Armin Strom Racing Gravity
A racing mechanism on the wrist, by Armin Strom
After testing them alternately, the Racing Gravity and the Racing Manual have each proved their worth. Both coherent and tonic, they offer a fresh view of open worked watches.
By Louis Nardin
Journalist
The watchmaker Armin Strom liked showing the gear trains of his watches and his skeleton work was much appreciated by many leading maisons such as Omega. Nowadays, the name is an independent brand brimming with energy and has a rigorous approach. Located in Bienne, the brand’s manufacture produces watches that perpetuate this need to reveal the caliber’s interior. It made the right decisions and therefore developed a rich and authentic personality; a rich personality because Armin Strom watches convey a precise and varied approach to watchmaking technique; an authentic personality because each model features some details which set them completely apart from its rivals. Watchonista tested both the Racing Gravity and Racing Manual models from the brand’s sportive “Racing” collection. Here is the review of a promising double test.
Crystalline interference
The Racing Gravity and the Racing Manual have a lot in common. Firstly, they both feature a motor block from a Formula 1 car.
Indeed, the bridges were made from the metal of an engine of the Marussia F1 Team, partner of Armin Strom. Even if the concept is not so obvious, the underlying idea is perfect: bring a racing car engine back to life. The bridges’ surfaces hint at this with their illustration of an interference doubled with a crystalline effect, which is the kind of reflection seen on big mechanical pieces. And if there is still some lingering doubt, the final result will dispel it as the surface finishes are so rare, chic and responsive.
The two movements – AMR13-MR for the Racing Gravity and AMW11-MR for the Racing Manual – also have a similar design: the seconds hand placed at 9 o’clock has a small-seconds hand that sweeps across the extremely pure movement. The barrel has been set at 2 o’clock. Held by a triangular bridge, its ratchet has been engraved with the brand’s name in relief on a grained surface. This is a trend that emerged in the late 18th century with British watchmakers and which has fortunately been taken up again in recent years. The last common point is the micro-rotor at 4 o’clock with a ratchet system, which is visible on the Racing Gravity, or a triangular plate that reminds us of the automobile radiator of the Racing Manual.
The technical geometry of the calibers is appreciated since it is also found in most of the catalogue’s models. The second hand – always opposite the crown – is sometimes accompanied by a tourbillon.
The barrel and the winding system are placed in the right half of the watch. Armin Strom has made its choices and adheres to them. This daring approach pays off since the immediately recognizable watches of the brand do not resemble any other range of open worked watches at all. The precise and meticulous balance between decorations and colors is always rightly measured: neither too much nor too little. When wearing the watch, we often found ourselves observing the caliber’s meanders. The jerky comings and goings of the micro-rotor have caught our attention particularly. Four wheels placed on a horizontal line, going from the center to the crown, highlight the winding system. For the record, both calibers feature a 5-day power reserve – which bodes well for a good performance of the micro-rotor on the self-winding model, especially as it beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour and its escapement comprises a pallet wheel and a solid gold escapement with cold-worked functional surfaces. For better quality, an adjusting system composed of a screw-balance equipped with a Breguet overcoil has been added to the mechanism.
Decentering and concealments
The off-centered dial rings are Armin Strom’s main visual signature. The idea has the advantage of giving a view of the movement whilst concealing part of the caliber’s organ in order to give them added value. The off-centered visual gravity towards the left, however, causes a misbalance, which is heightened by the “Armin Strom” cartouche inserted between the dial and the crown. Nevertheless, this is a conscious positioning that gives the watches their own personality, just like the catch that juts out of the bezel at 6 o’clock.
The twinkling Racing Gravity and Racing Manual are typical Armin Strom watches and they represent a double insight into a catalogue of new and original watches. With solid bases, the budding brand brims with the energy and will necessary to spread its own vision of watchmaking. It even has a greater taste of victory than the sound of engines on a Formula 1 track.