The Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force marks the launch of the brand’s System 78 Collection, a new line of innovative timepieces at a competitive price.
Armin Strom’s philosophy is to always be innovating and the new Gravity Equal Force is no exception. The new mechanism inside this timepiece features a traditional mainspring barrel together with a stop-works declutch system and automatic winding to give a consistent delivery of power to the balance and increase the consistency of the watch’s rate. This is the first time a stop-works declutch mechanism has been added to an automatic movement.
This new mechanism creates a stable, low-friction of an axis of rotation for the mainspring to deliver power from the barrel arbor using precision jewel bearings. It uses only a portion of the mainspring by preventing it from completely unwinding and thus offers a power reserve of 72 hours. The movement is wound by a unidirectional micro-rotor that is visible on the dial side of the watch. The dial also features a power reserve indicator on the barrel cover.
The inspiration for this new mechanism came from the repair of a pocket watch belonging to an American collector. This pocket watch contained a motor barrel design that offered clear advantages over the standard going barrel. Armin Strom’s watchmakers were inspired by this and designed a barrel operating in the reverse of a traditional mainspring barrel by driving the going train via the barrel arbor and winding the barrel housing, improving the functionality and reducing wear and tear.
The Armin Strom Gravity Equal Force comes with a new off-centered dial and a slimmer stainless steel case with a smaller 41mm diameter. The dial includes three bridges on the right side that take their inspiration from the pocket watch.
Called System 78, this new mechanism is named after the birth year of Armin Strom’s co-founders, Serge Michel and Claude Greisler, who were both born in 1978.