Swiss watchmaking has always drawn inspiration from the country’s dramatic Alpine landscape, but few brands capture this essence as literally as Armin Strom’s latest creation.
The Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Blue transforms the brand’s flagship horological innovation into a frozen meditation on Switzerland’s glacial lakes and crystalline mountain light. This isn’t merely a color variant – it’s a complete reimagining that brings serene tranquility to one of independent watchmaking’s most technically sophisticated timepieces.
Alpine Inspiration
First introduced in 2019, the Gravity Equal Force established Armin Strom as a serious player in haute horlogerie innovation. The new Sapphire Blue edition elevates this foundation through a distinctly chromatic approach that showcases the brand’s signature architecture in an entirely new light.
The centerpiece is a stunning ‘glacial’ blue PVD mainplate adorned with guilloché patterns created by none other than Kari Voutilainen, the legendary independent watchmaker whose decorative artistry is revered throughout the industry.
This collaboration between Armin Strom’s technical prowess and Voutilainen’s artistic mastery creates visual depth that mirrors the complexity of the movement itself. The blue mainplate serves as a theatrical backdrop for the watch’s mechanical components, each element carefully positioned to create maximum visual impact while maintaining perfect functionality. The result is a timepiece that functions as both precision instrument and kinetic sculpture.
The 41mm stainless steel case maintains approachable proportions with a 12.65mm thickness and 48mm lug-to-lug measurement that ensures comfortable wearability despite the watch’s technical complexity.
The open dial, crafted from transparent sapphire with grey toning, provides unobstructed views of the proprietary movement’s most fascinating elements. A small seconds subdial positioned on the left maintains perfect asymmetrical balance while showcasing the micro-rotor, equal-force barrel, and rhodium-finished bridges that mirror the gear train’s elegant geometry.
Revolutionary Mechanics in Frozen Form
Beneath the glacial aesthetics lies genuine horological innovation that sets this timepiece apart from conventional luxury watches. The automatic Caliber ASB19 features Armin Strom’s patented equal-force system, a sophisticated mechanism that addresses one of mechanical watchmaking’s fundamental challenges: maintaining consistent power delivery throughout the mainspring’s wind cycle.
The proprietary stop-work declutch system built into the barrel represents a miniaturized evolution of the historical ‘Geneva stop-work’ mechanism, previously found only in hand-wound pocket watches. This system limits power delivery to the optimal portion of the mainspring’s torque curve, ensuring consistent force reaches the escapement regardless of remaining power reserve. The result is improved timekeeping accuracy and a more stable rate throughout the watch’s 72-hour power reserve.
The movement’s architecture showcases additional innovations including a horizontal clutch and compact micro-rotor visible from the dial side. This configuration not only provides constant force timekeeping but creates compelling visual drama as the rotor oscillates within the movement’s exposed geography. The 35.52mm movement operates at 3.5 Hz with 28 jewels, delivering reliable performance wrapped in spectacular presentation.
The blue nubuck leather strap with ice blue stitching and stainless steel folding clasp completes the glacial theme while ensuring comfortable daily wear. SuperLumi-Nova on the hands provides practical legibility during low-light conditions, though the watch’s 30-meter water resistance suggests it’s designed more for boardroom than beach environments.
Limited to just 25 pieces per year at CHF 27,500, the Gravity Equal Force Ultimate Sapphire Blue represents exclusivity matched by innovation. This isn’t simply another limited edition – it’s a technical masterpiece that proves independent Swiss watchmaking continues pushing boundaries while honoring traditional craftsmanship values.
