Armin Strom
Biel/Bienne, Switzerland · Est. 1967
Founded by Armin Strom, Claude Greisler, Serge Michel
Armin Strom is a Swiss watchmaker based in Biel/Bienne, founded in 1967 and known originally for its skeletonisation expertise. The brand relaunched under new ownership in 2009 with an in-house manufacture, focusing on open-worked movements with a strong architectural design language.
- Founded
- 1967
- Headquarters
- Biel/Bienne, Switzerland
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Revived
Key Collections
- Mirrored Force Resonance — Two horizontally-aligned coupled balance wheels in the same focal plane, allowing visual and mechanical resonance. One of modern watchmaking's most technically ambitious complication displays.
- Gravity Equal Force — A constant-force tourbillon ensuring the mainspring delivers identical impulse to the escapement throughout the power reserve — addressing the core enemy of mechanical accuracy.
- System78 — A modular case architecture that allows structural and aesthetic customisation. The platform approach to luxury watch design.
- One Week — Eight-day power reserve with a prominent energy display. Armin Strom's most accessible complication — bold, legible, and technically coherent.
- Tribute — A skeletonised collection paying direct homage to the original Armin Strom watchmaker's craft, with open-worked dials revealing the movement architecture.
Timeline
- 1967 — Armin Strom opens his personal workshop in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. He becomes one of the era's finest skeletonisation specialists, working for other brands as well as under his own name.
- 1975 — Strom wins multiple prizes at international watchmaking exhibitions for the quality of his skeleton movement work.
- 2008 — Armin Strom (the watchmaker) retires. The original studio closes, ending over 40 years of personal craft.
- 2009 — Claude Greisler (Master Watchmaker) and Serge Michel (CEO) acquire the Armin Strom name and relaunch the brand as a full in-house manufacture in Biel/Bienne.
- 2012 — The first entirely in-house manufacture calibre — ARM09-1 — is completed, establishing the relaunched Armin Strom as a true manufacture rather than an assembler.
- 2016 — The Mirrored Force Resonance is unveiled at Baselworld, presenting a resonance complication with two coupled balance wheels in the same horizontal plane — a technical and visual breakthrough.
- 2020 — The System78 modular case platform is introduced, allowing customers to reconfigure the watch's structural elements — a new concept in high-end watch customisation.
- 2025 — Debuted One Week Skeleton Titanium, Orbit Purple, and Dual Time GMT Resonance at Watches & Wonders 2025.
- 2026 — Released Tribute 2 Aurum (10 pcs) and Mirrored Force Resonance Ruby (5 pcs with natural ruby dial).
Frequently Asked Questions about Armin Strom
- What is resonance in watchmaking?
- Two oscillators (balance wheels or pendulums) placed close to one another and mechanically coupled will naturally synchronise their frequency. This mutual stabilisation resists external shocks and temperature changes, improving long-term accuracy.
- Is the original Armin Strom still involved?
- No. Armin Strom the watchmaker retired around 2008. The brand is now owned and run by Claude Greisler (Master Watchmaker and Technical Director) and Serge Michel (CEO).
- Where are Armin Strom watches made?
- Entirely in-house in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. The manufacture produces its own movements, cases, and finishing — a rare level of vertical integration for an independent brand.
- What price range should I expect?
- Armin Strom pieces typically range from CHF 15,000 for entry-level models to CHF 100,000+ for the most complicated resonance pieces.
- What is the System78 concept?
- A modular case architecture where individual structural components — bridges, plates, sapphire elements — can be reconfigured or swapped. It's Armin Strom's answer to personalisation in fine watchmaking.