Independents
DonCorson's insightful article introduces Armin Strom's dedication to skeletonized and engraved watches, tracing the brand's evolution from a single artisan to a modern manufacture. His report provides a valuable look into the artistry and business transition of a respected independent watchmaker. This piece remains essential for understanding the heritage and future direction of Armin Strom's distinctive aesthetic.
Armin Strom's Watches, the Beauty of Skeletons
Don Corson, December 2008
Part 1
Armin Strom has been skeletonizing and engraving watches for the last 40 years. His pieces have found entry in collections around the world. His custom of personal delivery of all his pieces has made him many friends all around the world. Now having reached the age where others take their pensions, Mr. Strom has formed the Armin Strom AG to pass on his tradition to a next generation. Formed 3 years ago Armin Strom AG now has 9 employees and 3 model lines.
The line Skeleton continues the tradition of skeletonized and hand engraved watches from Armin Strom. The watches in the "Elegance" line are sober and elegant from the dial side, but a fireworks of hand engraving from the back. The "Blue Chip" line are bigger watches appealing to modern tastes in watches, again partially skeletonized and fully hand engraved.
Mr. Serge Michel is the CEO of the company Armin Strom AG. Mr. Michel showed me their watches and around their shop. Unfortunately Mr. Strom himself was not present as I was there. A meeting for the next time.
Mr. Michel with a tray of watches from the Skeleton series.
The cases are 39.2mm in dia. and 10.45 high. Here in white gold 18k.
Yellow gold 18k set with a diamond set bezel.
A stainless steel prototype case.
The Skeleton Lady, 18k yellow gold set with 33 diamonds. The movement is an old stock Alpina from the 1930's. It enjoyed, of course, Armin Strom's personal attention.
Note the typical case and crown form. Here on a 18k white gold model with brushed front and back bezels and lugs.
A gold skeleton wrist shot. The size is right! And the distinctive crown winds very comfortably.
The Blue Chop automatic, 46.5mm dia. & 15.9mm high. The caliber is a hand engraved, partially skeletonized ValGranges.
The Blue Chip chrono.
The Blue Chip power reserve.
Blue Chip manual wind based on the hard working 6498
The Blue Chip manual on a bracelet.
[To continue to part 2 click here ]
Armin Strom's Watches, the Beauty of Skeletons Don Corson, December 2008 Part 2 Continuing our look at the Armin Strom models we come to the Elegance line. The Elegance models I saw were all prototypes. Here in steel. That these are prototypes is our luck. Here we can see the difference between the original old stock Swiss caliber from the 1970s and the skeletonized and engraved resulting movement. A men's Elegance in rose gold. Now we have seen the watches, let's take a little
The skeletonization looks interesting but from your pictures, the overall look of Armin Strom's skeletonization seems to be a tad too "busy" for my eyes. I think the case finishing also distracts my eyes to the skeletonization so my eyes aren't focusing soley on the skeletonization. I haven't seen any of these watches in person so please only take my comments with a grain of salt. Cheers, Anthony
Don, Great article - and some wonderful pictures. The style of the engraving work reminds me of some of the Omega skeleton pieces. I knows these were sent out to be engraved by a specialist - but I wonder if that might have been Armin himself? The Omega pieces, like Armin's work take more advantage of highly engraved and decorated components, rather than some other pieces which are more about how little metal is left. Perhaps I could summarise the Armin style - as "look at the engraving" vs the
Hi Don, Great post, thanks for the pictures. Regards, ED-209 This message has been edited by ED209 on 2008-12-15 18:49:49
but at least you can see some of the work.
The Omega skeletons were made by Armin Strom and on that pieces all the engravings were made by a specialist who worked exclusively for Armin Strom. Now on Armin Strom watches, all the engravings are made in house as well as the skeleton work. This message has been edited by s.michel on 2008-12-17 01:45:24
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