Armin Strom - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

Armin Strom, founded in 1967 in Burgdorf (Switzerland) by master watchmaker Armin Strom, first made a name through skeletonization before evolving into a contemporary manufacture in Biel/Bienne under a new leadership. The brand targets enthusiasts who want to see the mechanics on the dial side and embrace an independent signature that’s instantly recognisable.

Mechanical resonance and the coupling spring

At Armin Strom, “resonance” is not abstract but visible: two distinct regulating organs synchronize via a proprietary coupling spring, making the interaction tangible to the eye and to the twin seconds. The aim is improved rate stability and a demonstrative watchmaking experience; the brand formalised a modern, patented take on resonance based on a spring linking the balance spring studs of two balances. The twin-seconds reset highlights the phenomenon and underscores that the animation serves a coherent technical purpose.

System 78 and resonance: the lineup at a glance

The System 78 collection groups more compact, daily-wear pieces while keeping the brand’s movement-forward DNA; the idea is to offer an entry point into independent watchmaking without giving up signature displays and architecture. Key families:

• Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force — automatic, dial-side construction designed to deliver a more even torque to the gear train; versatile use with a technical look.
• Armin Strom Tribute 1 — contemporary dress watch, off-centred time display and visible barrel, refined finishing in a sleek format.
• Armin Strom Orbit — “date-on-demand” complication actuated via the bezel, date display parked when not in use; sport-chic spirit on an integrated bracelet.
• Armin Strom One Week — seven-day power reserve, dial-side construction showcasing key organs and the brand’s signature decoration.
• Armin Strom Mirrored Force Resonance — flagship expression of resonance, twin mirrored seconds with simultaneous reset, a watchmaking experience writ large.

From a skeletonized atelier to the Biel/Bienne manufacture

Armin Strom’s journey begins with a skeletonizing workshop and, from the late 2000s, becomes an independent manufacture in Biel/Bienne led by Serge Michel (entrepreneur) and Claude Greisler (master watchmaker). This shift structured a house language — dial-side movements, sculptural bridges, didactic staging of functions — and a clear portfolio of collections; continuity between the skeletonizing tradition and today’s openworked architecture is the brand’s red thread. The tone remains educational: components revealed, functions explained, technical signatures brought to the fore.

Positioning, pricing and distribution: independent and unapologetic

Armin Strom sits in independent haute horlogerie, with prices typically starting in the tens of thousands of CHF for System 78 and rising substantially for resonance and more complex editions (precise brackets: not disclosed; vary by version, materials and series). Distribution blends direct sales and selected retailers, with measured production volumes (not disclosed); the typical buyer seeks a statement piece where technique becomes an aesthetic language and a conversation starter. Service and occasional personalization should be considered case by case.

Conclusion

Armin Strom will appeal to those who want to “see” mechanics: System 78 for regular, readable wear; Orbit for a useful, playful complication; One Week for demonstrative autonomy; and Mirrored Force Resonance for the full atelier experience on the wrist. The signature is clear: off-centred displays, sculptural bridges, key organs on show. To choose among families, weigh your use (daily, dressy, technical) against your desired level of expression. To align style, technique, and real-world ownership, rely on Dialicious customer reviews. That way, selection is grounded in lived experience.

(Updated August 2025)