I like to remind people that the Armin Strom Skeleton Pure case – which is a case shared among many other models – has a “tab” between the lower lugs whose purpose is to provide a space for an engraving. Armin Strom doesn’t need to engrave anything on this tab, but the intent is for the tab to be engraved with the owners initials (again, if they so choose).
At 43.40mm wide and 13mm thick, the Armin Strom Skeleton Pure is not a small watch, and wears prodigiously. The long lugs enhance the sense of size, but it wears comfortably enough. Note that for my small wrists, the attached strap (which is a fantastic quality piece of blue-colored, hand-stitched horn-back alligator) was a bit too large. I am sure Armin Strom sells shorter straps, but I was never able to get the more secure fit. You’ll likely not have that issue if your wrists are medium to large in their breadth.
For the Armin Strom Skeleton Pure Water, Armin Strom offers a steel case. I am really happy about this because, oftentimes when it comes to watches with fancy skeletonized movements, brands limit you to choosing only precious metal cases. The Armin Strom Skeleton Pure collection includes a steel case, a PVD-coated black steel case, a titanium case, as well as an 18k rose gold case. The prices between the various models seem very fair, and you get the sense that you aren’t paying the huge premiums for precious metals that other brands are often known to charge.
For example, there is a difference in price of roughly 3,000 Swiss francs between the titanium and steel case (finishing is really where the extra costs come in, as titanium is more difficult to brush and polish). Furthermore, the premium to get an 18k rose gold case over the steel case costs about 13,000 Swiss francs. That isn’t cheap per se, but it feels a lot more aligned to the increased cost of the material versus merely doubling the price of the watch (as some brands more or less do) when going from steel to a precious metal such as gold.
Even in steel, the case is relatively light, and I could have easily confused it for titanium sometimes. The wearing experience is wonderful, as the Armin Strom Skeleton Pure is eye-catching and fascinating without feeling pretentious or showy. I mean, while it is showy because of the decoration style and range of interesting visuals, it isn’t sparkly for sparkly’s sake – if that makes sense.
The ARM09-S movement is both skeletonized and decorated, but the decoration is not about engraving and more about conventional decorative techniques such as surface brushing and beveling/chamfering. This latter technique is where most of the hand-effort comes in, as the angles of bridges, wheels, and other surfaces are given this attractive decorative treatment. If you want to step it up a notch, then you can opt for (my all time favorite Armin Strom timepiece thus far) a timepiece like the Armin Strom One Week Skeleton (hands-on here).
The brand might be sold out already (everything we are talking about here is limited edition), but that timepiece features an 18k rose gold case and the same ARM09-base movement. The difference is that, in contrast to most conventional “industrial-style” finishing on the skeletonized movement, Armin Strom includes a large amount of hand-engraving as well on the One Week Skeleton. It is a beauty, but of course something like the Armin Strom Skeleton Pure is a bit more conservative in its appeal.
Over the beautiful movement is a partial dial produced from a ring of sapphire crystal. This is where the blued-metal hour markers are applied, and where the other markers are printed. There is also a second ring included as part of this sapphire crystal segment which makes up the subsidiary seconds dial (with power reserve indicator).
The result is a fully skeletonized dial and movement that also offers legibility. In fact, none of this legibility would exist if it were not for the large and very visible hour and minute hands. Richly painted with SuperLumiNova, the steel hands help create an experience that blends the readability of a sport watch with the attractive decoration and visuals of a skeletonized watch. Again, consider other watches on the market with this welcome combination of elements. There might be a few out there… but not many.
Other little details help the value proposition of an Armin Strom watch stand out. For instance, the folding deployant buckle is produced from nice sold pieces of steel with a clever set of release pushers in the buckle itself. Overall fit and finishing is very good, and when all things are taken into consideration, I really think that smaller independent brands like Armin Strom is where the “values” are in the high-end watch industry. Again, the Armin Strom Skeleton Pure collection which is mostly priced at between about $33,000 – $45,000 isn’t per se “cheap,” but compared to what you get for similar prices at a lot of other “big name” brands, you get a lot for your money here indeed. The Armin Strom Skeleton Pure Water – as tested here – is produced as a limited edition of 100 pieces (as are most of the other Skeleton Pure collection watches) with a price of 32,400 Swiss francs. arminstrom.com
Necessary Data
>Brand: Armin Strom
>Model: Skeleton Pure (Skeleton Pure Water reference ST15-PW.05 as tested)
>Price: 32,400 Swiss francs (collection starting price)
>Size: 43.4mm wide, 13mm thick
>Would reviewer personally wear it: Yes.
>Friend we’d recommend it to first: Lover of independent high-end sport watches who is looking for something to show off a cool, skeletonized movement. Certainly a “statement watch,” and not shy about it.
>Best characteristic of watch: Elegant and successful execution of elements which combine to make a unique category of timepiece which blends various genres. Movement is useful and beautiful while dial maintains necessary legibility. Armin Strom also uses some really nice straps.
>Worst characteristic of watch: Conservatives might find style and design a bit too avant-garde. Some might also dislike lack of perfect symmetry on dial, as the hands are mounted a bit to the left.
