The Armin Strom Gravity Date Fire watch is a visually stunning, luxurious representation of the company’s meticulous hand-finishing.  Forming part of the brand’s “Elements” series, its resplendent 18-carat gold aesthetics capture the essence of Earth’s most intense component.

At the Armin Strom Atelier, where virtually every component of their Manufacture calibres is created, the legacy of their founding Father continues.  Theirs is a portfolio which is characterised by small-series editions and, with the emphasis on meticulous hand decoration and finishing, each piece is a showcase for watchmaking prowess.

With an abundance of useful functions, each beautifully arranged for legibility, the Armin Strom Gravity Date Fire wristwatch offers the luxury of a rounded 43.40 mm 18-carat rose gold case.  At the 6 o’clock location, the protruding lip is a synonymous feature, which enables the wearer to personalise their watch with a bespoke engraving.

For this model, the mainplate of the movement becomes the dial, and its fine circular Côtes de Genève decoration provides an excellent background for the time indications.

In an off-centred position, the hours and minutes are marked in white on a black dial ring, with applied hour numerals at 12, 3 and 6. White double digit numerals count the minutes. To aid readability, the razor-tipped hour and minutes hands have been liberally lume-coated.

Overlapping the dial ring at the 9 o’clock position, a small subdial offers a combined indication for the seconds and the pointer date display.  At its centre, the day/night indicator represents each 12 hour sector in either white or black.

Complementing the overall contemporary feel of this watch, a plate which carries the Armin Strom logo has been fixed with visible screws, adding a touch of industrial styling.

Revealing the true Haute Horlogerie credentials of this piece, a generous open section between 12 and 6 o’clock lends an uninterrupted view of the barrel and the going train.

Unusually, the Manufacture ADD14 calibre which gives power to the Gravity Date Fire model, incorporates an innovative concept of transmission for the rotor.  This allows it to take up position dial side and its energetic motion, which breathes life into the calibre, can be viewed between 5 and 4 o’clock.

Turn the piece over, and the panorama of the fine craftsmanship of the decorated Armin Strom Manufacture automatic calibre can be observed.

Here, a glimpse deep into the heart of the calibre reveals a compelling view of an old-school screwed balance, surrounded by exquisite perlage bridges.  Hand-engraving, unique to the Gravity Fire models, has been executed on one of the bridges, while elsewhere the meticulous concentric hand-finishing continues.  Beating at a leisurely 18,000vph, the movement has a power reserve of 120 hours.

The Armin Strom Gravity Fire Date wristwatch wears on a brown horn-back alligator leather strap and comes supplied with an additional brown rubber strap.  The model is an exclusive limited edition of just 100 pieces.