Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force

Gravity Equal Force demonstrates Armin Strom’s core principle of continual innovation.

This collection showcases Armin Storm’s contemporary design and masterful watchmaking skills, elevating them further by enhancing the consistency and reliability of timekeeping with several technical developments in the ASB19 calibre – more on this below.

The inspiration behind Gravity Equal Force was Armin Strom’s desire to transmit equal force to the balance, thereby increasing the consistency of rate. Building upon the classic stop-works mechanism, Armin Strom developed an ingenious stop-works declutch system that operates inside the mainspring barrel to limit the torque delivered to the balance, providing smoother power delivery. This represents the first time a stop-works declutch mechanism has been added to an automatic winding movement and is another first from the Armin Strom Atelier.

The development came about through an incessant drive for horological improvement. Not content with one innovation, Armin Strom’s watchmakers found further inspiration in a pocket watch from a U.S. collector. When repair works were being conducted on the piece, the development team noticed how its motor barrel design showed clear advantages over the standard going barrel system. Inspired by their observations, the watchmakers designed a barrel that operated in the reverse of a traditional mainspring barrel by driving the going train via the barrel arbour to wind the barrel housing, which not only improved functionality but also reduced wear.

This watch takes the traditional mainspring barrel and turns it on its head by adding a stop-work declutch mechanism combined with automatic winding to create consistent power delivery to the balance. With a bold redesign of the movement, dial and case, Gravity Equal Force marks the launch of the new System 78 Collection, highlighting innovative watchmaking at a competitive price.
Furthermore, the state-of-the-art design creates a stable, low-friction axis of rotation for the mainspring to deliver power from the barrel arbour, supported by precision jewel bearings. Though using only a portion of the mainspring by preventing it from completely unwinding, Armin Strom still achieved a power reserve of 72 hours. Wound by a unidirectional winding micro rotor visible from the dial, the mainspring bears a power reserve indicator on the barrel cover for reference.

And so, with numerous small improvements to the going train and winding mechanism, Armin Strom’s Calibre ASB19 was born!

The development demonstrates Armin Strom’s commitment to continually questioning established watchmaking theory and adopting in-house R&D to advance horological technology. Claude Greisler, co-founder of Armin Strom, defines the improved usability when he says, “We have reinvented the whole functionality of an automatic watch movement to bring another level of precision and to offer our collectors more assurance for reliable daily wear.”

Gravity Equal Force also differs from previous models because of its off-center dial and slimmer case with a smaller diameter. The highlight of the watch is now the triplet of bridges echoing the pocket watch inspiration behind the ASB19. The 41-millimeter case, a first for Armin Strom, should appeal to the more classically-inclined collector. The contemporary dimensions maintain the essence of Armin Strom’s DNA while shaping a new aesthetic that showcases a reduction to the essential. Moving to an off-center dial, the Gravity Equal Force is more legible thus optimising the wearer’s experience and ongoing enjoyment.