Only Watch 2021: Armin Strom Wows With Its Gravity Equal Force Unique Piece

It is not long to go now until the highly anticipated ninth edition of the Only Watch charity auction, to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, on Saturday, November 6th, 2021. No fewer than 54 watchmakers will take part in this year’s edition of the biennial event. 53 lots will be up for grabs, of which the sales proceeds will benefit research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

One of those lots will be provided by Armin Strom, with the Swiss independent brand choosing to mark its fifth consecutive year of participation in the event by donating a one-of-a-kind edition of its acclaimed Gravity Equal Force timepiece.

First launched in 2019, the Gravity Equal Force is, according to the family-owned watchmaker, the world’s first automatic timepiece to feature constant-force transmission.

It manages the feat by using an innovative Geneva stop-work declutch system inside the mainspring barrel to deliver more consistent energy to the balance wheel at every stage of the 72-hour power reserve. The stop-work declutch system ensures that the first turns of the barrel are unused, essentially removing the portion of the mainspring that delivers lower torque and less stable timekeeping.
 

The barrel, which doubles as a power reserve indicator, is visible dial-side, as is the micro-rotor of the finely finished, in-house calibre ASB19 movement. Those two elements, plus one of the gears, are supported by distinctive skeletonized finger bridges, nicely counterbalanced at 9 o’clock by an hour-minute sub-dial incorporating small seconds.
 

The 41mm version was understandably a hit with collectors when it was launched, in no small part thanks to its very reasonable price tag, starting at CHF 16,900. The Bienne-based company’s unique offering for Only Watch is equally set to delight connoisseurs who will be bidding in Geneva.

To start, the blackened movement plate of the Gravity Equal Force Only Watch unique piece features an intricate hand-guilloche motif carried out by friend of the brand and fellow independent watchmaker, Kari Voutilainen. It is not the first time the Finn has joined forces with Armin Strom, having supplied his dial expertise for previous editions of Gravity Equal Force and the brand’s Mirrored Force Resonance watch.
 

That eye-catching backdrop helps to set off the trio of dial-side finger bridges, which have been treated in a bright orange, as well as the hour-minute sub-dial. The latter is now open worked to expose the plates and gears beneath, with a sapphire dial disc allowing these mechanics to be fully on display.

The hand-finished, stainless steel hands, balance bridge on the back of the movement, and stitching on the black fabric strap are all also in orange, giving the watch a sporty, casual look, in addition to reflecting the charity auction's color scheme.
 

In keeping with Armin Strom tradition, the movement has been assembled twice: following an initial assembly, the calibre is disassembled, with each individual component being cleaned, dried, and then reassembled and lubricated, before being regulated, tested, and fitted in its stainless steel case.
 

Armin Strom co-founder, Serge Michel, takes satisfaction from once again being able to channel the brand’s creativity into supporting a deserving cause.

Michel says, “it is gratifying to be a part of something that brings so many great watch brands together. For a brand like ours, which focuses on innovative industry-challenging watches every day, we enjoy challenging ourselves to create something that is worthy of the Only Watch name.”
 

Only Watch estimates that the unique piece will fetch between CHF 16,900 and CHF 25,000 at November’s auction.

For more information on this one-of-a-kind Gravity Equal Force, visit Armin Strom and Only Watch’s websites.

(Photography by Pierre Vogel)