufacture Calibre ARM21
- Manual winding movement
- Regulating system: Flat hairspring with a variable inertia balance wheel
- Power reserve: 7 days
- Dimensions: 36.60 mm × 6.00 mm
- Frequency: 3.5 Hz (25,200 vph)
- Number of jewels: 35
- Number of components: 194
Functions/Indications
- Hours, minutes, small seconds
Strap and buckle
- Stainless steel bracelet with a double folding clasp
MSRP
- CHF 32'000 / EUR 37'100 / GBP 31'700 / USD 33'600
For more information, please visit arminstrom.com
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