A spectacular showcase for contemporary Haute Horlogerie, featuring an entirely novel in-house solution for constant force, the Gravity Equal Force by Armin Strom introduces this remarkable young independent watch company’s new System 78 Collection. Thanks to its elaborate dial-side mechanical architecture which dominates the display and an all new case design which redefines some of the brand’s signature detailing it is a stand out modern wristwatch which commands attention, and has an immense presence on the wrist

Encased in a 41mm round case of stainless steel the Gravity Equal Force is highly distinctive and beautifully designed, with flat surfaces finished in vertical brush graining, contrasting with the highly polished bezel and accentuated angles of the lugs. Most notable to the knowing eye is the significantly reduced lip at the six o’clock position, which has been a constant on all previous Armin Strom collections, and this seems to give the dial area greater prominence.

Beneath the sapphire crystal, the face of the Gravity Equal Force is split between the time display and the fascinating in house mechanical innovation which sets this fabulous watch apart. The off centre dial has a satin finished central recess ringed by a polished border, and displays the hours and minutes via tapering skeletonised hands, with the small constant seconds inset between the six and the nine.

The complex workings of the Armin Strom Equal Force are exposed beneath the trio of skeletonised bridges, which reach in a symmetric formation towards the centre of the display. Uppermost, a micro rotor keeps the all new, self-winding Calibre ASB19 movement topped up while the watch is on the wrist, so an unwavering frequency of 3.5Hz is delivered in a constant force to the regulating assemblage, assuring optimum precision throughout the reserve. The barrel features a patented internal stop-work declutch system which, as the reserve approaches its last hours, the point when the torque curve on a more traditional format would be starting to drop off, essentially shuts the movement down around the 72 hour mark while the line of the torque curve is still level and this is indicated by a tiny pointer on top of the barrel.

This state of the art watchmaking is actually inspired by manual winding pocket watches of old which would lose precision as the mainspring reached the end of its force, and is the first time a stop-work system has been used in a self winding setting.

On the underside, a sapphire caseback reveals beautiful Côtes de Genève striping, perlage and mirror polished anglage applied by hand in meticulous haute Horlogerie  and the sophisticated engineering of this magnificent in house designed and manufactured movement.

An exceptional piece in every regard, the Armin Strom System 78 Gravity Equal Force is a watch which combines old with new to rewrite the elusive laws of constant force, and an exclusive collector’s piece.