In 2010, Armin Strom released its first in-house movement-powered watch in the form of the One Week, named so for its seven-day power reserve. More than a dozen years later, the company has revisited and redesigned that seminal model and now presents the Armin Strom One Week First Edition watch at Geneva Watch Days 2023. Limited to only 25 examples, this new-generation One Week lays the aesthetic and mechanical foundation of what will be Armin Strom’s flagship watch collection moving forward.
The Armin Strom One Week First Edition watch features a 41mm stainless steel case that measures only 10.6mm thick. Attached to that case is an integrated bracelet with “H”-shaped satin-brushed and polished links, also fashioned from stainless steel, bringing forward that ’70s era sports watch deluxe silhouette that’s all the rage these days. You can even take it for a swim if you’d like given that it’s water-resistant to 100 meters. However, unlike the simple dials that are typical of many steel integrated bracelet sports watches, the face of the One Week First Edition serves to show off as much of the new Caliber ARM21 in-house movement as possible.
Staying true to its name, the manual-winding Caliber ARM21 movement that drives the One Week First Edition has a seven-day power reserve thanks to the two mainspring barrels secured by a pair of finger-style bridges, which are visible on the right-hand side of the open-worked dial. When the time comes to wind up the movement, the turning of the two ratchet wheels that spin the barrels in opposite directions is on full display. There’s also a mirror-polished cone-shaped power reserve indicator positioned between 10 and 11, driven by a conical gear placed between the 7th and 8th hours. According to the brand, this cone system was inspired by pocket watches. The light blue PVD-colored mainplate and bridges give the watch much of its personality, and the cool colorway is exclusive to this limited-edition variant.
While Armin Strom watches have historically had off-centered displays for the time, on the One Week First Edition watch, the polished and faceted hour and minute hands are placed at the center of the dial and point to a black chapter ring punctuated with baton indices. What is off-centered is the black running seconds subdial at 9 o’clock, home to the brand’s “AS” logo. All the hands and hour markers benefit from Super-LumiNova for nighttime viewing.
Moving to the caseback of the watch, which, like the dial side, is furnished with a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment, we see more of that Cailber ARM21 movement. The movement beats at 25,200 vph and includes 194 components and 35 jewels. In true Armin Strom form, the movement is beautifully decorated and hand-finished as evidenced by the straight and circular-grained surfaces, chamfered and polished bevels, polished screws and sinks, and of course, the Geneva striped plates. We also see a slice of the powdery blue tone prominently displayed on the front.
The Armin Strom One Week First Edition watch (ref. ST23-OW.FE) is limited to 25 pieces and is priced at $34,000 USD, which is not much more than other full stainless models in the brand’s current collection. What’s more, the watch will come with a 10-year warranty — double what Armin Strom typically provides. The First Edition ushers in a new era for the One Week watch and its streamlined and sporty design breathes some fresh air into the brand’s catalog while still maintaining the mechanical expertise the independent watchmaker is known for. For more information, please visit the brand’s website.
